I’ve wanted to be a pediatrician since I was only a teenager myself. I love working with kids, having been a camp counsellor, dance teacher’s assistant, and babysitter throughout my adolescence, and the thought of being able to help take care of kids in need in the future really drove me toward medicine. I found learning about anatomy and cell biology to be really neat and interesting, and I decided that learning more about the function of the body and how to heal it was something I wanted to pursue a career in.
After two years of applying to Canadian Medical Schools and not getting in, along with an MCAT score near expiration, I knew I would do whatever it took to get into medical school. I researched places outside of Canada I could apply to and found that Ireland would accept my MCAT score! The fact that it was only 4 year as well made me happy, as it wouldn’t be any longer than school in Canada.
The application process was very easy and straightforward! Atlantic Bridge makes it very clear about when due dates are and what is needed to apply. Everything I needed to send I already had from all of my Canadian applications!
Adjusting to Ireland was definitely a big step, since I also moved to start my program in the dreaded Fall of 2020. But what made it easier was connecting with all of the other Canadians in my program (of which there are a ton!). We all figured things out together and had each other for support, even during all of the lockdowns.
Depends on the year! First and second year are mostly lectures and tutorials, learning your basic sciences and clinical skills. Starting third year, you are in full time rotations, and each month takes you through a different medical speciality as you are attached to a team in the hospital and learn about what they do by experience.
The biggest resource I took advantage of was UWorld! UCC gives you the Qbank for Step 1 for free, so I used as many of those practice questions to prep for my Step 1 exam.
I perform clinical research in multiple different departments throughout the school, and did two clinical electives in Canada this summer. Research has taught me that things don’t always go to plan, and you have to just go with the flow. The elective opportunities not only taught me that I DEFINITELY belong in pediatrics, but it also showed me just how different the Irish and Canadian school systems are
I am currently working on all of my residency applications! Although it is alot of work, I have spreadsheets upon spreadsheets to organize everything. I am planning on applying to both the States and the US.
I wish I knew just how expensive it would be. I waited too long to get a job while in school, and then had to spend time playing catch up. Find a way to keep your funds up fast! There are usually loads of student working opportunities at school you can take on. I work for student IT and a I tutor on the side.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.