University of Limerick GEP

[mcrickm]

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I just received an interview for Limerick in April in Toronto but am a little hesitant to attend given that I live in Vancouver and am unsure of the school itself. I've read the posts about it on this forum, but I still have questions.

Have the first year of graduating students gone through the US and Canadian match yet? If so, how were the results?

How have students done on the USMLE?

How do students like the computer based anatomy lab?

Overall, is Limerick a good school to attend for students looking to return to North America?

 

[Pinky677]

Have the first year of graduating students gone through the US and Canadian match yet? If so, how were the results?
I may not be the best to answer this one - i'm only a first year. But from what i heard about this years graduating class (they just had their match a few weeks ago) they did fantastic! they were placed in some really competitive spots (psych, radiology, theres a few more, can't remember off the top of my head) back in canada (Western stands out in my mind, but i know there was other equally great schools)

How have students done on the USMLE?
on par with McMaster students. They'll show you our PPI graphs in the interview, most years we're right on par with them, but there was a year or two that we were ahead. (probably why 27 Mcamaster students haven't matched yet this year...)

How do students like the computer based anatomy lab?
I have no idea what you are talking about... we have a terrific anatomy program run by Nigel the Great (he's legendary, you will see.) We do a 1.5 hour session of anatomy/phys/hist per week, then we have mini cases (about 15) that take about 7-15 hours to complete where we learn our own shiznit. theres no anatomy lab? We also have clinical skills most weeks were we learn how to properly take a history, how to do a respiratory exam, an ob/gyn exam, a pap smear, etc... they all coincide with our *case* for the week. Its kinda neat because we aren't just learning stuff because we have an exam on it in 5 months, we're learning this stuff in relevant contexts to how it will be practiced. From what i've heard from friends at other schools, not many of them introduce students to clinical skills in their first or even second year, they throw them on the wards in third year and they are completely clueless.

Overall, is Limerick a good school to attend for students looking to return to North America?
It depends, I love the program, I can't imagine sitting in a lecture for 8 hours a day. I love the self directed learning and the freedoms that come with it, but it is a relatively new program and they are still relatively naive about their canadian students but there are upper years who are here willing to help. We had a fourth year gunner do a voluntary lecture for us about doing electives back in canada and he really hooked us up with some good contacts, and as more of us go about doing these things, the more contacts the classes coming in will have by default. It's completely personal, the school won't hold your hand and say "you're going to do an elective in saskatoon in march" you kind of have to do it yourself, but its not impossible and the schedules can be fiddled with so you can get to those oh so essential electives back home.

 

[aj47]

Hey Pinky,

Thanks for answering those questions. I feel a little more comfortable knowing that person who has recently enrolled is having such good time. Like mrickm I am also from Vancouver and I will be attending my interview on Friday, hopefully everything goes well. Do you have any tips on the interview?

 

[rollotomassi]

Hello, I was just accepted into Limerick's GEP, and I was wondering whether you can suggest US or Canadian medical schools which offer elective courses to Limerick students? Perhaps certain programs are more recommended and have been taken by students in previous years?

 

[Pinky677]

Hello, I was just accepted into Limerick's GEP, and I was wondering whether you can suggest US or Canadian medical schools which offer elective courses to Limerick students? Perhaps certain programs are more recommended and have been taken by students in previous years?

Remember, its a new course so there's only been 2 classes go through electives so far, and the first one only had 1 canadian and he ended up staying on this side of the pond... The class that is getting ready to graduate had a guy to a little presentation for us on how he went about doing the electives, he did 4 : McMaster, Western, McGill and I can't remember the fourth. He did say he had connections at Mayo in the states that he could help us with. From what he said, it seemed McMaster was most receptive of him because of the similarities in the 2 programs.

These aren't concrete connections, and just because they took one UL student doesn't necessarily mean they will take us all. You still have a longgggggggg time until you have to start looking into these, and there will be a couple dozen more canadians ahead of you who can help you as you get to the time.

Our Medsoc has created a Facebook page for all you incoming UL med students (Search for University of Limerick Class of 2016). Kira, Alan and Ryan would be more then happy to answer all your questions in a more intimate environment 😉 haha.

 

[Mary Anne]

Have the first year of graduating students gone through the US and Canadian match yet? If so, how were the results?
I may not be the best to answer this one - i'm only a first year. But from what i heard about this years graduating class (they just had their match a few weeks ago) they did fantastic! they were placed in some really competitive spots (psych, radiology, theres a few more, can't remember off the top of my head) back in canada (Western stands out in my mind, but i know there was other equally great schools)

How have students done on the USMLE?
on par with McMaster students. They'll show you our PPI graphs in the interview, most years we're right on par with them, but there was a year or two that we were ahead. (probably why 27 Mcamaster students haven't matched yet this year...)

How do students like the computer based anatomy lab?
I have no idea what you are talking about... we have a terrific anatomy program run by Nigel the Great (he's legendary, you will see.) We do a 1.5 hour session of anatomy/phys/hist per week, then we have mini cases (about 15) that take about 7-15 hours to complete where we learn our own shiznit. theres no anatomy lab? We also have clinical skills most weeks were we learn how to properly take a history, how to do a respiratory exam, an ob/gyn exam, a pap smear, etc... they all coincide with our *case* for the week. Its kinda neat because we aren't just learning stuff because we have an exam on it in 5 months, we're learning this stuff in relevant contexts to how it will be practiced. From what i've heard from friends at other schools, not many of them introduce students to clinical skills in their first or even second year, they throw them on the wards in third year and they are completely clueless.

Overall, is Limerick a good school to attend for students looking to return to North America?
It depends, I love the program, I can't imagine sitting in a lecture for 8 hours a day. I love the self directed learning and the freedoms that come with it, but it is a relatively new program and they are still relatively naive about their canadian students but there are upper years who are here willing to help. We had a fourth year gunner do a voluntary lecture for us about doing electives back in canada and he really hooked us up with some good contacts, and as more of us go about doing these things, the more contacts the classes coming in will have by default. It's completely personal, the school won't hold your hand and say "you're going to do an elective in saskatoon in march" you kind of have to do it yourself, but its not impossible and the schedules can be fiddled with so you can get to those oh so essential electives back home.

Hi,I'm debating between Limerick and St.George in Caribbean,my point is that with St.George,u have more options for residencies in US,whereas in Limerick u could be stuck with neither a US nor Canadian match?

 

[JohnSnow]

Hi,I'm debating between Limerick and St.George in Caribbean,my point is that with St.George,u have more options for residencies in US,whereas in Limerick u could be stuck with neither a US nor Canadian match?

Why would SGU give you more options for residency?

I think you would be crazy not to go to Limerick in favor of going to the Carib.

Firstly, you'll spend four years in Ireland, a highly developed nation with a similar standard of living to the US/Canada rather having to tolerate 2 years in Grenada.

Secondly, there are only about 100 students in UL's class. How many does SGU have? 500 in each class? Maybe 1000 graduates per year? UL will undoubtedly give you better access to your professors and resources.

Furthermore, the professors at Limerick are committed to making the students succeed. I interviewed there and I was impressed with their presentation and character. Do you really think the professors at SGU are going to give you much face time? Or care if you succeed? They've probably got 2000 students. You're a just a number and a paycheck to them.

Moreover, you're less likely to encounter the IMG "stigma" going to Limerick. A lot of people still view the Caribbean as a diploma mill of sorts, even though SGU has a strong reputation as the best Caribbean school. But Limerick is a medical school designed to produce doctors for Ireland.

I would go to medical school in any highly developed nation (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, etc) before I even considered the Caribbean. Sure their curriculum might be tailored to make you pass the USMLE but I think in the long-run you're better off attending a proper medical school, designed to produce doctors for that nation, than a Caribbean diploma mill.

I think you can find success in whatever route you take, and I wish you the best.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[BeThat2-3]

Why would SGU give you more options for residency?

I think you would be crazy not to go to Limerick in favor of going to the Carib.

Firstly, you'll spend four years in Ireland, a highly developed nation with a similar standard of living to the US/Canada rather having to tolerate 2 years in Grenada.

Secondly, there are only about 100 students in UL's class. How many does SGU have? 500 in each class? Maybe 1000 graduates per year? UL will undoubtedly give you better access to your professors and resources.

Furthermore, the professors at Limerick are committed to making the students succeed. I interviewed there and I was impressed with their presentation and character. Do you really think the professors at SGU are going to give you much face time? Or care if you succeed? They've probably got 2000 students. You're a just a number and a paycheck to them.

Moreover, you're less likely to encounter the IMG "stigma" going to Limerick. A lot of people still view the Caribbean as a diploma mill of sorts, even though SGU has a strong reputation as the best Caribbean school. But Limerick is a medical school designed to produce doctors for Ireland.

I would go to medical school in any highly developed nation (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, etc) before I even considered the Caribbean. Sure their curriculum might be tailored to make you pass the USMLE but I think in the long-run you're better off attending a proper medical school, designed to produce doctors for that nation, than a Caribbean diploma mill.

I think you can find success in whatever route you take, and I wish you the best.



This is some what true. If your goal is to practice in the US, SGU would be a better route.

If your goal is to practice Canada, I'd still say SGU. They have a solid reputation in the NA and doing rotations at US Greenbook rotations will highly favors your chances of any NA residency.

Bright side is there are reciprocity for some specialties and plenty of them to be happy and successful if you choose to move later in life.



ThisThat's my 2 cents.

 

[JacquiMaria]

I interview for Limerick on Friday (very excited 🙂 ) and have been curious as well about Canadian electives. Do you know if anyone from UL have done an elective yet at UBC or other western Canadian schools?
Also ( and just out of curiosity) does UL do a white coat ceremony?

 

[sassa]

I interview for Limerick on Friday (very excited 🙂 ) and have been curious as well about Canadian electives. Do you know if anyone from UL have done an elective yet at UBC or other western Canadian schools?
Also ( and just out of curiosity) does UL do a white coat ceremony?

Whitecoats aren't done in Ireland. It's not a thing here. No one wears them.

And yes, people from UL have done electives all over the country, including the west.

 

[shweddies]

I interview for Limerick on Friday (very excited 🙂 ) and have been curious as well about Canadian electives. Do you know if anyone from UL have done an elective yet at UBC or other western Canadian schools?
Also ( and just out of curiosity) does UL do a white coat ceremony?

This may be sorta off topic. But yes, electives can be done anywhere and most of the Canadians make sure to do majority of their electives in Canada. I know this was a big year since UL matched a student to family med back in BC...if I'm not mistaking UBC is crazy hard to get into as a foreign grad(even as a BC resident). So I guess that's good news!

And this years stats for match backs are done. From what I've heard there were 29 students applying to Canada and 20 matched. I think 8 were to family and the rest were to other specialities. There was also one who applied only to the states and he got into John Hopkins. When the full stats come out I'll be sure to share them with you guys!