Trinity in Dublin

[dwpegues]

IS Trinity in Dublin a good school? I am an american, and am not familiar at all with the schools in the UK nor requirements. I have been shopping for medical schools outside the U.S., and have found some very prospective schools in the Caribbean. How good is Trinity - Dublin Medical school, and do you know how well it compares to other schools in the area/ world? Also, is it difficult to get into Trinity?

If an american studies at Trinity, is it possible to practice in the States? Does anyone know about the USMLE step exams and attending Trinity?

Thanks for your help everyone.

[ForeignMed]

That's a bit like asking if John Hopkins is a good medical school ;)

I'm British not Irish (so not particularly baised towards ireland) but be assured Trinity and other irish medical schools are first rate.

Question might be, are you first rate enough for Trinity to want you?

[studnt4life]

Talk in numbers. What MCAT and GPA would they like to see?

[med etudiant]

I've been checking out Trinity as well on SDN. I believe for you to be competitive you'll need above a 3.1 and mid/upper 20's on the MCAT. I'm hoping to apply thee perhaps this time next year. FYI though its pricey.

[stephew]

they are all excellnt in ireland. The irish systems typically are 5 years for US students and its quite expensive for foreigners (non-Irish). But they are very good universities.

[med etudiant]

I'm thinking there is 1 or 2 -4 year schools? OP: Also check out Poznam.

[stephew]

RCS is or has instituted a 4 eyar program. they are very expensive as this is how irish schools make thier money.

[Chemist_11]

I do believe that the Irish system is only expensive for non-EU students

[Chemist_11]

I don't know anything bout the entrance req's. for US applicants, but surely the Irish schools need more than a 3.1 and a upper 20's on the MCAT? I would have thought closer to a 3.4 and 30 MCAT? :confused:

[stephew]

I do believe that the Irish system is only expensive for non-EU students
its free for the IRish but I believe RCS is establishing a very controversial pay as you play program a la the US that no one there is too happy abotu except those the well-connected who fail to get into the other schools via the leaving cert.

[Chemist_11]

In one respect, to be an EU citizen is quite a bonus for the Irish schools, due to EU fees, which are minimal. However, admission requirements for EU students seem to be much higher than those of 'foreign' students.

US students see the Irish system as an alternative for a US medical education, whereas EU students see Ireland as a first choice - the Oxbridge of Ireland.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the above mentioned entrance requirements?

[hello]

Hi,

I got my acceptance to trinity on April 11 (Canadian - g.p.a. 3.4 and MCAT 29). I have decided however to go to Des Moines in Iowa (osteopathic) :) that's just the #'s I had, so I would assume the gpa. is from 3.2 and above and an MCAT of mid 20's would probably be good to let you in...also the school did not conduct an interview on me - but I'm not sure that this is true for all applicants?

[WannaBdoc25]

How much could it cost?

[drflyinfish007]

i spetn three years studying medicine in ireland, and 2 years in caribean, as far as i can tell

1. as a FMG, 90% comes down to your step score. 10% will be your gpa, what school you went, and LORs if they have time to read them, etc etc
2. the carib schools are slightly more usmle focused basically, bc usmle score is there BREAD AND BUTTER
3. irish schools are better in that ur coming from an established school more 200 yrs old and a first world country, which looks nicer in that 10% category, and also makes adjusting life relatively less difficult, when adjusting to third world lifestyle
4. from my experience, your step socre wont change based on whether u attend top carib school or trinity or rcsi, ur step score will be based on what you do, not where u r
5. the top carib schools r only slightly cheaper than irish, per year, but carib schools r year round, while irish school have lots of vacation
6. if u can afford the extra cash to get one up on that 10% category, i think u should take it, otherwise it wont make too big deal.
7. remember however, that the grass is always greener. lots of students in ireland felt they were getting ripped and that they had made a bad choice. it was funny to come to carib and hear people regret not choosing to go to ireland instead, lol.
8. if i could do it all over again. i would definately go to australia. first world. less stigma relatively. and better rate against the dollar. its got the cost benefits of carib, without the stigma.

[WannaBdoc25]

when going to Ireland, one does not get the MD initials correct? I was under the impression you get MBBS. Do people constantly ask why you dont have a MD.

[MONS]

I got an acceptance to Trinity College Dublin for September 2009 and I am trying to decide if I should go there or to SABA school of Medicine in the Caribbean. Does anyone have any feedback to make my choice easier?

[anesthetic_ambitions]

I'd go with Ireland, you'd be a FMG nonetheless, but there seems to be less of a stigma. I had a couple of friends that went to UCD, they loved it and they had no problems whatsoever getting decent rotations in states and hospitals of their choosing. One of them is on his way to Yale for his internship. I would apply there if my stats were good enough. Alas... Crazy expensive though, as others have mentioned ... Crazy! But I suppose you can't put a price on a dream. Even though they seem to have... lol

[ldanny]

so when you are back in the states.. what would your title be?

[devildoc8404]

Certified physicians from other countries who come to the US are allowed to use the initials "M.D." in their credentials. You are still called "Dr. Schmuckatelli."

[hey_deep]

My MCAT and GPA is identical to yours, and I am from Canada.

What made you decide not to go to Ireland? That is where I am looking, and so far, it seems like a good alternative, considering I am not competitive enough for Canadian schools.

Also - Where did you find out about American schools? I would be interested in applying in the Northeastern US (close to home), but I don't know where to look. Please advise.


Any help at all would be appreciated.


Cheers.


Hi,

I got my acceptance to trinity on April 11 (Canadian - g.p.a. 3.4 and MCAT 29). I have decided however to go to Des Moines in Iowa (osteopathic) :) that's just the #'s I had, so I would assume the gpa. is from 3.2 and above and an MCAT of mid 20's would probably be good to let you in...also the school did not conduct an interview on me - but I'm not sure that this is true for all applicants?

[david1104]

I got an acceptance to Trinity College Dublin for September 2009 and I am trying to decide if I should go there or to SABA school of Medicine in the Caribbean. Does anyone have any feedback to make my choice easier?

Are u joking me? Trinity College is the oldest and most well connected and respected universities in Ireland. Only the top 1% (or probably less) of irish kids get in here. It is the Harvard, Yale, Cambridge of Ireland. It is globally recognized and respected and going back tto America to practice will be effortless with a degree from there, and without the caribbean stigma attached (which i dont believe in btw) Trust me, im Irish, and if i had an offer from Trinity, i wouldnt think twice. Having said that, i hear the medical programme has some minor problems. Nothing major, just small things that annoy students, but students always complain about something

[david1104]

and yes, standards are somewhat lower for IMGs becasue they want ur money. They get little from us, because education is basically free in Ireland, for us that is. However, u will get a great education

[UptownMed]

I have been looking at the Atlantic Bridge Program and they claim that the five year trinity program does not require the taking of MCATs. Has anyone been accepted to this program without the MCATs? Also, what were your other qualifications (ie GPA and extracurricular). I studied abroad at Trinity in undergrad and LOVED it. Since graduating, I've been in a competitive research lab but am ready to move onto my medical career. Can anyone tell me if Trinity is out of reach, or confirm they got into this 5 year program without mcats?

Thanks!

[devildoc8404]

According to Atlantic Bridge:

"Q:
Is the MCAT required?
A:
Applicants applying to the four-year medical degree courses at the following schools must have written the MCAT in or before April of the year of proposed entry:
University College Cork
University College Dublin*
University of Limerick
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland"

The 5-year programs, like Trinity, are not on that list.