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I'm in🙂
University of Limerick Interviews 2014
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Accepted 🙂
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How long does it take to get from Limerick to Dublin by bus?
Congrats everyone on getting in!
UL medsoc has created a fb page for you guys. I'd suggest you join the group, it'll help you guys to get to know each other and ask any other questions you may have in the next coming months. Also, the Irish/EU people don't have their acceptances and won't have them until august, so your class size will seem small...but it'll grow REALLY fast in august! Can't wait to meet you all!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/546538502126796/
UL medsoc has created a fb page for you guys. I'd suggest you join the group, it'll help you guys to get to know each other and ask any other questions you may have in the next coming months. Also, the Irish/EU people don't have their acceptances and won't have them until august, so your class size will seem small...but it'll grow REALLY fast in august! Can't wait to meet you all!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/546538502126796/
Just a heads up...
There is a proposed change to the scheduler that is more than likely going to be implemented. Ultimately, it results in less time for North American electives (which equates to less chances in matching back home), increased number of students in clinical rotations and less break time following third year = student burn out.
I just thought I would let you in on what's really going on before you hand over your hefty deposit.
There is a proposed change to the scheduler that is more than likely going to be implemented. Ultimately, it results in less time for North American electives (which equates to less chances in matching back home), increased number of students in clinical rotations and less break time following third year = student burn out.
I just thought I would let you in on what's really going on before you hand over your hefty deposit.
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Just wondering, are those SSMs your elective periods or are you supposed to do other things during that time?
This is just out of curiosity, but are there any rotations in derm, ophtho, ENT, hem&onc or EM? It seems quite primary care focused.
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SSM's (Special Study Modules) are times allotted by the school to complete certain projects that differ each year. In year two, for example, students have to shadow an individual from another healthcare profession and write a reflection on this experience. In 4th year, the SSM is designed to complete a research project. However, SSM's are the times that North American students would use to complete electives back home.
Just to be clear, as a current UL med student, had I known that this would be the schedule, I would not have chosen the school.
I encourage those of you who have been accepted as the class of 2018 to email the head of school or director of education asking for clarification on this matter before sending in massive deposits.
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I agree its a pretty tight schedule if you are going to have to write the MCCEE, prep for the NAC OSCE or USMLE Step 1, 2 CK and 2 CS while doing electives. It sounds practically impossible to apply to both Canada and the US, its too tight on time.
If its still being proposed i'm sure the north americans are trying to get it changed though.
If its still being proposed i'm sure the north americans are trying to get it changed though.
We are trying to get it changed back to the current schedule but the administration is pretty set on this. Apparently this change was on request from graduating North American students to make things easier for home (how? We can't see it)
It's already tight enough as it is. But yeah. As a current student whose schedule is being changed, not happy. No one is that I know of. This was just brought up recently too.
It's already tight enough as it is. But yeah. As a current student whose schedule is being changed, not happy. No one is that I know of. This was just brought up recently too.
@Medstart108 Limerick is primary care focused.
People match to specialities back home of course but it is GP focused. Electives are when you do the speciality electives I guess.
People match to specialities back home of course but it is GP focused. Electives are when you do the speciality electives I guess.
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So what kind of stuff do they include in the acceptance package?
Hi shadow74. Thanks for this note! As a pre-med student, I'm not sure I fully understand how to read/analyze the timetable. I'm still trying to figure out how to plan out the years and what not, so would you mind if you could kinda dumb it down for me and clarify? We were told about the SSMs briefly in the presentations as the times to get our electives done back in Canada and what not, but the process of doing so, the timing, etc... it's still quite vague to grasp. My understanding was summer observerships, followed by electives in 3/4th years amongst the various exams. It's hard to make sense of it all without anything really to comprehensively compare it to.
Oh and ditto on Haley's comment on how detailed our acceptance packages might be! If you could give us some details....!
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Are they considering the feelings of current students at all in this? Or are they just going to move ahead without consulting students? This won't change my mind about accepting my offer but I do prefer the original schedule
They've asked for student input but it will be changing away from the current schedule one way or another (an announcement from head of school was sent out yesterday).
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When does school usually start for first year med students?
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Your orientation begins September 1 and your classes officially begin on September 8.
There are a couple of people who had their significant others come over too. Ireland has a temporary visa that lasts 2 yrs. After that, you need a sponsor or you have to leave (that's what I've understood anyway).
There is paperwork they would have to fill out to that effect as well.
What is the best way to ship personal belongings to Limerick? Does anyone know where can I find information about this?
Also, what kind of things should one bring? I would think that required books would be available for purchase on campus. Is there a co-op? Or affordable options for purchasing required reading?
Also, will my iPhone 5S work over there or will I have to have it unlocked for use with a local carrier?
Any assistance in these matters would be greatly appreciated. Just looking to get a head start planning for the move.
Also, what kind of things should one bring? I would think that required books would be available for purchase on campus. Is there a co-op? Or affordable options for purchasing required reading?
Also, will my iPhone 5S work over there or will I have to have it unlocked for use with a local carrier?
Any assistance in these matters would be greatly appreciated. Just looking to get a head start planning for the move.
I'm not sure about shipping stuff over. I brought a bunch of suitcases with me (parents came with and toured Ireland before hand so they helped with the luggage allowance).
Shipping things will cost money. I would email Michael who is the head of Quigley / Cappa residences if you're living on campus about the shipping address / logistics.
There is a textbook sale here at the beginning of the year. There is also a hard drive that will be passed around with most if not all of the books on PDF. Then you can decide what to buy. Amazon also works. And there is a store on campus for texts. Don't buy things ahead of time. See what works from the PDFs and then if you want physical text, get it at the book sale.
Unlock your phone before you come then get a SIM here. There will be a welcome package from the MedSoc posted later in the summer.
You don't have to do ANYTHING now other than:
- decide if you want residence and apply ASAP (Quigley is great, Cappa is great too)
- get your line of credit lined up
- do what's in your acceptance package when it gets sent
The rest can wait until later. Just enjoy your acceptance 🙂
Hey guys, I know a few UL students have already chimed in... as a third (almost fourth... hopefully....) year, i just wanted to give my input.
The way my year has had it (which is as far as i'm aware, the last year that will have the current format), The summer between first and second year is the last "free" summer you will ever have. I messed this up by working that whole summer... don't make the same mistake!
The summer between second and third year is pretty much reserved for studying for the USMLE for most of us. The SSM is to shadow an allied health care professional and write a paper about it. I don't know of any schools that will take a second year for an elective...
In third year we had 3 weeks ssm just before christmas (for an art project.... ya....), a few schools (ok, 1) allowed us to do an elective in canada at this time but they only allowed 4 or 5 students out of the 20 that applied. UL had to sign off saying we had already rotated through whatever specialty we applied to. The school uses the explanation that in our massively long 18 week gp rotation (most schools do 2-8 weeks GP) we will be experiencing all these specialties.... we don't. I choose a specialty for all my electives, and it was very obvious my first week of electives that I had never done anything in that specific specialty... I was a mess.
Our fourth year ssm (a research project), as it is now, is at the end of our summer (for most canadians, we had a "lottery" to get this ssm period. Canadians need to have theirs before the end of october so they can use the electives/reference letters for the CARMS residency application, luckily the irish in my class were aware of this and worked with us by not requesting those periods). No one in my class will have done their core rotations in obs/gyn, peds, or psych by the time they do their electives.
Most of my canadian classmates are doing 8-16 weeks of electives between third and fourth year. It basically devours any free time you have. The school does not help us with ANY electives... aside from giving us a list saying "heres where some students have gone before"... There is few (if any) affiliations with canadian programs... and canadian/US elective programs are constantly changing their rules and applications. A lot of them aren't taking international students anymore unless the school is affiliated.
We're also having issues being given time off to fly back to canada to do the NAC (a clinical exam that most Canadian residency programs require for applicants now) in september and the interviews in January... The school doesn't want to give the canadians preferential treatment because they're worried about being unfair to the irish... but the truth is the irish don't have to do any usmle/mccee/NAC/electives, they're pretty much guaranteed internship on graduation.
Its sooooooo frustrating that not only will the school not help us getting back to canada... it feels like they're working against us.
The way my year has had it (which is as far as i'm aware, the last year that will have the current format), The summer between first and second year is the last "free" summer you will ever have. I messed this up by working that whole summer... don't make the same mistake!
The summer between second and third year is pretty much reserved for studying for the USMLE for most of us. The SSM is to shadow an allied health care professional and write a paper about it. I don't know of any schools that will take a second year for an elective...
In third year we had 3 weeks ssm just before christmas (for an art project.... ya....), a few schools (ok, 1) allowed us to do an elective in canada at this time but they only allowed 4 or 5 students out of the 20 that applied. UL had to sign off saying we had already rotated through whatever specialty we applied to. The school uses the explanation that in our massively long 18 week gp rotation (most schools do 2-8 weeks GP) we will be experiencing all these specialties.... we don't. I choose a specialty for all my electives, and it was very obvious my first week of electives that I had never done anything in that specific specialty... I was a mess.
Our fourth year ssm (a research project), as it is now, is at the end of our summer (for most canadians, we had a "lottery" to get this ssm period. Canadians need to have theirs before the end of october so they can use the electives/reference letters for the CARMS residency application, luckily the irish in my class were aware of this and worked with us by not requesting those periods). No one in my class will have done their core rotations in obs/gyn, peds, or psych by the time they do their electives.
Most of my canadian classmates are doing 8-16 weeks of electives between third and fourth year. It basically devours any free time you have. The school does not help us with ANY electives... aside from giving us a list saying "heres where some students have gone before"... There is few (if any) affiliations with canadian programs... and canadian/US elective programs are constantly changing their rules and applications. A lot of them aren't taking international students anymore unless the school is affiliated.
We're also having issues being given time off to fly back to canada to do the NAC (a clinical exam that most Canadian residency programs require for applicants now) in september and the interviews in January... The school doesn't want to give the canadians preferential treatment because they're worried about being unfair to the irish... but the truth is the irish don't have to do any usmle/mccee/NAC/electives, they're pretty much guaranteed internship on graduation.
Its sooooooo frustrating that not only will the school not help us getting back to canada... it feels like they're working against us.
T
I'm just finishing 1st year and the explanation of the new schedule 'helping' North Americans (Canadians) is baffling to me. Apparently the changes are on request from upper years / graduates but I haven't heard how it's helping / going to help our schedule.
Ranting. Here and to class reps 🙂
I'm just finishing 1st year and the explanation of the new schedule 'helping' North Americans (Canadians) is baffling to me. Apparently the changes are on request from upper years / graduates but I haven't heard how it's helping / going to help our schedule.
Ranting. Here and to class reps 🙂
From what I've heard, the changes are because there's not enough spots in groups E & F in fourth year for all the canadians they're accepting, so some Canadians would have to do there fourth year SSM after the CARMS applications... which would be useless.
I think the only things we've asked for is to get more specialties in third year so we're properly prepared for electives, and to give us enough time for the board exams and electives... it seems as though they're doing the opposite... lol they're so full of bs.
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In your opinion would you say it is still worth it for Canadians to go to UL? Do you feel well-prepared for the USMLEs? For residency? Where are people able to do their electives in Canada? I find all of this rather worrying :s
Honestly right now I regret ever doing medicine... ask me again in 5 years and i may have a different answer, but the amount of debt i've accumulated with few job prospects and such uncertainty about my future is not what I signed up for...
UL does jack**** to prepare us for the USMLE. The topics covered on the usmle/MCCEE are completely different from the curriculum UL teaches. They do offer an extra curricular kaplan course in second year, it was the biggest waste of 1000 euro.... If i could do it over I would have just gotten the qbanks and books. I didn't find the teacher helpful, or relevant. He was very intelligent, I don't doubt his competence; but he was far too into talking about what he knew, rather than what we needed to know for the exam and would often go off on irrelevant tangents... From what I've heard, most of us did ok/fairly well on the USMLE... but its no thanks to the school...
We're able to get electives in Canada. A lot of the canadians in my class have connections back in Canada that obviously help with this. A few of the schools have closed the doors to international students entirely (UBC most notably), others have a lottery (U of T), and the rest you have to apply, and pray they find you a spot... I've done one at Usask and I have 2 scheduled at western over the summer (total 11 weeks of electives, its not ideal, but its all I could get). The Usask I got simply because I choose a specialty no one else choose (everyone who applied for FM over christmas got rejected). One of my Western placements I got through connections, the other from sheer luck. There's never any guarantee and the school does nothing to help except sign the forms. Most of my classmates are doing their electives at the ontario schools... Last I heard there was also someone who had arranged an elective with harvard, but its unbelievably expensive so i'm not sure if they went through with it.
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Hi Pinky677! Thanks for this. I'm a tad concerned on the no help with electives part from the school. Are you saying they don't have a protocol or orientation in terms of generally how the electives have been done? My understanding is that we are to work by ourselves in terms of getting the electives and what not, but I thought there would be some guidance? Could you clarify on the procuring elective process?? From the file, I read 8 weeks in summer before year 3 and 8 weeks in summer of before year 4 as our only time for electives.
Also, concerning the lack of experience with specialties -- could you clarify then what the 18 weeks in General Practice generally amounts to? They must have their reason for 18 weeks no? I understood they are targeting primary care intensively in Limerick, but am curious on how broad or extensive their agenda is with 18 weeks. Thanks! I know these are a bit complicated!
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Are there buses that do to Dublin, Shannon airport directly out of campus? I saw that there is a bus stop next to the medical school.
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I'm not exactly sure you can really use your 8 weeks before year 3 as most places will require you to have done your core rotation before doing an elective and you won't have that done yet.
The upper years have been incredibly helpful for us in terms of telling us how they arranged their electives and where, and what they needed. But these were informal gatherings in the evening organized between our class reps and the upper years; the school didn't arrange these. In terms of applying - you're on your own. The school didn't remind us of deadlines, or tell us what vaccinations we need or send us applications or contact names... i did all of that myself.
I don't know of any school that will take anyone before the beginning of year 3 for electives, so you can knock those 8 weeks before year 3 from your radar. There are few (U sask is the only one I know) that will take us in the middle of year 3, but I think with the new schedule you won't have time for electives at christmas anymore.
18 weeks GP is 18 consecutive weeks, with the same GP (some GPs will only take a student for a max 9 weeks, in which case the student will switch to another GP for the next 9 weeks, this only happened to about 4 students though). 18 weeks is a VERY long time to be in one practice, especially the small rural practices. Granted I did form a fantastic relationship with the clinic and the community, I just felt like 9-12 weeks would have been more than enough to get the same experience without it becoming mundane and redundant.
The schools explanation to us for the long GP placement was that >50% of us will end up as general practitioners, so theres no sense in extensively training us in the specialties...
I would honestly get the bus to the limerick bus station and get a cab onto campus if you're determined to bus it.
Most people cab it to/fro shannon directly. Lugging your luggage around campus, especially up the stairs/hills isn't fun. The cab will bring you right to your door, and its like 10-15 euro max cab fare from the bus station to cappa/quigley. Once you get settled, the bus stop near the medical school is handy for getting into town, but if its still the same route as last year; it doesn't go to the bus station, it stops about a block away. There is a bus that stops by the stables (on the other side of campus, about 10-15 minute trek) that goes directly to the airports... but again, its not a fun walk with luggage, and it doesn't come often.
So basically, we have the summer before 4th year for one elective. Ah. I love the juxtaposition between what the head of school said and what you guys are saying. ha. Thanks for the details. Although, he seemed very pointed on the fact that it was up to us to work hard.
You must be stressed from all of this, but I hope you're all hanging in there. For a potential first year like myself, any concrete advice if I do decide to come? i.e. observerships early? be real nerdy and study USMLEs now? I'm one of those kids who don't have a doctor for a parent, so it's rather interesting to swim through all the crazy amounts of both good and bad information to just figure out and plan all of this out. Btw, you guys are really helpful. Thanks for sharing all of this.
You must be stressed from all of this, but I hope you're all hanging in there. For a potential first year like myself, any concrete advice if I do decide to come? i.e. observerships early? be real nerdy and study USMLEs now? I'm one of those kids who don't have a doctor for a parent, so it's rather interesting to swim through all the crazy amounts of both good and bad information to just figure out and plan all of this out. Btw, you guys are really helpful. Thanks for sharing all of this.
With the proposed schedule that they have circulated it looks like you would have 9 weeks between third and 4th year to do electives, and if you're a real gunner you could give up xmas/new years in third year to do 2 weeks there... The changes look ridiculous though... I see what they were trying to do with the "vacation" in january of 4th year when we should have interviews... but to take it away from prime elective time is senseless... I hope they don't do this to you.
I would enjoy yourself for now... I did observerships during the summers between first and second, and second and third years. I don't know if they helped at all though. First year was fairly straightforward and worry-free... so enjoy it. Second year is where reality hits, and by then you'll have 49 other classmates in the same situation to bounce ideas and information off of.
Thanks Pinky677! I plan to enjoy! Best of luck! If I do come to Limerick - pretty sure I would ask you out for a pint! Thanks again!
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That's a bummer to hear UBC has entirely shut out international students... What Canadian schools can we do our electives at?
Any other current UL students have advice on accepting offers, their experience and feelings on the changes etc? I'm trying to keep feeling so excited about my acceptance but it's hard to read about negative experiences :s
Could people share some positive aspects about the school and curriculum as well? 🙂
And thank you all as well for your input thus far, you've all been so helpful and it's good to have information from the other side of the pond 🙂
Any other current UL students have advice on accepting offers, their experience and feelings on the changes etc? I'm trying to keep feeling so excited about my acceptance but it's hard to read about negative experiences :s
Could people share some positive aspects about the school and curriculum as well? 🙂
And thank you all as well for your input thus far, you've all been so helpful and it's good to have information from the other side of the pond 🙂
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Again, I'm just finishing 1st year but I'm not fresh out of undergrad and considered my situation carefully before accepting. I had friends in upper years tell be the good, bad and ugly before I came, and I still am fine taking this risk. Sure, there are days (and I'm sure there will be many more) where I freak out over debt. But if I had gone to the US, the debt would have been the same. Prospects may have been better, but debt = similar. I have a marketable undergrad though (professional degree) and combining it with any respected medical degree puts me in a place where I can get a job after school even if I don't match once I graduate. That helped make my decision.
Any school will have its ups and downs. And (this seems to be the trend with many people, across countries), the further you get into school, the more stressful it can get. A bit more so as a CSA as we do have to write, what, 6-8 more exams than an Irish student?
If you went to Australia, you would also have issues with timing lining up for electives and the exams too. That was one of the reasons I didn't go there (though I have friends that went and matched). So the new proposed schedule and the climate of Canadian schools towards IMGs is a bit disconcerting. But I also heard there are provinces that are opening up to CSAs within the next couple of years. I haven't had time to look into it, but that's what I've heard. BC is also pretty notorious for wanting to keep their own anyway, so I'm not really surprised at this move of closing their doors.
As for positives .... I really like PBL. I like the style of learning and it keeps you engaged. The tutors are great (at least all of mine have been, there are 1-2 that are alright, but you're going to have profs like that anyway wherever). I finally love what I'm doing which is important if you're going to be taking a risk and giving up the next decade of your life. I am also a self-starter and I do well with picking and choosing the information I need, so self-learning programs work for me (I am useless at sitting through hours upon hours of lectures). The clinical skills tutors are good. Again, some better than others. But I've been to the hospital a couple times since being here and the exams and questions we've learned seem to be what we're taught, so I take that as a good sign (back in Canada too). I'm also able to converse intelligently with friends back at med schools in Canada, so the learning isn't a hack. You're still being taught / you're learning medicine. It's just more primary care / clinically based vs basic sciences.
That said, they have made a big push this year with my year to focus more on pharmacology, microbiology and molecular medicine, because that is typically where UL students were the weakest on in rotations and on USMLE testing. So there is ongoing adaptation, and not all of it is negative.
I am still undecided on the USMLE course for my 2nd year. The appealing thing to me is that you get the Qbank free with it, and it's a fraction of the price back home (or that's what I've been told by 2nd years). I plan to do my own studying and review but I might use that as a structure. I still have time to decide. I know other upper years have said you don't need it, and I'm usually of the opinion to trust those who have gone before me ... but I still have to decide for myself. But I will be doing my own stuff on the side extensively. ... I wouldn't start studying now though. What I have been doing, as well as many classmates, is use the USMLE First Aid and Toronto Notes (for the Canadian boards) as guides and basis for our LOs week to week in first year. That way we know what we need to know later, and tailors our work better.
I am doing some observerships over the summer, and I've told the docs / surgeons that I will be looking for an elective later. I have pulled lots of family and friend connections to get them, and I'm grateful. The physicians all understand and even those at hospitals who don't accept IMGs / CSAs have found a way to bypass it for me. I'm shameless with networking when it comes to my future and success - you have to be when it's that competitive. I'm also working part time with a surgeon and biomechanical engineer on a research direction. I've never done research but this is my way of bridging the gap between my engineering background and medicine. I'm hoping it'll set me up for the SSM later because I wouldn't know where to start otherwise. I debated just enjoying my summer and traveling and spending time at my cottage, but I figured I would try to help myself out a bit on the uphill battle. And still enjoy summer and my cottage (travel I've done through the year and on breaks and I'll be doing a bit right after exams).
Ultimately, you have to decide for you whether it's worth it. It's overwhelming, definitely. You're going to hear lots of negative things, along with some positives. You just have to assess risk / benefit for yourself. I would rather have done 3 years in Ireland than 3 years applying to Canada as I'm already past mid-20s and I knew what I wanted. But I have my fallback of engineering / medicine career (with a work history).
I'm not naive enough to think it'll be "if I want it badly enough, I'll get it" but I'm also open to other routes than just Canada matching. And I decided I don't want a super competitive specialty (dream is ortho, but the climate sucks even for Canadian grads and I do want a life before I'm 50 at this point).
It's scary but I don't have regrets (yet lol) but I think I did a decent job of risk assessment when I chose to come here. You just have to do the same.
On a side note, before I came to Limerick / after quitting my job, I spent my whole summer at my cottage, or in wine country, or seeing friends and family, and took a dream trip where I camped through a couple countries in Africa. I definitely did nothing scholastically and I would encourage you to do the same!
Any school will have its ups and downs. And (this seems to be the trend with many people, across countries), the further you get into school, the more stressful it can get. A bit more so as a CSA as we do have to write, what, 6-8 more exams than an Irish student?
If you went to Australia, you would also have issues with timing lining up for electives and the exams too. That was one of the reasons I didn't go there (though I have friends that went and matched). So the new proposed schedule and the climate of Canadian schools towards IMGs is a bit disconcerting. But I also heard there are provinces that are opening up to CSAs within the next couple of years. I haven't had time to look into it, but that's what I've heard. BC is also pretty notorious for wanting to keep their own anyway, so I'm not really surprised at this move of closing their doors.
As for positives .... I really like PBL. I like the style of learning and it keeps you engaged. The tutors are great (at least all of mine have been, there are 1-2 that are alright, but you're going to have profs like that anyway wherever). I finally love what I'm doing which is important if you're going to be taking a risk and giving up the next decade of your life. I am also a self-starter and I do well with picking and choosing the information I need, so self-learning programs work for me (I am useless at sitting through hours upon hours of lectures). The clinical skills tutors are good. Again, some better than others. But I've been to the hospital a couple times since being here and the exams and questions we've learned seem to be what we're taught, so I take that as a good sign (back in Canada too). I'm also able to converse intelligently with friends back at med schools in Canada, so the learning isn't a hack. You're still being taught / you're learning medicine. It's just more primary care / clinically based vs basic sciences.
That said, they have made a big push this year with my year to focus more on pharmacology, microbiology and molecular medicine, because that is typically where UL students were the weakest on in rotations and on USMLE testing. So there is ongoing adaptation, and not all of it is negative.
I am still undecided on the USMLE course for my 2nd year. The appealing thing to me is that you get the Qbank free with it, and it's a fraction of the price back home (or that's what I've been told by 2nd years). I plan to do my own studying and review but I might use that as a structure. I still have time to decide. I know other upper years have said you don't need it, and I'm usually of the opinion to trust those who have gone before me ... but I still have to decide for myself. But I will be doing my own stuff on the side extensively. ... I wouldn't start studying now though. What I have been doing, as well as many classmates, is use the USMLE First Aid and Toronto Notes (for the Canadian boards) as guides and basis for our LOs week to week in first year. That way we know what we need to know later, and tailors our work better.
I am doing some observerships over the summer, and I've told the docs / surgeons that I will be looking for an elective later. I have pulled lots of family and friend connections to get them, and I'm grateful. The physicians all understand and even those at hospitals who don't accept IMGs / CSAs have found a way to bypass it for me. I'm shameless with networking when it comes to my future and success - you have to be when it's that competitive. I'm also working part time with a surgeon and biomechanical engineer on a research direction. I've never done research but this is my way of bridging the gap between my engineering background and medicine. I'm hoping it'll set me up for the SSM later because I wouldn't know where to start otherwise. I debated just enjoying my summer and traveling and spending time at my cottage, but I figured I would try to help myself out a bit on the uphill battle. And still enjoy summer and my cottage (travel I've done through the year and on breaks and I'll be doing a bit right after exams).
Ultimately, you have to decide for you whether it's worth it. It's overwhelming, definitely. You're going to hear lots of negative things, along with some positives. You just have to assess risk / benefit for yourself. I would rather have done 3 years in Ireland than 3 years applying to Canada as I'm already past mid-20s and I knew what I wanted. But I have my fallback of engineering / medicine career (with a work history).
I'm not naive enough to think it'll be "if I want it badly enough, I'll get it" but I'm also open to other routes than just Canada matching. And I decided I don't want a super competitive specialty (dream is ortho, but the climate sucks even for Canadian grads and I do want a life before I'm 50 at this point).
It's scary but I don't have regrets (yet lol) but I think I did a decent job of risk assessment when I chose to come here. You just have to do the same.
On a side note, before I came to Limerick / after quitting my job, I spent my whole summer at my cottage, or in wine country, or seeing friends and family, and took a dream trip where I camped through a couple countries in Africa. I definitely did nothing scholastically and I would encourage you to do the same!
Thanks sassa. It's been interesting reading the forums cause there is so much negativity. Good to know and certainly have been pondering on similar lines.
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I've also heard from my uncles coworker (whose son is at UL) that he spends about $2500/month supporting him there - is this true for all students at UL? Even considering euros this seems like a ridiculous amount to be spending monthly on living expenses. Is this true for all students?
I think I'm feeling fairly set on going, I have a professional degree as well and will be keeping my license so that I can still work in Canada and after grad if I don't match right away. Still a hard decision though
I think I'm feeling fairly set on going, I have a professional degree as well and will be keeping my license so that I can still work in Canada and after grad if I don't match right away. Still a hard decision though
Okay, $2500? I would question what they're spending it on.
I usually travel somewhere every month, and I bake every week for my PBL group, and I come out around $2000 (most trips cost ~$500). I could easily make that $1100-$1400 if I cut out the travel and baking. And I will be cutting back on travel next year for study reasons and to save money for extra flights in the future (though I have lots of points on my Aventura and through Aeroplan that I can redeem at least 4 round trip flights free).
I mean, I guess if you count in living expenses maybe $2500/month, but I paid that off before I even got here and don't consider it into my monthly budget spreadsheet (yes, I keep track of EVERY purchase so I can evaluate my spending and also use it with my financial advisor who allows me X funds per year from my LOC total).
I would say budget $1200-$1800 per month. That gives you freedom if you need it for travel or for unexpected expenses - e.g. I ended up needing some ridiculous antibiotics and a cab to the hospital and that was 200 Euro gone that I didn't plan for. But $2500 on food and personal? That's a lot IMO.
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It says online to except about 18 000 euros a year on expenses. I plan to travel as much as possible, will we have enough time for that on a regular weekend? Also, are there holidays every once in a while? Student calendar did not list any except reading week.
Sounds about right.
Rent has been €250-500 a month depending where you live and with how many people...
I probably spend €50 on food per week, i could cut that down a bit, but i like my nice food.
Last semester i had to drive an hour each way to get to my clinic from the closest town, it cost €55 euro/week in gas. (Gas is sitting around €1.55/litre right now) Now i live across the street from the hospital so im spending a negligable amount...
You will need a car. Its pretty much inevitable. You have to do med/surg rurally eventually and most gp practices are out of the towns and away from the "hubs" where the lectures are. My car cost €3k, i bought it at the end of second year from a candian who had matched back and was leaving. Its a rare "automatic". Theyre hard to come by, especially in the under 5k price range.
Its getting increasingly hard to find insurance for us over here, i paid €1200 for last years insurance, but i got a letter saying i couldnt renew with them this year. The cheapest i can find so far is €1800/year...
Road tax is €199 per year to drive it
I have to do the nct (essentially a safety) on my car every year, thats €55
Gas/electric was about €100/month when i lived alone, €30/month with room mates
Internet is €30-€45/month
Phone bill is prepaid, normally about €25 per month but i rarely use it
To store my stuff/car over the summer it will be €60/month (alternatives are leaving stuff at friends places over the summer and keeping your car at a random parking lot for free, i did this last summer and over christmas).
Getting my hair did at bellisimo in limerick is anywhere from €85-€140 every 8-12 weeks depending on what deals i can get (obv this isnt an essential expense)
My interest (minimum monthly repayment) on my loan is $500/month
Flights home are anywhere from $600-$900
And then theres books, clothes, housewares, nights out etc....
I would say $2000-2500 is pretty accurate.
On a regular weekend? Depends where you're going... If you're staying in ireland, it should be fairly doable.
Google the bank holidays in ireland. The university follows those... I'd say they're similar in number and spaced similarily to canadian long weekends. You also get easter week off in first and second year.
Its not all bad. As much as i love complaining about UL, i would still choose UL over the caribbean schools and most of the irish schools. I liked the pbl format of first and second year. I liked the early introduction to clinical skills, and We are typically seen in the hospitals here as stronger and more competent students compared to UCC and NUIG. Ive talked to second year gems canadians at UCC who were completely oblivious as to what an elective even was...
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Thank-you Pinky 🙂 That does make me feel better. I have heard from other students/residents as well that UL really does have strong students, particularly with the clinical skills (I'm hoping 1st year may feel a little easier for me skills wise as I'm coming from neurosurgical nursing and was working on my critical care/emergency specialty)
@Charlotte Haley I'm one of the 'travelling' people in my class and I found that more than once a month can get a bit rough keeping up with work, at least in first year.
I did a couple double weekends and one I did 3 weekends in a row (Belfast / Kilkenny / Canada for 48 hrs) and that was a blur. I got my work done but I didn't know it solidly. So extra review and work now before exams.
But definitely take advantage of time and manage it and you can travel quite a bit. I went to the Middle East (Jordan) for Easter as I figured I wouldn't have that luxury in the future but that was expensive (took some budgeting for)
It's all up to personal preference and time management.
As @Pinky677 said, expenses will go up in later years (I can only truly comment on what I've done). So like ... If you have a certain amount of money, don't blow it all in first year lol or do ... But you get what I mean.
I did a couple double weekends and one I did 3 weekends in a row (Belfast / Kilkenny / Canada for 48 hrs) and that was a blur. I got my work done but I didn't know it solidly. So extra review and work now before exams.
But definitely take advantage of time and manage it and you can travel quite a bit. I went to the Middle East (Jordan) for Easter as I figured I wouldn't have that luxury in the future but that was expensive (took some budgeting for)
It's all up to personal preference and time management.
As @Pinky677 said, expenses will go up in later years (I can only truly comment on what I've done). So like ... If you have a certain amount of money, don't blow it all in first year lol or do ... But you get what I mean.
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Thanks for the info, I'm really excited to come! What is limerick like as a city to live in?
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Would you guys recommend Cappa or Quigley to live in 1st year? Or another building? I'm really wanting to live in Rez but unsure where. I want somewhere quiet and it would be nice to meet students in other faculties too