waitlisted at RCSI

[csname]

Hi

I just found out that I've been waitlisted at RCSI. I had my interview in end of May, after I postponed my April interview. Looking in the hindsight I think that was a mistake because there were obviously more spots available in mid april than in end may. Anyways, my rank on the waitlist is in top 5. so I was wondering if there's a good chance of making the class. I mean in North America, the first five waitlisters are literally gauranteed a spot. However, I'm not sure if anybody turns down their RCSI invitation in June. Any current RCSI students here who can tell me if anyone in their class have come off the waitlist. Last year I heard that they were conducting interviews even in June.

thank you and congrats to all those who made it. 🙂

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[Choda]

I think there's a decent chance you might get in off the waitlist, especially if you're garanteed top 5. You have to consider that all people who applied to canadian and us schools are hearing back from them now and some people probably accepted an rcsi spot (or other irish school for that matter) prematurely. Although they may have paid the deposit, I'm sure some will pull out and opt to go to a school closer to home.
I got accepted in February, and another friend of mine just got accepted last month. Now I know 6 people from my school who will be going there in the fall.

csname don't worry! we'll probably see you in october! keep us posted...

 

[lola]

it's not rcsi, but i pulled out of trinity after paying the huge deposit last year, so it definitely can happen. good luck 🙂

 

[csname]

thank you choda and lola for the encouraging words. I would definitely stay optimistic. One thing that I'm confused about is why rcsi is still conducting interviews in mid june, when according to atlantic bridge their class is full. I mean why make people come to new york and go through all this trouble when you already have people on the waitlist.

 

[Choda]

well...apparently this is the "Irish Way of Doing Things"...where usually most of us in North America would be like "wtf!!?". I've been told to start getting used this sort of administrative run-around: they are not known to be terribly efficient with paperwork and communication. I know it can be a bit nerve wracking, but there's not much you can do at this point in time.
Just hang out! Chill! Enjoy your summer before you hit it up again in the fall.
csname is this your first year applying to medical school? are you an undergrad? did you apply to the 5 or 6 year program?
If this is your first time applying you should just take this as a learning experience. If you don't get in, hey! at least you have the priceless experience of doing an interview.

 

[JaneM]

Thanks for all the nice words about us irish!!!!!I have an interview for RCSI in mid june! The interviews are conducted in mid june for all us irish lot!!The few places that they have left for us that is!!! If you dont like the system, stay where you are, noones making you!!There are 4 places for irish students and about 150 for international students!!so dont complain please!!

 

[Choda]

whoa whoa whoa! no ones complaining here!

I was just passing on information I gathered from other students who currently attend schools over there. I know 9 canadians and two americans over there and they've all said the same things. It wasn't a judgment or anything, just a heads up to let us know that it's obviously a different country and people do things differently, there's nothing wrong with that. Whether it's true or not, hey, i'll experience it in the fall.

don't get me wrong, i'm very stoked to go there in the fall...

 

[csname]

hey choda,
this is my first time applying to irish med schools. I'll be going for the 5 year program as I'm finishing my honours biology this year. Anyways, it'll be very disappointing if i don't get in. Everywhere I go for interviews, I'm put on waitlist. I come so close yet don't get in.

JaneM, please don't be offended. We have nothing against irish, otherwise we won't be yearning to go to RCSI in the first place. Its just a whole new way of doing things. good luck on your interview

cheers,

 

[13538]

Thanks for all the nice words about us irish!!!!!I have an interview for RCSI in mid june! The interviews are conducted in mid june for all us irish lot!!The few places that they have left for us that is!!! If you dont like the system, stay where you are, noones making you!!There are 4 places for irish students and about 150 for international students!!so dont complain please!!

Hey Jane...are you an Irish graduate?? Where'd ya go to College..what did you do? Let me know if you are...and I'll fill you in on the graduate interviews! Did you apply anywhere else in Ireland or the UK?

 

[JaneM]

Hey Trinners!

Yeap just finished MSISS in Trinity. Only applied to RCSI this yr but if dont make it trying all the english etc next yr. What about yourself? Interview for RCSI next wk so trying to find out as much as possible!!Any advice?

 

[leorl]

MSISS??? DAMN!!! What are you doing, don't go to med school, you could be rolling in $$$ in a year! 🙂. (btw, MSISS people are smarties. I'm genuflecting). Ah, just joshin' a bit. What makes you want to switch to medicine?

Good luck with your interview. They're probably going to ask why you're not pursuing an MSISS career and want to go the medical route.

 

[13538]

Hey Trinners!

Yeap just finished MSISS in Trinity. Only applied to RCSI this yr but if dont make it trying all the english etc next yr. What about yourself? Interview for RCSI next wk so trying to find out as much as possible!!Any advice?

Hey Jane!! I studied Physiology in Trinity...applied to RCSI in my final year, was interviewed and didn't get in 🙁 I then started a PhD in Trinity and applied to the UK and everywhere in Ireland. Got a place in Trinity which was my first choice...wrote up my research as an MSc and started medicine. I've just [yesterday] finished 3rd Med 🙂

OK, here's the low down on the RCSI interviews! They interview about 6 people at once...you just go into a room and there are 6 tables set up each with 2 interviewers. They opened with the usual "why do you want to do medicine..." and followed on with what I had studied at Trinity, my results, hobbies and healthcare experience. At that stage I had no healthcare experience other than some work experience I had done in the Mater when I was in school - I think the fact I had no recent healthcare experience under my belt really hurt my chances! They also asked me how I was going to pay the tuition fees throughout the next 5 years...everyone I talked to after the interview was asked this... Overall, my interview wasn't great! The 2 interviewers weren't really interested in me or what I had to say at all and it showed...I got the impression they were merely going through the motions...

3 other people from my class were also interviewed by RCSI that year and none of us got in... One guy spent the year doing volunteer work in Africa, reapplied to RCSI the following year and got in. The rest of us are studying medicine elsewhere. RCSI is a funny beast...it's hard to know what they are looking for in potential applicants. If you have some interesting healthcare experience or unusual life experiences such as volunteer work in Africa I'd make a big deal out of that at the interview. Really try and sell yourself at the interview! Best of luck and let us know how it goes! 🙂

 

[Choda]

Hey Trinners,

I just wanted to ask you what has been your impression of the irish medical school system over the last couple years. I understand you've now had the basic science aspects as well as some clinical exposure.
Can you give us some thoughts on that?

Can you tell us about the quality of basic science teaching?
How "hands-on" were you in the clinical environment? Was it mostly just standing around and looking over people's shoulder or were you actively participating, taking histories and doing physicals etc?

oh! and are you doing any internships over the summer?


I know you're at trinity - I myself am starting at RCSI in the fall - but I jsut wanted to hear what you have to say anyway! 😀

enjoy your time off!

chods

 

[csname]

Hey Choda,
I was just wondering if you applied to RCSI from high school or undergrad. You said 6 of your school mates are going to RCSI as well? Which school/university did you go to? Is any of your mates planning to withdraw their acceptance offer so that I can get in

 

[Choda]

s'up csname,

I applied to all four AB irish schools. RCSI interviewed me in february, and I got waitlisted at UCC: but i accepted rcsi anyhow cuz i wanna be in dublin. I just finished my Bsc. at "harvard of the north" (csname i think you are canadian right? i saw your post on premed101...so you should know which school i'm talkin about) in life sciences. hehehehe I don't think my buddies are going to withdraw b/c they didn't get accepted to any other canadian schools. Actually, my mistake, not 6 will be at rcsi: 4 at rcsi, 1 at ucd and 1 at trinity.

 

[13538]

Choda,
I've just finished 3rd Med (AKA 2nd Med at RCSI), so my clinical training proper starts in September. Pre-clinical teaching at Trinity is good...as with anywhere else, there is variability in the quality of the teaching but overall it has been very good. 3rd Med is an intensive year and the final pre-clinical exams in March are a nightmare!

From what I've heard from the upper years...the clinical teaching is very much what you make of it yourself. You can either float around in the background or be proactive and take control of your own learning. The people who do well are those who put in the time in the hospitals...

I'm doing research this summer but I'm planning to do an elective in Africa or Asia next Summer.

 

[leorl]

Trinners, missed you in drag last night 🙂. nyuck nyuck (for the record, Trinners does NOT have a habit of dressing in drag)... people in our class were having a baby shower/ engagement party for two of the girls and it was a girls only affair, but guys could come if they disguised themselves appropriately. Needless to say, no guys came 🙁. You were missed during Mafia.

We were just "examined" on history taking, with apparently more assessments of that type to come. The Pre-clinical training is pretty good at TCD, especially the Anatomy. They're constantly changing things around though to try and improve the curriculum, so what we experience might be quite different from what future years experience. Med school at the end of the day is what you make of it, regardless of year... and it can be both frustrating and rewarding the system here...

 

[13538]

Trinners, missed you in drag last night 🙂. nyuck nyuck (for the record, Trinners does NOT have a habit of dressing in drag)... people in our class were having a baby shower/ engagement party for two of the girls and it was a girls only affair, but guys could come if they disguised themselves appropriately. Needless to say, no guys came 🙁. You were missed during Mafia.

Leorl...missed you at Down Under on Wednesday night...*really* good night 🙂 There was a surprisingly good turnout from the class at the dinner and afterwards in Down Under! For once everyone kept their own clothes on on the dancefloor...apparently the bar staff remember everyone from the previous few Wednesday nights the class were there...!!!

 

[csname]

Hey Choda and the rest of the gang,

thanks for all the support you guys showed me while I waited. I just received the thick envelope from RCSI. I'm in I'm so excited. I've always wanted to study medicine and now I get a chance to do it. 🙂 and to do it at RCSI is icing on the cake.

Yeah Choda, I am from Canada. Had 7 on the verbal reasoning, that's why couldn't apply to any canadian med schools except Ottawa (don't even mention Mac, I don't like them). Got interviewed at Ottawa and waitlisted. Don't tell me that Ottawa is called the "harvard of the north"??

I have a question for you Choda. Do you think its worth getting a line of credit from a bank? Should I tell them that its for med school. I mean canadian med students get up to 150,000 in LOC, so do you think they might give me more if I threw the M-bomb (i.e. i go to med school). Also, did you apply for Canhelp?

cheers,

 

[13538]

Congrats csname!!! 🙂

 

[Choda]

congrats csname! good for you!

I guess I'll be bumping into you in the fall eh?

I think getting a line of credit might be worth it. you have to make interest payments on it right away though. My roomate who got into Queen's meds dropped the m-bomb at BMO and got star treatment there. I havn't had any experience with it though.
However, I did get canhelp approved, so I don't have to pay the balance of tuition until I get to dublin. The Canhelp checks are disbursed directly to rcsi and you'll have to sign for them when you get there. Otherwise, the rest my money will come from private sources. Also, I'm going to apply for canada student loans.

thus, you'll probably be set if you can get canhelp as well as a loc...it's up to you though. The couple people I know who are already over there are on canhelp as well being supported by their parents. rcsi's tuition is such that it is necessary to obtain at least two sources of funding. Seems intimidating at first, but *hopefully* we'll be able to pay it back.

csname I'll send you my email addy via a private message if you want to keep contact. if you wanna discuss some stuff we can do it that way.

 

[sluequee]

csname,

Congrats on getting into RCSI! I worked there last summer and it's a great place. I'll be off to UCD this summer to start meds there!

As for the LOC's.. I went to RBC and got mine there. All of the universities in Ireland are recognized institutions so if you bring them your acceptance letter than you get the same deal as students doing meds in Canada. The going deal is $150,000 line of credit, with no maximum on how much you can use in a single year, and at an interest rate of Prime - push for that, don't take anything higher.

Hope that helps and congrats again!

steph

 

[csname]

congrats sluequee on getting into UCD. Who knows maybe we'll run into each other during our clinicals. For your line of credit at Royal Bank, did they ask you for a co-signer? Obviously I'm a full time canadian student and don't have much income on my own, although I did earn quite a bit during 4 years of undergrad. So I was wondering whether I should drag one of my relatives along to sign the forms for me. What do they expect from the co-signer? Do they process your application right then? I think I'll go there on Monday after getting some more info. Thanks.

P.S.: choda, i emailed you back. I have a quick question for you. Why did you choose mercer court instead of millin house?

 

[sluequee]

csname,

As for the LOC at RBC, I didn't need a co-signer, I just showed them my letter of acceptance and the student handbook that stated how much tuition is. I'm pretty sure for the medical student LOC you don't need a co-signer, so you should be able to go in on your own and get things started. If possible I would suggest going to a branch near one of the Canadian medical schools since these are the ones that would deal with the med LOC's more often, so they'll know more about it. I had a bit of trouble trying to get the right info on the phone or at my local branch, but the branch in London that deals with the UWO med students knew everything. The RBC website also has a lot of good info on it.

As for the process... when I went in, they took all my info and filled in an application and then in about a week they called back to say it had been approved and to come in sign for it. It was pretty straight forward.

It should be no problem for you.

Good Luck!

Sluequee

 

[leorl]

Leorl...missed you at Down Under on Wednesday night...*really* good night 🙂 There was a surprisingly good turnout from the class at the dinner and afterwards in Down Under! For once everyone kept their own clothes on on the dancefloor...apparently the bar staff remember everyone from the previous few Wednesday nights the class were there...!!!

Congrats csname! Uhm trin, yeah 🙁 . I had training Thursday morning and so had to be in bed by the time you guys left dinner. I would only have been able to go for an hour and not drink. Big bummer, I love Down Under too. But c'est la vie, next time!