Competitive Profile for Ireland

[giantaxon]

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[Sage880]

Only some of the schools require the MCAT. UCC needs it. UCD will look at it if you had it. Trinity, UCG, and RCSI won't even look at it so I'd say you'd be very competitive for those schools with that GPA. Actually, I'd say with a 3.8 you'd have a very, very good chance.

And your MCAT isn't great but it isn't horrible either. The UCC average seems to be around 32 but there's still lots of people with high 20's. So apply to all the schools through the atlantic bridge because you never know. But rest assured that some of the schools won't even receive a copy of your MCAT scores if you're worried about them.

I also think that the Irish schools put a lot of emphasis on both volunteer experience in general and volunteer experience in a hospital (since it shows you have a clear idea of what the life style is like). Since you seem to have a lot of that kind of stuff I think it will bring your app to the top of the pile for most schools.

Good luck.

 

[med2UCC]

I always swore to myself for three years I wouldn't post one of these... But here I am... 😉

I looked at the stats but didn't see many rejections or acceptances from ppl who had similar stats as mine. I am curious for some feedback, especially from those living the dream as med students in Ireland. I have heard that Ireland is getting pretty darn tricky to get into these days. Looking at the stats posted it seems like GPA wise Ireland is becoming more Canada-USA.

Do you think the following profile has a decent crack at breaking into the emerald isle?

cGPA: 3.8 (med sci major at the University of Western Ontario)
MCAT: Older: 29Q: PS 8, VR 11, BS 10, WS Q
Recent: 28R: PS 9, VR 9, BS 10, WS R

Activities: President of a student government, international med related volunteering, local med related volunteering, exec positions on clubs, starting some research, federal and provincial political volunteering etc.

As you can see I hate my damn MCAT, that thing is the bane of my existence. The thing that I am concerned about is that it looks like Ireland loves decent MCAT scores (ie: >30 total) but doesn’t mind lower GPAs. How about the opposite, +3.7 GPAs with < 30 MCAT scores?

Thanks in advance for those that give me some input.

I have a lower GPA and a similar MCAT profile and I got in (currently 5th year at UCC). My GPA was 5.58 and my MCAT came out to 28 R - PS 8, BS 9, VR 11. Good luck,
M

 

[giantaxon]

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[med2UCC]

Thanks a bunch guys I really appreciate it! I think I will send out some apps to all the Irish schools and keep my fingers crossed.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; getting into med school is a total crap shoot. You have to just keep applying until you find a school that likes the look of your application, and then work hard once you get in. All of the selection processes are flawed. Applying all over is a good approach, as long as you can live with whatever school accepts you and can still work in your home country when you are done. Good luck,
M