The Aspiring Medics
3 min
Updated: Jan 12, 2023
Trinity College Dublin has a unique approach to teaching medicine, laying emphasis on not only theory, but rather, on its application in the real world.
Professors make it a point for lecture content to be equally centred on the basics, taught from the grounds up, and on practical application of the basics in hospitals.
Ample opportunities are given to students to further their own research, so as to deepen their knowledge of and interest in a topic.
The interviewers at Trinity College Dublin pay more attention to the way you phrase and structure your answers than to the actual answers themselves - it is very important not to learn answers to the expected questions (such as, ""Why medicine?"") by heart, but instead learn key points that you want to cover and then fabricate an answer on the spot-this will make it more realistic.
More importantly, remember you are not expected to be doctors already so just focus on being genuine.
Another tip would be to wear formal attire and sit in an upright position- without looking too business-like.
From first year, students at TCD are encouraged to apply their knowledge of medicine to solve clinical dilemmas on a weekly basis in PBL classes, in groups of 12 students, guided by a tutor. TCD also has laudable approach to teaching anatomy, since every week, students each work on a donor to identify the different anatomical structures discussed in lectures. TCD also organises tutorials as supplemental classes for modules that students have a hard time with (Biochemistry!). Students gain clinical exposure as from the second year, thus benefiting from adequate patient contact to develop an excellent bedside manner.
First-year medical students at TCD can live off-campus in the student residences Trinity Hall/Kavanagh Court/Beckett Court, all of which are 15 mins away from the campus by tram on average. One of the main strengths is its advocacy of the celebration of the LGBTQI community - several societies are focused and a weekly support group allow this. Every student has access to a wide range of sources of support. TCD boasts 120+ societies, which cover an extensive range of interests such as MOVE, which organises yearly trips for medical students to developing countries, the Paediatric Society, The Surgical Society for Women (that advocates for better representation of women in the surgical profession), amongst several others. TCD also celebrates international holidays like Holi, the Chinese New Year festival, etc.
TCD provides a truly thrilling life for all its students; the many societies in place organise several events throughout the year that aim at providing the best possible work/play balance for medical students. The Student Union organises events like Halls Christmas, Trinity Ball and occasionally, free ice-cream/pizza/burger distribution for residents of Trinity Halls. On a yearly basis, the TrinityMedDay Organisation holds MedDay, on which medical students organise an array of activities on the streets of Dublin for members of the wider public to participate in. Medical students mingle really well with non-medical students since there is no real distinction between the two; TCD organises several events aimed at gathering the whole student body.
The Medical Society of TCD, called the MedDay organisation, aims at giving medical students a perfectly balanced study/relax balance, since it organises a variety of events on a weekly basis designed to help medical students apply their knowledge of medicine to quizzes, games and others, with the opportunity to win amazing gifts! The main event organised by the MedDay organisation is Med Day (described earlier), as well several smaller in-person events throughout the year, that enables the student body to meet up and have fun together. Other medical associations are focused on any specialty that students might wish to opt for- such as the Paeds, the Surgical, the Dermatological, the General Medicine societies, and they all organise their own events throughout the year, and have very active Instagram/Facebook pages! The link for the MedDay organisation: @trinitymedday