Iona Hourican

I chose GEM at RCSI because of the programme structure and facilities. I really liked how early on students get to experience interactions with patients in a clinical setting. We were able to shadow a different team in Beaumont hospital every Wednesday morning, and this gave us a good understanding of what clinical placement would be like at the end of the year.

Choosing where to study for another four years wasn’t an easy decision. I attended countless open days and talks about different universities’ facilities and programmes, but RCSI stood out as the best fit for me. I was nervous about the early clinical exposure in the GEM programme as I was worried I might be unprepared and unable to gain much from it. However, experiencing clinical practice so early on has been invaluable. It has made me far more comfortable speaking with patients, and even though I don’t know everything, repeated practice has turned some skills into second nature by the end of just the first year.

What impressed me most was that RCSI is a healthcare-exclusive university. I had spent four fantastic years completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Galway, but coming into graduate medicine as a non-science student, I felt a healthcare-focused environment would be most beneficial. I knew that tackling an accelerated medicine programme from a non-science background would be challenging, so the small class sizes, dedicated GEM building, and supportive staff at RCSI were especially appealing. During first year, when I often felt overwhelmed, the support staff provided invaluable guidance and reassurance.

At the same time, RCSI is far from being “all work and no play.” I wanted to continue playing hockey and join societies, and I was initially worried that a healthcare-focused university might not offer many extracurricular opportunities. To my surprise, RCSI has plenty of sports clubs and non-healthcare-related societies.

The hockey team, in particular, has been a wonderful outlet from the pressures of studying and exams, while also giving me the chance to meet students from different programmes and years. The training sessions have given me the chance to meet people from different years and programmes, which has been a great way to make friends outside my course. Since RCSI is a smaller university, we don’t play in a league with weekly matches, but we are invited to intervarsity competitions. Throughout the year, the committee also organise variety of social events, from pub nights after training, to a Christmas party, and other get-togethers.

I honestly couldn’t recommend a club more. The committee and players create such an inclusive and friendly atmosphere, and it’s a joy to see these girls every week, whether at training, socials, or on trips together.

My advice to anyone deciding where to study is to attend as many open days as possible, talk to current students, and don’t be afraid to ask “silly” questions. Even if you’re not interested in a particular course or university, go to the talk anyway. Choosing where to spend the next four years is a huge decision, and gathering as much information as you can is the best way to find the programme and learning style that will suit you most.