Late publication of medical school entry regulation unfair

COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE:This daily column will guide you through the college offer process and other issues arising from your Leaving Cert results.

I failed to secure a place in medicine. What should I do?

For those seeking an undergraduate place in one of the five medical faculties in September 2009, you will have to meet the course matriculation requirements and achieve a minimum threshold score of 480 points in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent). You cannot combine any aspect of the subject entry requirements for the course, achieved in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate, with the points achieved in another sitting.

The helpline had a number of distressed callers who repeated the Leaving Certificate this year hoping to secure a medical place, but who did not take papers in Irish or a continental language, and who have fallen just short of the 570 points required.

These students cannot use the points achieved this year, in applying for a place in 2009, even though the regulation that stated that you could not combine entry requirements and points was only published a few weeks before the examinations in June.

This is grossly unfair on these particular students, even though the regulation is itself, in my view, very fair. I would call on the Minister Batt O'Keeffe not to apply this rule retrospectively.

If you secure more than 480 points in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate, you will be considered for selection based on the combined weighted score of Leaving Certificate results, and your performance in a HPAT medical school admission test, which will be worth up to a maximum of 300 points.

Credit for Leaving Certificate performance will be moderated from 550 points onwards, with one point added for each 5 points scored in Leaving Cert results. This will mean the maximum points which can be added to your HPAT overall score is 560 academic points, with a maximum overall score of 860 points.

Alongside the new system of allocating places, there will continue to be an increase in medical places, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level over the next few years.

This will continue until an additional 180 places at undergraduate level and 240 places at postgraduate level, currently being added over a four-year time frame, bringing the total number of places up from the original figure of 305, to the target set our in the original Fottrell report of 725. This will amount to an increase of 420 places overall by 2010/2011. Full details of all aspects of the new system at both levels are available on the CAO website at  www.cao.ie

Should I repeat my Leaving Certificate in 2009?

If you have secured more than 480 points and have met all the entry requirements in one sitting, you do not have to repeat and can progress to taking the HPAT aptitude test in the autumn.

However, be mindful that if you have secured fewer than 550 points in the Leaving Certificate, you would need to perform exceptionally well in your HPAT assessment to overtake students who have secured more that the 550 points. My advice therefore would be to repeat if you are below 550 points, but not to if you have achieved this score, as the maximum you can add is one point for every extra five you score above 550, next year.

I have been offered a place in science by the CAO. Should I take it and apply for a postgraduate place in three years or wait to apply for medicine next year?

It is my understanding that no more than 300 applicants actively competed for the postgraduate places on offer this year. These places were open to all graduates of any discipline, who have secures a minimum of a 2:1 honours, on a level eight degree.

The Gamsat scores required for entry ranged between 55 and 60, which are modest by international standards.

Given that there will be 240 postgraduate places available in 2010/2011, I would suggest that applicants who have the option of starting a level eight programme this year might be well advised to consider the postgraduate route.

It is a four-year programme. The fees are currently €25,000 a year, but the Department of Education and Science is paying €12,000 of that on the student's behalf. I am sure that a student loan would be available to any student accepted on to such a programme, as financial institutions would see a qualified doctor as a good long-term risk.

I missed out on a place in veterinary by 10 points and my mum heard you mention the Budapest option on RTÉ.

Is it still available?

Yes it is. Due to the success of some applicants for this year's programme in securing a place in UCD, 10 places are available. There will be a special examination in the Hungarian embassy this coming Saturday, in biology and chemistry, for any Irish students interested.

The programme is in English and has 120 students, of whom 40 a year are Irish. The qualification is fully recognised by the Irish Veterinary representative body. Details of the programme at  www.studyhungary.hu

You can get details of the examination from Tim O'Leary, veterinary surgeon at 028-28197.

Tomorrow : Issues surfacing on The Irish Times helpline