GEM - Open Evening - 25 Nov 2009

[UCD School of Medicine]

UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science is delighted to invite prospective applicants for our Graduate Entry to Medicine programme to an Open Evening on 25 November 2009.

In UCD, GEM is a four year degree designed for individuals who hold a 2:1 in an Honours Degree Programme in any discipline and who now wish to pursue a career in medicine.

The Open Evening will be held on Wednesday 25th November, 2009 in Room C004 in the UCD Health Sciences Centre, Belfield from 5pm.

Please register your attendance by emailing: gem@ucd.ie

Open Evening Highlights
• Welcome Address – Professor William G. Powderly, Dean of Medicine,
• Information on Course Structure
• Year one Expectations
• Question and Answer Session with Current Students
• Facilities Tour

[PlasteredParis]

UCD is a large campus - where exactly is the Health Science building?

[MentalNote]

UCD is a large campus - where exactly is the Health Science building?

There is a very detailed map available on the UCD website.

[UCD Medicine]

UCD is a large campus - where exactly is the Health Science building?

The UCD Health Science Centre is located on the North West quadrant of the campus. The three storey building is located between the Conway Institute and the Student Centre close to the UCD Bowl and all-weather pitches.

It is labelled as Building No. 16 in the detailed UCD campus map (http://www.ucd.ie/maps/ucdmapengapak_06.pdf).

[Dr Freddy]

Please can I ask for feedback from those who went to the open evening in UCD. I live in England currently and didn't have a chance to come.

Thanks

[Vmash]

Hey I was at the open evening and it was quite good although a bit rushed considering it was about 2hours compared to the RCSI's which was a full day.

I got more info from the first year GEP student which was quite great, we were showed the anatomy lab and another room where bones were stored (I'm sure there's a name for that can't remember though We also saw stored kidneys, livers, embryo at 37wks etc.

Although it was good, it was not structured (given the amount of time) and the GEP guy was not sure where to take us but he did his best to address our questions and he spoke very highly of the college and how good the lecturers are and if he was given another opportunity he would choose UCD again.

Also, UCD gradmed has some classes with undergrads and they do not have specific facilities for gradmed students, whereas the RCSI do not mix undergrads with gradmed students until 3rd year, but there are benefits to both sides regarding this.
The RCSI has dedicated facilities for gradmed students and from what I gather has more early patient contact (from first year) than UCD which have very limited patient contact.

I think the main advantage of UCD over the RCSI is the fact the UCD has a main college unlike the RCSI where you shuttle from Sandyford to Blanchardstown (1st and 2nd years respectively). But it depends if you want campus life/setting or not.

I found it quite good as I said (already) but I'm still stuck, slightly leaning towards surgeons (slightly but we'll see

Hope this helps in the slightest and goodluck x

[Dr Freddy]

Thanks Vmash.
I also tend to prefer RCSI...

Good luck in your application

[gsquared]

Hi Vmash - were there many people at the Open Evening compared with the RCSI open day?

I missed it unfortunately as I am abroad at the moment - seems like there was not a lot of notice about it!

Big dilemma as to whether to apply to UCD or RCSI for Dublin based people...

[Vmash]

Yeah there was not enough notice as I found out (on this forum) and registered less than a week before it was held.
There was a good bit more than the RCSI but that could be because surgeons stopped taking people as their open day was very structured so they could only accomodate certain numbers.

I think alot of people tend to prefer UCD over surgeons (generally), If you look at the CAO scores showed that all other colleges had to use random selection except surgeons so that says it, i suppose more chance for me with surgeons
Also good news, UCD are increasing graduate EU places from 30 to 55 from 2010.

[Aiden]

I was also at the open day. I found it was quite lacking compared to RCSI but i agree with Vmash in that I gleened more info off the student showing us around than the talks themselves. Although as the students were first year GEMs only there a few months they couldnt address many of the questions put to them- although they did try their best!

I found the tour quite good and the health sciences building is lovely. Also good news about the places being upped- there's hopes for a gamsat score drop! (fingers crossed!) I liked the idea of the elective of 6weeks abroad which RCSI didnt seem to have but on the whole im leaning toward RCSI.