Timespan of offer to start date predicament

[thegamebird]

Hi - I'm after advice from anyone that may have been or is in my particular predicament!

I sat the GAMSAT in London in September and am planning on applying to RCSI and UCD for the GEP 2010 courses.

The position I'm in is that I work full time and have a three month notice period. The research I have done has thrown up that as a graduate in 1999, if I were to be offered a place it would be in round 0 at the beginning of July, with the course starting in September. Clearly this would not give me enough time to cover my notice period, let alone move to Dublin, find a school for my son etc. etc.!!

Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers

[MentalNote]

What score did you get and are you planning on sitting the March GAMSAT in Dublin?
Are you an Irish applicant?

In general you are right. You must apply through the CAO system which means you won't get an offer till the end of July at earliest.

[thegamebird]

Thanks for the reply. I'm an EU applicant, and my GAMSAT was 73. I'm not planning on taking it again - once was enough

I read on the CAO website that there is a round 0 where they make offers towards the beginning of July for people that had graduated in previous years - am I mistaken on this then? If it's the end of July that doesn't make it any easier....

[MentalNote]

Fair play thegamebird, awesome score!

I think given that the score required for RCSI has never gone over 61, just quit the job before you get the offer. You don't have anything to worry about.

Round 0 was 30th of July this year. You will get an offer in this round.

The most important thing is for you to know and understand the way the CAO application system works. Get your application in early and correctly. Ring the CAO if you need help with that, they are friendly and helpful there.
The only way I see this going wrong for you is if a mistake occurs on your application or you mess up accepting the offer!

Best of luck, and may be see you next year in RCSI or UCD! BTW are you going to the RCSI open day this Saturday?

[thegamebird]

I have applied via the CAO online tool already. I found it a bit challenging, with some instructions contradicting others. I have contacted them regarding exactly what documented proof I need to submit, and understand that they need a full transcript from my first degree and an approved copy of the degree certificate. I understand that I don't need to send in proof of my GCSE or A level passes, so I won't.

GAMSAT also advised that I need to send a copy of the score to the CAO so I'll send them the PDF from the GAMSAT website and a hard copy with my certificates. I'm hoping that'll be enough.

I'm afraid that the Open Day is out as I'm holidaying in Thailand with the family (can't be bad)! But yes, you never know, we may meet in about 10 months time in Dublin. I'll be the one who's homeless and facing a law suit from my previous employer!

Good luck to you too!!

[MentalNote]

Yep full transcript and certified copy of degree (English version) is what's needed.

You will need to inform them of your score as you are not sitting GAMSAT Ireland 2010 so you have that sorted.

There is a second Open Day in January so if you think you can make that I'd advise registering with RCSI straight away.

About your resignation, is it possible that you could hand in your notice in May or June and put a caveat in that you may with draw it in early July? Not that you will have to, but may be that might make you feel safer? Probably depends on your relationship with employer really!

[RCSI GEP]

I'm afraid that the Open Day is out as I'm holidaying in Thailand with the family (can't be bad)! But yes, you never know, we may meet in about 10 months time in Dublin. I'll be the one who's homeless and facing a law suit from my previous employer!

Due to the increased interest this year, we will be holding a second Open Day in January. But people are also welcome to come to see us / the facilities during the rest of the year (by appointment). Contact details can be found on the RCSI GEP website (Graduate Entry Programme).

I would also imagine that a 73 GAMSAT would be a pretty safe bet for a first choice preference unless the GAMSAT scores take a huge jump this year.

Best of luck

[thegamebird]

Due to the increased interest this year, we will be holding a second Open Day in January. But people are also welcome to come to see us / the facilities during the rest of the year (by appointment). Contact details can be found on the RCSI GEP website (Graduate Entry Programme).

I would also imagine that a 73 GAMSAT would be a pretty safe bet for a first choice preference unless the GAMSAT scores take a huge jump this year.

Best of luck

Thanks for the post - I appreciate it. I've put through a request to come along to the Open Day in January. Of all the Irish medical schools RCSI is my first choice, so I'm looking forward to seeing the campus and learning more about the course.

I'm not sure if you know, but I understand from the CAO website that there is a round A for people with particular circumstances that need as much notice as possible. As a UK resident, with a young family, and having already completed my degree in 1999 (a First in Physics with Medical Applications), aswell as being in a job that needs 3 months notice, I had hoped that my application may receive an offer a little earlier than the end of July. Do you know if this exists as a possibility and if so what I would need to do to make it happen?

Thanks for your help!!

[RCSI GEP]

I'm afraid only the CAO would be able to answer that. Admission to the Irish GEP courses is entirely controlled by them, the Irish Medical Schools don't have any input into the matter.

Best of luck and hope to see you in January.

[CAOMAN]

Hi The Game Bird

Offers for Graduate medicine will be made on August 3rd this year

This is to allow time for current year applicants to get transcripts of their degree to be forwarded by July 15th.

No offers in early July.

You will have about 8 days to accept and the course starts at the end of August in some cases, details available from the individual institutions.

Hope this helps