Got into an UCC for a 4 year program but no US Schools (awaiting an interview decision). I have a 3.35 and a 33. Should I wait and reapply to US next year with these stats? I'd much rather stay in the US, also tuition scares me at 38,000 euro /year + living expenses. They only give you a week to decide + expect a 4000 euro deposit. I don't really have $6,000 to give away to buy more time to wait for a US decision.
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Advice on Ireland
Started by ncb
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first off, congrats on being accepted!
im guessing that the cost of deferring one year is the same initial deposit. tough situation!
if you really want to stay in the US i would consider applying to a special masters program. i bet you could get into a pretty good one with your stats. completing a SMP would probably greatly increase your competiveness with US schools.
im guessing that the cost of deferring one year is the same initial deposit. tough situation!
if you really want to stay in the US i would consider applying to a special masters program. i bet you could get into a pretty good one with your stats. completing a SMP would probably greatly increase your competiveness with US schools.
That's what it comes down to... advice. As you're well aware, opinions differ so you can believe one, believe another or follow your nose and go on your hunch or your heart. Sage880's criticisms of UCC (and, by extension, of Irish schools in general as they do and don't suit NAmericans' needs) are well-founded but then there are many (current students and also those now in NAmerican residencies) who don't have major issues with the education we get in the end. It can be very frustrating here and it's far from perfect but I'd hardly call it a rout or personally and categorically advise against it "under any circumstances". But then that's just my own advice.
If you don't really want to be here, then don't come here. We've seen it in our classmates who didn't want to come in the first place. They end up miserable. And it's trying enough even when you do want to be here! 🙂
I wanted to come here and loved it during the first three years. Joined every club there was, lived with Irish people, and studied my *** off as well. My critism isn't of Ireland in general. I would love to live here some day.
My criticism isn't even of all the Irish schools. I know someone who transfered to UCD and from hearing reports back, it sounds great! They're doing soooo much more then we're doing here at UCC. I'm in forth year and in this 6-week block of clinical teaching I have 30 hours of hospital time total - and nothing else. Everyone calls it "clinical-sleeping".
Ya ya, I know - go make the best of it. Of course that's what I'm doing. But a friend at UCD has full 40 hour weeks (I don't get that in 6 weeks total....) and has to take call some evenings to help admit patients. The amount of responsibility he's given is blowing all the rest of us away.
You can also tell from other threads on here that UCC is refusing to give US students their diplomas in time for them to get ECFMG certification. They say it's illegal and impossible. It sounds like the other schools don't have a problem with this.
So yeah, if you're considering coming to UCC then do yourself a favor and take a good long look at your other options. I'm not miserable here by any means - in fact I love it! You have lots of time for "real life". A loooooot of time actually.
But anyways, I'm just one person. Maybe I'm just a mal-content and UCC is, in fact, a world class medical school where you'll get the medical education of a life time? All I know is that I just spent 6 hours in the library today after my one-hour of clinical teaching and now I'm going to the gym. And then out drinking tonight since I don't have to be anywhere until 1pm tomorrow. Yay medical school!!!
My criticism isn't even of all the Irish schools. I know someone who transfered to UCD and from hearing reports back, it sounds great! They're doing soooo much more then we're doing here at UCC. I'm in forth year and in this 6-week block of clinical teaching I have 30 hours of hospital time total - and nothing else. Everyone calls it "clinical-sleeping".
Ya ya, I know - go make the best of it. Of course that's what I'm doing. But a friend at UCD has full 40 hour weeks (I don't get that in 6 weeks total....) and has to take call some evenings to help admit patients. The amount of responsibility he's given is blowing all the rest of us away.
You can also tell from other threads on here that UCC is refusing to give US students their diplomas in time for them to get ECFMG certification. They say it's illegal and impossible. It sounds like the other schools don't have a problem with this.
So yeah, if you're considering coming to UCC then do yourself a favor and take a good long look at your other options. I'm not miserable here by any means - in fact I love it! You have lots of time for "real life". A loooooot of time actually.
But anyways, I'm just one person. Maybe I'm just a mal-content and UCC is, in fact, a world class medical school where you'll get the medical education of a life time? All I know is that I just spent 6 hours in the library today after my one-hour of clinical teaching and now I'm going to the gym. And then out drinking tonight since I don't have to be anywhere until 1pm tomorrow. Yay medical school!!!
OMG, I don't want any more crappy advice on how to make the most out of fourth and final year. I'm not on here complaining about my situation at all. If I get one more "Just keep at it" talk I'm going to puke on who ever tries to give it to me. My posts are for people considering coming to Ireland who are still in pre-med.
Everyone keeps referring to the "new curriculum" like it's some kind of better experience. I don't know, I live with students in the lower years and it seems like the same old set of problems to me. One of the students in the year below even thought it was so bad that their mom went in to talk to the medical school about it. I mean, the situation has to be pretty dire when someone's mom thinks they can give advice on how to run a medical school.
"UCC is not perfect, but it will get you where you want to go, and that is really all that matters."
Yes, I agree. If you've exhausted all other options then come here. If you have any other options I would consider them. UCC is probably not the absolute worst but it can't be that far off the bottom.
Everyone keeps referring to the "new curriculum" like it's some kind of better experience. I don't know, I live with students in the lower years and it seems like the same old set of problems to me. One of the students in the year below even thought it was so bad that their mom went in to talk to the medical school about it. I mean, the situation has to be pretty dire when someone's mom thinks they can give advice on how to run a medical school.
"UCC is not perfect, but it will get you where you want to go, and that is really all that matters."
Yes, I agree. If you've exhausted all other options then come here. If you have any other options I would consider them. UCC is probably not the absolute worst but it can't be that far off the bottom.
Alright, I am taking some advice from the long gone student.ie and retiring from the "UK & Ireland" section of this forum. Like him, I've done my best to try and give new students coming in an accurate assessment of what's going on. But, again like him, I'm just offending everyone who's made a decision to put on the rose coloured glasses as a part of their "make the best of it and have a positive attitude" deal - which really wasn't my goal. I've said everything there is to say and now this is just all becoming redundant.
So, good luck to everyone that's still in college and for all those who are applying. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to pm me. Otherwise, best of luck with whatever path you take.
So, good luck to everyone that's still in college and for all those who are applying. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to pm me. Otherwise, best of luck with whatever path you take.
Ah, the mommy factor. I admit I got a smile on my face when I imagined my mommy going to bat for me here!. Then there's the other mommy factor... my classmates whose mommies still cook for them and do all their laundry.
i would LOVE to know who at ucd is putting in 40 hours in the hospital clinically and staying in the evenings to help admit patients etc. in my experience in ireland (nearly 5 years) this simply does not happen. i wish it did, believe me!
oh i totally believe it happens at other schools. just not ucd. that's a bold-faced lie. i mean there might be people at ucd who stay in the hospital for 40 hours a week but they are wasting their time because no one will pay attention to them, and after about a week, taking histories without anyone to present them to (or even if you do have someone to present them to) becomes a waste.
as for the people who still can't cook, do laundry, or go more than 5 days without seeing their parents, don't get me started. it's frightening to think they are going to be doctors in 2 months.
as for the people who still can't cook, do laundry, or go more than 5 days without seeing their parents, don't get me started. it's frightening to think they are going to be doctors in 2 months.
Thank you for putting another smile on my face in the midst of yet another night of Smelly (USMLE) prep.
