Questions for UCC people!!!

[mtb2011]

It looks like I got into UCC. Just a piece of advice for those applying for next year - even if you do not give out your credit card number for fedex, they still fedex you the package!!!!

Anyway, Unless UCD can stop me before making the deposit, I will definitely be going to UCC because there is no way I am paying two non-refundable deposits.

I just want to get a heads up about what the program and city are like. What do current UCC students know now that they wish they knew beforehand? Please let me know all the good and bad. What should I buy in canada to bring with me? How long are summer/winter breaks? Also, some cheap housing info would be good too. I dont do roommates, and a good 35 min walk to school does not bother me. Etc...Thanks in advance for all your contributions!!!

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[iwantajob]

Not necessarily...I received my packages by regular mail. I would have rather received this by fedex because the wait was agonizing. I am definitely not paying multiple non-refundable deposits either...which is why I'm waiting for these other schools to tell me their response. What are the chances of getting off the waitlist for UCD anyway? I'd like to know.

 

[mtb2011]

Not necessarily...I received my packages by regular mail. I would have rather received this by fedex because the wait was agonizing. I am definitely not paying multiple non-refundable deposits either...which is why I'm waiting for these other schools to tell me their response. What are the chances of getting off the waitlist for UCD anyway? I'd like to know.

Lol that's what I'm saying. I chose the regular mail option and still got it delivered by fedex. I wonder who paid for it...

Anyway regarding ucd, why don't you call peter nealon at abp? He's such a asweet man. He verified my offer at ucc and said mine was the last given out (I think he meant at ucc)

Did u also get an offer from ucc?

 

[postmodoc]

congrats guys. i just got my UCC package yesterday. now comes the agonizing part- $$$$$

I visited Cork last summer and let me tell you, it's f***ing amazing. i was all pissy that i got rejected from rcsi but realistically its sooo expensive in dublin. not sure about the cost of housing although my cousin goes there and I could ask her! i'd like to know myself b/c im trying to figure out loans... What are you guys doing about that?? I might need to borrow the full cost of my education.

mtb- the only necessity is clothing, b/c its notoriously expensive to shop in ireland. anyone know if our laptops will be fully functional over there? thanks!

 

[jnuts]

mtb- the only necessity is clothing, b/c its notoriously expensive to shop in ireland. anyone know if our laptops will be fully functional over there? thanks!

This goes for any electronics you'd like to bring:

Check the electrical information sticker on the back of the device or adapter. Along with the amperage and voltage there will be a line specifying the INPUT. If the device says 110-220 (or 100-240) all you will need is a small bit of plastic and metal to change the physical shape of the plug. You'll usually see these in travel shops or even office supply stores by the dozen; they usually cost about 5 bucks and you'll need the one that has a receptical that looks like a wall outlet and the other side with 3 big flat prongs (usually labelled North America to UK).

If the INPUT says 100-120 (or 100-110) I'd advise you leave what ever it is at home. If its something absolutely essential, then you can get a big electrical box that will convert the voltage, but these converters are usually power hungry (read big electrical bills), fragile, and expensive. Also anything with a motor, heater, or clock simply will not work properly due to the difference in AC frequency.

The only other thing that is slightly anoying is that the DVD players in laptops are region coded. All that means is that if you bring DVDs from home and rent them here eventually your laptop will make you pick such that you can only watch European OR North American DVDs. However, if you ask one of your more tech savy classmates he/she will be able to install a program that gets around this little problem.

 

[iwantajob]

Yeah I got the UCC package...but that deposit is a lot of money! I need to find out the outcome of my other schools before I send off that money. Ugh...yeah I was considering calling Peter Nealon but I am considering calling the individual schools directly as some people on those board have done in the past. They tell us its important to be patient but there are thousands of dollars at stake here....

postmodoc- congrats buddy! I'll be paying for the school by obtaining lines of credit and personal savings. At first I was thinking of taking out a mortgage but the line of credit seems like a better option. I might ask my parents for help too of course!

If I do attend Cork I'll probably be seeing you guys there! Congrats!

 

[mtb2011]

Congrats everyone!!! how much is that deposit anyway? the package got sent to my mom's house, and she's in the process of sending it to me. I heard it is 4000 euros. Also, how long do they give you to pay the deposit? As well, postmodoc, why is cork so f***ing amazing? do you mind elaborating?

As for paying, I think my dad is the primary source of money. Anything he cant pay, i'll take a loan for. It may end up being 50/50. I will work summers to pay for living expenses. Good thing Cork is cheaper than dublin. Why do people tend to take out a loan of 150K? Why cant they just take out what they need yearly? Is there a rule against this? Also, how many people were able to procure this loan without needing a co-signer?

I am also starting to think that no current UCC people will post in this thread.

 

[Handsome88]

Congrats everyone!!! how much is that deposit anyway? the package got sent to my mom's house, and she's in the process of sending it to me. I heard it is 4000 euros. Also, how long do they give you to pay the deposit? As well, postmodoc, why is cork so f***ing amazing? do you mind elaborating?

As for paying, I think my dad is the primary source of money. Anything he cant pay, i'll take a loan for. It may end up being 50/50. I will work summers to pay for living expenses. Good thing Cork is cheaper than dublin. Why do people tend to take out a loan of 150K? Why cant they just take out what they need yearly? Is there a rule against this? Also, how many people were able to procure this loan without needing a co-signer?

I am also starting to think that no current UCC people will post in this thread.

When did you people get the acceptance letters? Is that the second round? Because ABP is telling me that decisions will be out mid-May...

 

[Lisam116]

has anyone heard back from the housing office at UCC yet?

are we going to be getting more information from UCC directly? like when we actually have to be there and do orientation etc?

fyi the financial aid contact, anne landers, has been telling me its going to take until mid-June for them to process the FAFSA and tell us about loans because the government is switching from private lenders to the US Department of Education and their financial aid people need to get trained on the new info. also, you have to physically send them your SAR from FAFSA because FAFSA doesn't send it out to non-US institutions.

 

[asd979]

Congrats everyone!!! how much is that deposit anyway? the package got sent to my mom's house, and she's in the process of sending it to me. I heard it is 4000 euros. Also, how long do they give you to pay the deposit? As well, postmodoc, why is cork so f***ing amazing? do you mind elaborating?

As for paying, I think my dad is the primary source of money. Anything he cant pay, i'll take a loan for. It may end up being 50/50. I will work summers to pay for living expenses. Good thing Cork is cheaper than dublin. Why do people tend to take out a loan of 150K? Why cant they just take out what they need yearly? Is there a rule against this? Also, how many people were able to procure this loan without needing a co-signer?

I am also starting to think that no current UCC people will post in this thread.

You can take out what you need yearly, the 150k is given to you and you decide how much of it you want to use at a time. You only pay interest on what you take out, but the 150k is available to you all the time. RBC will give you the loan without a cosigner if you have good credit, other banks make you get a cosigner. I don't plan on getting the second line of credit until I need it.

 

[asd979]

When did you people get the acceptance letters? Is that the second round? Because ABP is telling me that decisions will be out mid-May...

I got mine a few days ago, but I knew I was accepted last week.

 

[mtb2011]

You can take out what you need yearly, the 150k is given to you and you decide how much of it you want to use at a time. You only pay interest on what you take out, but the 150k is available to you all the time. RBC will give you the loan without a cosigner if you have good credit, other banks make you get a cosigner. I don't plan on getting the second line of credit until I need it.

Thanks asd979. So what happens if you don't use the full 150k? (If you drop out of med school)? Do they penalize u? Also, do you know the interest rate and monthly charges?

 

[asd979]

Thanks asd979. So what happens if you don't use the full 150k? (If you drop out of med school)? Do they penalize u? Also, do you know the interest rate and monthly charges?

Then they start making you pay it back. You don't have to pay back the 150K as long as you're in school or residency. The interest rate is prime and that's the only charge you have to pay while in school.

 

[Unch]

As per OP at the top, I thought I'd toss in my very general comments about UCC and Cork as my last final is in ten days and I graduate and head back to Canada soon thereafter. So here are some rough notes I just PMd to another SDN user:

So, Cork...Great city. We've loved it and no regrets whatsoever about this part of Ireland. Much rather be in a smaller but still well-appointed city like Cork than in big pan-European Dublin. We have kids and live 10km outside the city in Blarney. Rent a 4BR house with big yard for 1000E a month. Love the region, West Cork, the south in general. Can't go wrong here. Also, being the only medical students in the whole region (which has a huge catchment and major hospitals/level 1 trauma centre etc) is a big advantage versus competing with two other schools' students in Dublin.

UCC...again, no regrets. Far from perfect and there are a zillion things we gripe about and would change but fundamentally very sound with good hospitals, good enough facilities, serious faculty etc. The medicine here is fine...first world, like anywhere. Absolutely nothing that is suspect or dodgy or less than serious or thorough. Graduating feeling perfectly well-prepared to start residency anywhere in NAmerica (in terms of my knowledge base). Countless things that could have been better here but true anywhere I'm sure. In the end, I've achieved my goals school-wise in terms of getting a good degree from a respectable school and matching back to Canada. Can't ask for anything else, really, even if the school doesn't "cater to our needs" specifically. We all did our homework and networking etc and managed our own affairs and succeeded.

As for the match, I don't see why things would change in coming years. As per my post, I know of maybe one or two students who didn't match out of about 100 over five years and those two were odd or had alternate motives. I think students in my class were solid and a few very good but not extraordinarily good or bad...just competent people overall-- no wingnuts. It's all very achievable but you have to be very organized and proactive and absolutely maximize your electives and networking back in Canada.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. We've loved the Irish experience overall and feel enriched to have been able to live abroad and travel while earning the same degree. Just be sure you embrace Ireland if you come and don't count the days until your return for five years like many NAmericans do. Live in the moment and you'll have no regrets.

 

[yippydoodles]

Out of curiosity, who for sure is going to UCC for Fall 2010? And do any of you live in California? =)

 

[postmodoc]

Out of curiosity, who for sure is going to UCC for Fall 2010? And do any of you live in California? =)

I am, from Florida. Looking forward to learning medicine and enjoying ireland

 

[postmodoc]

As well, postmodoc, why is cork so f***ing amazing? do you mind elaborating?


I am also starting to think that no current UCC people will post in this thread.

I can try elaborating but really u won't kno til u experience it yourself

I spent a week in Cork last summer. I spent my time hanging around UCC campus meeting students. Coffee shops, sandwich bars, pubs, night clubs, bookstores, art galleries were among my main occupations. I find the city quite cozy, classy, artsy. Its got its a-holes, but so does everywhere. I visited all the major cities in Ireland, and Cork was by far my favorite.. So hard 2 leave LOL.

 

[mtb2011]

As per OP at the top, I thought I'd toss in my very general comments about UCC and Cork as my last final is in ten days and I graduate and head back to Canada soon thereafter. So here are some rough notes I just PMd to another SDN user:

So, Cork...Great city. We've loved it and no regrets whatsoever about this part of Ireland. Much rather be in a smaller but still well-appointed city like Cork than in big pan-European Dublin. We have kids and live 10km outside the city in Blarney. Rent a 4BR house with big yard for 1000E a month. Love the region, West Cork, the south in general. Can't go wrong here. Also, being the only medical students in the whole region (which has a huge catchment and major hospitals/level 1 trauma centre etc) is a big advantage versus competing with two other schools' students in Dublin.

UCC...again, no regrets. Far from perfect and there are a zillion things we gripe about and would change but fundamentally very sound with good hospitals, good enough facilities, serious faculty etc. The medicine here is fine...first world, like anywhere. Absolutely nothing that is suspect or dodgy or less than serious or thorough. Graduating feeling perfectly well-prepared to start residency anywhere in NAmerica (in terms of my knowledge base). Countless things that could have been better here but true anywhere I'm sure. In the end, I've achieved my goals school-wise in terms of getting a good degree from a respectable school and matching back to Canada. Can't ask for anything else, really, even if the school doesn't "cater to our needs" specifically. We all did our homework and networking etc and managed our own affairs and succeeded.

As for the match, I don't see why things would change in coming years. As per my post, I know of maybe one or two students who didn't match out of about 100 over five years and those two were odd or had alternate motives. I think students in my class were solid and a few very good but not extraordinarily good or bad...just competent people overall-- no wingnuts. It's all very achievable but you have to be very organized and proactive and absolutely maximize your electives and networking back in Canada.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. We've loved the Irish experience overall and feel enriched to have been able to live abroad and travel while earning the same degree. Just be sure you embrace Ireland if you come and don't count the days until your return for five years like many NAmericans do. Live in the moment and you'll have no regrets.

thanks for all your contributions Unch

 

[mtb2011]

i just got my application package today. i had no idea ucc would want the tuition balance by august 1st. i thought i read in many places that people waited to pay their balances around april when exchange rates are lower. do you guys know if this is firm deadline?

 

[TheCommissar]

I am, from Florida. Looking forward to learning medicine and enjoying ireland

I'm from Manhattan - I'll be attending UCC|GEM. I didn't see a Facebook group/website or anything like that for the incoming class yet.

On housing - I'm wondering... do the medical students tend to live in a cluster somewhere? If they do, I'd be interested in that... if they're kind of scattered, I'm going to rent a flat/house and will probably be looking for a house-mate if anyone's interested.

Eager to meet everyone! Erin go bragh

 

[yippydoodles]

I think they have graduate housing on campus. Still looking into everything. We should definitely start a facebook page to meet people in before we go. Oh and I'm from California

 

[Fiddler09]

....On housing - I'm wondering... do the medical students tend to live in a cluster somewhere? If they do, I'd be interested in that... if they're kind of scattered, I'm going to rent a flat/house and will probably be looking for a house-mate if anyone's interested....

I think they have graduate housing on campus. Still looking into everything. We should definitely start a facebook page to meet people in before we go. Oh and I'm from California

Graduate medicine program?

Anyway, right now (i.e. in the current 1st year), most of the North American students live at an apartment / housing complex called Sheare's Gate - it's somewhat affiliated with UCC. It is not on campus, but only about 10 minute walk from Brookfield (where the majority of signposts, etc. are).

With the caveat being that I don't live there (been there a bunch though), they seem like ok places to live: conveniently located to the Health Sciences building and close to shops, etc. There's a pub just across the road too!

I know some of them will be moving out for next year. It's not too hard to find a place relatively close to campus - check out 'daft.ie'

 

[TheCommissar]

Thanks! I saw mention of Brookfield Lodge as part of UCC accommodations? How does that work - would one contact the university office, or the hotel itself?

@California - I'd make the group myself, but I forgot my password, and Facebook password retrieval isn't working for some reason.

 

[yippydoodles]

There is now a facebook page for entering students "University College Cork Medical School Fall 2010" join if your interested!!!

 

[asd979]

Ugh, it's very much a pain to get an on-campus housing for a couple. Looks like I'll probably have to find something off-campus.

 

[yippydoodles]

I've been looking for couples housing too and the on campus selection is next to nothing. But Ive been hearing that there's lots of places nearby to rent so I'm not too worried. A little walk shouldn't hurt, in fact, it would be a good way to wake up in the morning.

 

[Canuck07]

Hey guys, I'm from Vancouver and intend to attend the UCC GEM next year. Just wondering, besides the two electives in the curriculum, does anyone know if UCC allows students to do additional electives back home during their summers off?

 

[asd979]

Pretty sure I read in a different thread that you can and should do electives during the summer.

 

[jnuts]

Pretty sure I read in a different thread that you can and should do electives during the summer.

Electives are an essential part of returning to North America. Most programs will not allow you to do electives until you have completed your core clinical rotations (3rd year of the 4 year program, 4th year of the 5). Some host schools are quite specific that you must be in your final year. At this point you do not get time off from any Irish school to do electives during the academic year (that might be changing but its too early to give specifics, the plans so far haven't been very useful for North Americans).


Electives are therefore limited to a single summer before your last year. There have been some exceptions in the past with people doing electives during the panultimate summer but these are of a pretty limited value as you're not in a position to be very impressive. There was one story from last year of a student having their badge ripped off and escorted off the hospital grounds because he had organized an elective directly with a doctor and not through the university. That anecdote aside, pre-clinical electives are getting harder to come by as the demand increases for electives in general.

Don't think of electives as training, they are month long interviews for residency programs and letters of reference. Its really important that you are at your best. The month of electives I've heard Cork requires would be considered a bare minimum.

In your other summers think about observerships ('not for credit' with no direct patient contact) or research, and don't forget about board exams you may have to write.

 

[Arb]

So far, my best elective was during the summer after 3rd (out of 5) year. I made a good impression and it will be a strong letter. Definitely try to do 1-2 electives before the summer of your final year...don't wait until your last summer. Don't forget you can also try to do an elective during your winter break. Also, bear in mind that some schools (mostly American) will require you to finish your cores in Medicine, Surgery, Peds, Ob/Gyn to be eligible for electives. UCD is the only school where you finish these cores in 4th/5 year before the crucial final summer break.

Setting up electives is definitely one of the biggest disadvantages of attending an Irish school. It has been stressful lately for most of my classmates as schools everywhere (not just Ireland) are disorganised and spots are becoming more competitive. If you are a Canadian and trying for the American and Canadian match, be prepared to live out of a suitcase for a couple of months. You'll be doing electives while studying for Step 2 CS, CK as well as the EE PLUS working on your applications for residency. Very stressful and one mistake can derail you. Realize this before accepting an offer to go to Ireland. Another fact that most people don't know, if you are a Canadian without American citizenship, you'll need to write the EE even if you are only applying for the American match. In fact, things are much simpler if you decide to only apply to Canada (but more risk) and that's what a lot of people are doing now.

 

[jnuts]

So far, my best elective was during the summer after 3rd (out of 5) year. I made a good impression and it will be a strong letter. Definitely try to do 1-2 electives before the summer of your final year...don't wait until your last summer. Don't forget you can also try to do an elective during your winter break. Also, bear in mind that some schools (mostly American) will require you to finish your cores in Medicine, Surgery, Peds, Ob/Gyn to be eligible for electives. UCD is the only school where you finish these cores in 4th/5 year before the crucial final summer break.

RCSI finishes core requirements before final year as well.

I felt woefully unprepared for the elective I did after my second year. Granted it was in Obs which made things more difficult (you don't learn anything about Obs until your core rotation). I got good recs from it, but I don't think it was me at my best. I'd probably have been able to pull off something medical, but even there I'm miles ahead of where I was after 2nd/4 year.

Add most of the Ontario medical schools to the list places you can't get electives until final year. That wasn't the case last year and there still might be some rare exceptions. But most of the Universities are standardizing their requirements for electives and the back doors are closing given the hugely increased foreign and domestic demand. But there are always exceptions, I just wouldn't bank on them. Nor do I think you need to do them.

 

[Arb]

I was at the Coombe with RCSI and Trinity students and they told me they don't finish Med/Surg until final year. I guess the GEPs are different (another thing to consider if you're debating 4 vs 5 years). For those considering UCD, your final year most likely consists of Psych, Family med, and Epidemiology (classroom for 3 weeks) plus 2 months of electives and a mock internship in your final year. What is the final year like in RCSI and Trinity?

 

[jnuts]

I was at the Coombe with RCSI and Trinity students and they told me they don't finish Med/Surg until final year. I guess the GEPs are different (another thing to consider if you're debating 4 vs 5 years). For those considering UCD, your final year most likely consists of Psych, Family med, and Epidemiology (classroom for 3 weeks) plus 2 months of electives and a mock internship in your final year. What is the final year like in RCSI and Trinity?

Sorry, I guess that's a little confusing. To start with the last two clinical years of GEP and 5-year are identical at RCSI; in fact the formerly seperate classes get integrated for 4th year. We do our core MED/SURG/GP in 12 weeks in 4th year/5. In fourth year/5, we also do 6 weeks each of PSYCH, OBSGYN, and PAEDS. We go on to do 12 more weeks of MED/SURG in final year but we get some say in specialities so that's more like electives. Our final year is the sub-internship, the MED/SURG electives, and there's also a few weeks each of OPTHO, ENT, ECP and ACLS. Thankfully, there's no big block of classroom time (but that's just my preference showing through).


The important thing is that after 4th year/5 you've got something to put in the core clinical completed box for any speciality you'd like in terms of North American electives including PSYCH and family med. That's why I said we'd finished all our core clinicals by the end of fourth year/5 (3rd/4).

If anyone wants the full details I think I posted RCSI's full syllabus a while back. The syllabus is also on the RCSI website.

 

[Canuck07]

So I understand that the curriculum is taught via “case-based learning” and there are no lectures in the GEM program at UCC; but the material is delivered through signpost seminars and in faculty-facilitated small group environments. Is this essentially a PBL approach where (my understanding is) students are given topics to research and they do most of their learning by reading on their own, or is a significant portion of the material presented didactically?

thanks

 

[Handsome88]

Sorry, I guess that's a little confusing. To start with the last two clinical years of GEP and 5-year are identical at RCSI; in fact the formerly seperate classes get integrated for 4th year. We do our core MED/SURG/GP in 12 weeks in 4th year/5. In fourth year/5, we also do 6 weeks each of PSYCH, OBSGYN, and PAEDS. We go on to do 12 more weeks of MED/SURG in final year but we get some say in specialities so that's more like electives. Our final year is the sub-internship, the MED/SURG electives, and there's also a few weeks each of OPTHO, ENT, ECP and ACLS. Thankfully, there's no big block of classroom time (but that's just my preference showing through).


The important thing is that after 4th year/5 you've got something to put in the core clinical completed box for any speciality you'd like in terms of North American electives including PSYCH and family med. That's why I said we'd finished all our core clinicals by the end of fourth year/5 (3rd/4).

If anyone wants the full details I think I posted RCSI's full syllabus a while back. The syllabus is also on the RCSI website.

Does anybody know anything about Trinity? Their website joins 4th and 5th years together so I don't know which clinicals are to which year.

 

[Arb]

From speaking with Trinity students, their schedule is the same as RCSI. You do a bit of med, surg and then peds, psych, obs/gyn, gp. You finish med and surg in final year.

In UCD you finish all of med and surg (18 weeks each) and then 2 of peds/psych/obs/gp before the summer of your final year. We are actually considered final meds by the end of March of your second last year when you finish med&surg (before the summer break).