Graduate Entry Medicine

**paco** · 01-03-2010, 06:25 AM

Hey all,

I have posted a few questions on the UL forum ("To UL or not to UL") about the GEM programme down there. I have heard a few thing about UL and I wanted some clarification from actual students. Some of them have taken the time to answer my questions very comprehensively and I appreciated that.

However, overall the general theme of the responses to my questions was a profound negativity towards the traditional medical schools.

Some charges laid against the established medical schools include:

"resistance from traditionalists" - in regard to recognition of PBL

"...archaic and obsolete notions of what medical education should look like"

"They had to sit through thousands of lectures so that must be the only way to do things. New and different = scary and dangerous. As it has been so shall it ever be and all that jazz."

"we don't need to be spoon fed at this stage of our education"

"RCSI last [in CAO order of preference] because I think that one of the great things about college is the fact that you get to meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds....You don't get this in RCSI"

"Some people just seem 'made' for a more didactic approach, and they really don't have fun with the independence of PBL. "

"very traditional and change adverse medical school fraternity"

"nobody cares where you qualify (Akin to LC points or even school (private versus community)"

"coming from a new, dynamic and innovative course gives us an added flexibility that I don't think exists in other college courses"

"Can anyone honestly say that they really 'learn' anything from a 50 minute didactic lecture?"

"After 10 minutes in a didactic lecture, most people are doing a Homer on it."

"Spoon fed students do ok when Mammy's around. Will Mammy hold your hand on the wards?"

Is the criticism justified? Are you all a bunch or arrogant "rich-kids", aloof and untrained in the real requirements of a career in medicine?

Some aspects of PBL seem attractive, admittedly the defensiveness of the UL cohort is slightly less attractive. Making this career change is a big decision from me and I want to get the best medical training possible. I would have no qualms going for a new learning style if it is better and I don't want to sign up to a traditional medical school if I am paying just for the name..

Your views?

Paco

**Vmash** · 04-03-2010, 03:38 AM

I don't know much about UL so can't really say much, but having read the comment on your ''to UL or no to UL'' I noticed that the students seem sort of defensive (my opinion, no offence meant now

But if you consider it from their viewpoint, most people (including myself) are scared of UL because they're a new med school and the students have to put up with bias directed at their school. Even some people I spoke to that are in the medical/health profession are slightly reluctant to give an opinion, and I mostly got ''ahh, then you have to go to the open day and see for yourself or consider taking another year off'' This is unfair an will continue for a while so no one can blame UL students for defending their school.

So I am considering going to Limerick for the open evening and I'll try and keep an open mind as I have been to RCSI and UCD, loved both so fingers crossed and guys let's not be too quick to make assumptions about UL.

PS: I know, UL is my fourth choice; In my defence I live in Dublin