Medicine doesn't need George Clooney or the US television drama ER to make it sexy. College courses in the discipline remain so heavily over-subscribed in this State that few but the most academically able can gain entry.

"Demand is high. Many people capable of studying medicine can't study it, as people with the highest points get the places," explains Registrar of the Royal College of Surgeons, Professor Kevin O'Malley.

The Commission on the Points System recently suggested changing the mode of entry to medical courses but it is unclear if and when such changes can be brought in and even what difference they would make. So until then, a string of A1s may be required to secure a college place.

So why is medicine the dream job for so many school-leavers?

"Traditionally medicine and the law were highly prestigious disciplines, dictated by their earning power," according to Professor of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, Professor Tom O'Dowd.

Consultant's salaries are around £65,000 today but doctors can earn much more than that through their private practices. Specialisms such as cardiology can increase a doctor's earning power considerably, says O'Dowd. Students who may not make the 540 points threshold required to study medicine in this State should consider studying in Britain or the North where entry requirements are lower, says O'Dowd.

He says the Insider's Guide to Medical Schools for 1999/ 2000 (published by BMJ books at £14.99) is a good starting point for school-leavers to check out.

Queen's University Belfast is an option some students from the Republic may wish to consider. Some of the plus points mentioned in the guide include an updated curriculum, good inter-year relations and a vibrant social life. Northern Ireland's hospitals are also renowned for trauma care training. On the downside, the book mentions the seriously unhealthy Ulster Fry. For those academic high fliers who are able to stay at home, there is a range of courses available in universities in the State. The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin is a prestigious school of medicine. Although it has a 75 per cent non-national intake every year there are approximately 40 places for Irish students up for grabs. There is no shortage of demand for places which cost £4,950 per year.

There is little difference between the degree courses offered in medicine throughout the State. One element in which each course may vary is the proportion of clinical and pre-clinical work. NUI Galway offers two-and-half years pre-clinical and three-and-half years clinical study on their courses while the RCSI offers one year pre-medical and five years medical on theirs.

Perhaps the greatest change in recent years has been the move by UCC to change its medical degree to a five-year course this year. This makes it an attractive option for students eager to practice as early as possible. This has reduced the number of Leaving Certificate students who end up repeating in their first year, according to Dr Padraig MacSweeney, administrator of UCC's medical faculty.

Trinity College Dublin still offers the traditional six-year course in medicine but has instituted some changes in recent years.

"The Medical Council has been encouraging schools to make the pre-clinical years more relevant to the clinical years," says O'Dowd.

POSTGRADUATE opportunities in medicine are wide-ranging. A variety of specialisms from paediatrics to neurology exist to enable interesting career development. However it should be noted that some branches of surgery require up to 10 years study before a doctor can become a fully qualified consultant.

Therefore dedication is an essential quality for the successful medical trainee. This is one of the reasons students should think carefully before embarking on a career in medicine, says RCSI registrar, O'Malley. He believes there has been a tendency for some students to pick medicine because of the prestige lent by the points race.

"Often they have no idea what they are getting into," says O'Malley. "There are indications around the medical schools that people are getting disillusioned with medicine." He advises school leavers considering a career in the field of medicine to make an informed choice by speaking to junior doctors or medical students before making a final decision.

Considering the commitment involved in studying medicine his advice should be well heeded.