Need Some Irish Perspective

[Gmw1386]

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A friend of mine and I are applying to Trinity, RCSI and University Coll. Dub and we were wondering what are the generally accepted stats, GPA and MCAT mainly. We're both American undergrads.

I'm under the impression that there is a wider range of acceptance scores. Any truth to that?

Thanks!

 

[Sage880]

Only UCD will look at your MCAT - and they don't require it. The other schools won't even look at the score. UCC requires it and uses it to screen applicants so a little harder to get in there if you're not someone who tests well.

RCSI isn't part of the "National University of Ireland" schools - it's private. It costs a lot more then the other schools. It's kinda like the other offshore schools for people who can afford to pay a lot to get into medicine. I think the Carribean schools would be a better choice maybe then RCSI because you do your clinical rotations in the US. RCSI says they'll help you get electives in the US but it's not that hard to set them up yourself and I haven't really heard what kind of help they offer you.

The one good thing about RCSI though is that they've got a 4 year program now (I believe) so if you get into that it's one less year of medical school - helps offset the cost of their extra tuition per year too.

For the Irish schools, most people seem to have GPA's around 3.5ish. And the MCAT scores at UCC are around low-mid 30's mostly. But I know one person with a 28 and another guy with a 40!! The scores at RCSI are a little more variable. A friend who started there last year had a 2.6 GPA from a Canadian school.

There are some people accepted with lower stats but they're getting fewer and fewer every year because the applicant pool to Irish universities is growing. The Canadians and Americans in the first year class at UCC this year had some pretty crazy high scores and GPAs from what I heard. I'm sure it's the same in Dublin as well.

 

[leftbank]

Just a point of correction Sage, RCSI is in fact a constituent of the NUI. Each college decides its own fees. The implication that educational standards may be lower due to it being 'private' is simply wrong. There is little or no difference between the educational standard of any of the Irish medical schools. A four year graduate program began last year alright, although fees are higher than for the 5/6 yp.

 

[Sage880]

Just a point of correction Sage, RCSI is in fact a constituent of the NUI. Each college decides its own fees. The implication that educational standards may be lower due to it being 'private' is simply wrong. There is little or no difference between the educational standard of any of the Irish medical schools. A four year graduate program began last year alright, although fees are higher than for the 5/6 yp.

Well, to be technical, RCSI is not part of the NUI. It's a "recognized college" though along with the art and design college, the college of hotel management, and the institute of public administration and a couple others I think. You can check out their website (www.nui.ie) if you want to see for yourself!

I didn't mean to apply that the education was bad.... just expensive compared to the Carribean schools for people looking for a private medical education outside of the US. RCSI charges over 10k Euros per year more then the NUI schools and even more then that for the 4 year degree. What did I say that implied it was a bad education?

The NUI schools are all public and Irish students attend them for free. The NUI schools don't set their own fees. They are regulated by the NUI. Where did you hear that they can all set their own fees? I'm not 100% positive they couldn't - that was just my understanding that it was regulated country wide. But I have no idea where I heard that from so it definetly could be wrong.

 

[peanutbutter101]

I just wanted to point out that RCSI does have a four year program that started last year for people who have an undergrad (or higher) degree already. For this program the MCAT is required to apply.

 

[leftbank]

RCSI signed up to the free fees scheme a number of years ago. Point taken about it being a constituent college, but nevertheless, the degrees are awarded by the NUI, and exams are under the auspices of the the NUI. As far as I know, the other colleges set their fees on a consensus basis.