BRIAN MOONEY'S ADVICE CENTRE: A new era in medical education and training
Following reforms introduced by Mary Hanafin, those seeking an undergraduate place in one of the five medical faculties in Sept 2009 will have to meet the course entry requirements and achieve a minimum threshold score of 480 points in a single sitting of the Leaving Cert (or equivalent).
What is the minimum entry requirement?
If you secure more than 480 points, you will be considered for selection based on the combined weighted score of Leaving Cert results, and your performance in a (HPAT- Ireland) medical school admission test, which will be worth up to 300 points. Credit for Leaving Cert performance will be moderated from 550 points onwards, with 1 point added for each 5 points scored. 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.
How do I go about applying for a place?
The final date for registration to sit the (HPAT-Ireland) admissions test is 20th January 2009. The test will take place on the 14th February 2009, in a number of centres throughout the country. Full details on www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au.
How many places will the new system offer?
There will continue to be an increase in medical places, at both undergraduate and post-graduate level over the next few years with an overall increase of 420 places by 2010/2011. Full details of all aspects of the new system are available at www.cao.ie
If I failed to secure entry in previous years, should I repeat my Leaving Cert 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 less than 550 points, you would need to perform exceptionally well in your HPAT assessment to overtake students who have secured more that the 550 points. My advice is to repeat if you are below 550 points, but not if you have achieved this score as the maximum you can add is 1 point for every extra 5 you score above 550.
I am currently in the final year of a science degree. How can I apply for a post- graduate medical place?
About 300 applicants actively competed for the post graduate 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. There will be 240 post-graduate places available in 2010/2011, and it is a four year programme. Fees are €25,000 per year, but the Department of Education and Science is paying €12,000 of that on student's behalf.
What changes will the new medical entry system bring about?
It will eliminate the four-to-one ratio of females over males. The previous system led to success for those securing between 570-600 CAO points, eighty percent of whom were female. The discounted nature of the points scored between 550 and 600, in the new application rules will eliminate that female advantage. The development of 240 post-graduate entry places which will also see a balanced male/female profile of entry, will copperfasten this trend.
TALKBACK
If you are a member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, and are reading this while tucking into your full Irish breakfast at your think-in at Galway's Clayton Hotel, you are probably wondering what actions Brian Lenihan might take in his October budget. Here's my proposal.
Increase the budget of the Schools Buildings Unit by several hundred million euro, in a four-year programme of new building and renovation of existing schools. Such a programme would take thousands of workers off the dole, thus reducing the pressure on the social welfare system. And it should be possible for the State to get good value in these harder times.
How to pay for it? We are spending hundreds of millions per year on 70 FÁS employment services offices and 20 training centres. The success rate of FÁS in returning unemployed people to work is 43%, a poor return on taxpayer's money. This cost, combined with unemployment benefits, is more that the cost of funding a comprehensive school-building programme. This week, The Irish Timesin association with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors is hosting 25,000 Leaving Certificate students at the annual Higher Options Exhibition and Conference at the RDS, at no cost to the taxpayer, and without a single cent spent on public advertising. In early 2009, FÁS will propose to host their annual Opportunities event in Croke Park. It will cost the taxpayer millions in organisation and advertising, and produce what? A costly jamboree which gives FÁS the opportunity to profile itself on poster sites and on radio and TV stations nationwide. Memo to Government: Now is the time for hard decisions, to enable the thousands of unemployed and partially qualified building workers to get back to work. Your role is to encourage such hard but necessary decisions. Enjoy your breakfast!
• You can talk back to Brian Mooney at bmooney@irish-times.ie
