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[Ireland or the UK?!] EDIT: Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, heard much?
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I've just received an offer from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. I'm debating wether to go there or not. I really like the course and all (and dublin!).. but you know, I'm wondering if perhaps the standard of teaching in the UK is better. Can anyone tell me how this university is perceived in the UK (hearsay etc..). Anything you know about it, please share! I know this shouldn't really be in this forum, but i've come to the conclusion that you guys would probably be the most knowledgable on this issue.
I don't think "prestige" is a particularly relevant consideration for medical courses, be that in the UK or Ireland, all of which are accredited by the medical councils and all I think produce fairly standard output. Compared to other disciplines, your personal qualities will count for far more when it comes to looking for a job.
That said, RCSI is well known everywhere, as compared to the universities in Ireland and the UK, its graduate population is larger and more mobile. That means you will meet RSCI alumini everywhere.
Another (minor) point is that some of RSCI's expertise in some specialities may stick to you - brain surgery is one of their feats (the current government has asked Irish schools to specialise more in certain areas, not compete). But then if you want to be a GP at the end of the day, this won't go far.
Just like electricians and plumbers, it is your competency at the end of the day that counts - less important how you got that, compared to say, literature, where class will rub off more. Your degree gives a fairly standard certification of that, wherever you graduate in the British Isles.
Much more important is how you like the teaching atmosphere, the other kids on the block (Stephen's Green is a great block by the way!), Beaumont hospital (you will probably spend a fair amount of time here), the city etc.
Personally I'd prefer to work in St James (TCD) than Beaumont (unless I was a brain surgeon). But then it is a bit like saying I prefer raspberries to strawberries.... at the end of the day, you are full, and both are good!
Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!!
That said, RCSI is well known everywhere, as compared to the universities in Ireland and the UK, its graduate population is larger and more mobile. That means you will meet RSCI alumini everywhere.
Another (minor) point is that some of RSCI's expertise in some specialities may stick to you - brain surgery is one of their feats (the current government has asked Irish schools to specialise more in certain areas, not compete). But then if you want to be a GP at the end of the day, this won't go far.
Just like electricians and plumbers, it is your competency at the end of the day that counts - less important how you got that, compared to say, literature, where class will rub off more. Your degree gives a fairly standard certification of that, wherever you graduate in the British Isles.
Much more important is how you like the teaching atmosphere, the other kids on the block (Stephen's Green is a great block by the way!), Beaumont hospital (you will probably spend a fair amount of time here), the city etc.
Personally I'd prefer to work in St James (TCD) than Beaumont (unless I was a brain surgeon). But then it is a bit like saying I prefer raspberries to strawberries.... at the end of the day, you are full, and both are good!
Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!! Go visit !!!
Hi zeyadleo… here are some answers (in public!) to your questions…
“I like the fact that RCSI is a specialised and world-renowned medical school. Plus, it’s very international, so that’s good.”
Correct
“I know the RCSI campus isn't the best relative to Trinity's campus…”
I wouldn’t put it like that. If you wanted a more extreme comparison, it is a bit like Oxford vs St. Georges in London, except Trinity is not quite as prestigious or as big as Oxford, and is a city university, and RCSI is not on the grounds of Beaumont per se, and is far smaller. However it illustrates the key differences… a large and old ivy institution of wide learning vs a specialised one-stop school of health. That said, in later years, you spend almost all your time in hospitals anyway, so not as big a deal as it would be for other disciplines, like law or engineering, where style and tradition are more important. I am sure that x or y from TCD or RCSI will both be seen as equally competent as can be… it is the personal qualities and experiences that will count (in Europe, ever increasing chances to vary your locums, and you will see on a St Georges site –I think it is, not sure- huge demands and offers).
“Have you been to Beaumont/St James hospital? Can you tell me the +ves and -ves of both?”
www.StJames.ie I spent a lot of time in intensive care late last year here, and the facilities I think are second to none in the world. All updated recently. Like I said above, being in a capital city means the top hospitals get extra generous financing for facilities and research. I think however overall it is similar to any UK hospital. Things get radically different when you go to the continent. In the British Isles, specialists lead the care. In France, patients are primarily under the care of the ICU, and specialists are brought in as consultants when needed.
http://www.beaumont.ie/
Beaumont Hospital provides acute care services across 54 medical specialties and is the national Irish referral centre for Neurosciences and Renal Transplantation.
Health care is the No 1 political issue in Ireland at present. The current government has exploded spending, and is promising to double the number of doctors employed, paying new consultants salaries starting at EUR200k per annum. Doctors in current employment are most upset. Nurses on strike etc. Fun assured ahead of the elections!
Search news…
www.unison.ie (free registration)
www.ireland.ie
“Thing is, I’ve been hearing stuff like RCSI is all for profit, admitting anyone etc...”
No. #all for profit# is not currently in the medical psyche in Ireland. Almost all health funding is public based. Private care makes a lot of noise, but still small. Idem in UK. Your fees will just represent costs. I don’t think RCSI makes any profit, and there is certainly no shareholder living off student income. Incredible as it may seem, health care is very dear… a bed in St James ICI costs several thousand euro … a day… to the State. The key difference between Ireland and the rest of the Europe (with the exception of the UK to a large extent) is that health care professionals in Ireland charge exorbitant fees (mostly paid for by the state) and get away with it. The last government introduced free health care for all pensioners – even the rich ones – and not unexpectedly they are beating down the doors of the hospitals looking for treatments.
“How’s Dublin as a city to live in though?”
I loved it. Most do. I know some who don’t. Look up iagora.com and go to the student part for many views of foreigners, mostly Erasmus.
Advantages
- friendly, chatty people, and now highly cosmopolitan (again see previous posts). Disadvantage – strong pub culture, drunkards (like in UK, unlike much of the rest of Europe).
- low population density, large green spaces, almost no high rises, near sea and mountains (fells). Disadvantage – the Dubliners never stop complaining now about the pressure on land and traffic that have grown over the past 10/20 years, with housing perceived as expensive (even if gardens often extravagantly large), although not that bad compared to London I think – see above.
Listen, everywhere there are Advantages and Disadvantages. The trick is in profiting from the Advantages and not dwelling on the Disadvantages. If you can’t do this, stay at home! Also if you are going somewhere new, you should be able to document yourself, by looking e.g. websites I listed. Sorry but I can’t spend more time on this!
“I like the fact that RCSI is a specialised and world-renowned medical school. Plus, it’s very international, so that’s good.”
Correct
“I know the RCSI campus isn't the best relative to Trinity's campus…”
I wouldn’t put it like that. If you wanted a more extreme comparison, it is a bit like Oxford vs St. Georges in London, except Trinity is not quite as prestigious or as big as Oxford, and is a city university, and RCSI is not on the grounds of Beaumont per se, and is far smaller. However it illustrates the key differences… a large and old ivy institution of wide learning vs a specialised one-stop school of health. That said, in later years, you spend almost all your time in hospitals anyway, so not as big a deal as it would be for other disciplines, like law or engineering, where style and tradition are more important. I am sure that x or y from TCD or RCSI will both be seen as equally competent as can be… it is the personal qualities and experiences that will count (in Europe, ever increasing chances to vary your locums, and you will see on a St Georges site –I think it is, not sure- huge demands and offers).
“Have you been to Beaumont/St James hospital? Can you tell me the +ves and -ves of both?”
www.StJames.ie I spent a lot of time in intensive care late last year here, and the facilities I think are second to none in the world. All updated recently. Like I said above, being in a capital city means the top hospitals get extra generous financing for facilities and research. I think however overall it is similar to any UK hospital. Things get radically different when you go to the continent. In the British Isles, specialists lead the care. In France, patients are primarily under the care of the ICU, and specialists are brought in as consultants when needed.
http://www.beaumont.ie/
Beaumont Hospital provides acute care services across 54 medical specialties and is the national Irish referral centre for Neurosciences and Renal Transplantation.
Health care is the No 1 political issue in Ireland at present. The current government has exploded spending, and is promising to double the number of doctors employed, paying new consultants salaries starting at EUR200k per annum. Doctors in current employment are most upset. Nurses on strike etc. Fun assured ahead of the elections!
Search news…
www.unison.ie (free registration)
www.ireland.ie
“Thing is, I’ve been hearing stuff like RCSI is all for profit, admitting anyone etc...”
No. #all for profit# is not currently in the medical psyche in Ireland. Almost all health funding is public based. Private care makes a lot of noise, but still small. Idem in UK. Your fees will just represent costs. I don’t think RCSI makes any profit, and there is certainly no shareholder living off student income. Incredible as it may seem, health care is very dear… a bed in St James ICI costs several thousand euro … a day… to the State. The key difference between Ireland and the rest of the Europe (with the exception of the UK to a large extent) is that health care professionals in Ireland charge exorbitant fees (mostly paid for by the state) and get away with it. The last government introduced free health care for all pensioners – even the rich ones – and not unexpectedly they are beating down the doors of the hospitals looking for treatments.
“How’s Dublin as a city to live in though?”
I loved it. Most do. I know some who don’t. Look up iagora.com and go to the student part for many views of foreigners, mostly Erasmus.
Advantages
- friendly, chatty people, and now highly cosmopolitan (again see previous posts). Disadvantage – strong pub culture, drunkards (like in UK, unlike much of the rest of Europe).
- low population density, large green spaces, almost no high rises, near sea and mountains (fells). Disadvantage – the Dubliners never stop complaining now about the pressure on land and traffic that have grown over the past 10/20 years, with housing perceived as expensive (even if gardens often extravagantly large), although not that bad compared to London I think – see above.
Listen, everywhere there are Advantages and Disadvantages. The trick is in profiting from the Advantages and not dwelling on the Disadvantages. If you can’t do this, stay at home! Also if you are going somewhere new, you should be able to document yourself, by looking e.g. websites I listed. Sorry but I can’t spend more time on this!
M4N1C
I applied to both ireland and britain as well, i have friend in the medical community that have studied at ireland medical school and british medical school. He told me that the royal college of surgeons doesnt offer the same quality of teaching as most british medical schools. However trinity is better than most, he told me that he only thought medical schools such a oxbridge,newcastle/durham,UCL,KCL and imperial could b considered better!
obviously everybody elses opinion is different but he has had experience at various medical establishments and i just though this information would b useful. In the end its your decision!
Good Luck with trinity
obviously everybody elses opinion is different but he has had experience at various medical establishments and i just though this information would b useful. In the end its your decision!
Good Luck with trinity
hhahaha had to throw durham in there as well eh?
I think your missing out on nottingham and all the other red brick ones, if your gna throw newcastle, ucl and kcl in there.
I would personally like to split pub culture and drunkards. I don't like people who go and get wasted and then act as moronic prats. If they don't end up spewing everywhere or vandalising, each to his own I say.
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