1.Congratulations on achieving such an amazing feat. Tell us a bit about yourself. Please also tell us your individual marks in each subject.
1. Hello to all the medicos ! I am Vaishnavi Dubey, student of second year MBBS at R.C.S.M. Government Medical College, Kolhapur. I scored 158/200 each in Anatomy and Biochemistry and 157/200 in Physiology in First year MBBS University examination. My grand total was 473/600 which rounds up to 78.8%.
2.So, when all of this is new and the rest of us are still busy figuring the head and tail of the subject, how did you tackle and master the syllabus?
2. It took quite a bit of time to actually get to know Anatomy because we do have some part of Physiology and Biochemistry in 11th and 12th standard. But the actual insight into every subject began after we give the term end examination.
3.Did you have a set schedule, a time table that you stuck to? What were the daily hours that you put in self study ?
3. I did not have a set schedule as such. I had it prepared only 10-15 days prior the examinations to cover most of the topics of every subject. Having said that, otherwise my only plan and aim was to at least have a preliminary reading or ‘go through’ of the topic that was taught in college each day. Average number of study hours would be 5-6 hours in the evening and 1-2 hours in the morning.
4.Did you have a different methodology of tackling the subjects? Any special notes that you prepared?
4. Most of the notes I prepared were in the classroom itself. I did prepare notes for Physiology for some chapters just for last minute revision sort of. Anatomy I practiced the diagrams thoroughly since a good diagram can not only fetch you good marks but also it saves your writing time and you get a clear picture once you look at diagrams.
5.Do you have any special pointers for specific subjects? The do’s and don’ts of it?
5. Since first year subjects are the foundation of other subjects in coming years, I feel that once must at least read every topic once. However owing to the time crunch at the time of exams, one must keep the notes handy for the important topics. Like in Anatomy preparing a table for origin, insertion, nerve supply and action of muscles.
6.Was there any help that you acquired while exam preparation? Like any visual aids any professional guidance? Or those little tit bits that the professors tell us but none other than the toppers pay attention to? Please share with us.
6. 99% of the help I got were from the books. Remaining 1% would be watching videos on internet when I didn’t understand a particular topic. 50% of your understanding the topic can be done in the classroom itself when the professors stress on some words or some topics.
7.How vital is the Question bank during exams? Does it come highly recommended or you advice thorough reading of the text and having confound knowledge of the subject?
7. Reading of the text should be the 1st step and next step should be question bank at the time of exams to get to know the type of questions asked in exams. It gives a much needed direction to your studies.
8.How do you propose the students study and what kind of discipline should be followed during exam time?
8. Study for knowledge and apply that knowledge in your future medicine practice. Cheating in exams will fetch you marks no doubt, but what is the use of such marks if they don’t lead you anywhere. Getting poor marks will only motivate you to study harder. There is always a second chance.
9.Could you give some important pointers on Exam writing skills? And also how should one prepare for a practical exam?
9. Be neat and write in legible handwriting. Try to depict answers with the help of diagrams wherever possible, especially in Anatomy and Physiology. In practical exam, professors ask many application based questions. So make sure that you cover most of the applied of all the 3 subjects and make sure you know what you say because the further questions are based on your previous answers.
10.Any special tricks and tacts for the students of your college who would be reading this?
10. The only trick would be to take interest in what you are studying. You can even have group discussions on topics that you find difficult to understand.
11.So, do you have any parting thoughts? Like disclosing that secret mantra that you chanted or that special brand of energy drink you savoured? Just kidding. Seriously though, anything at all?
11. Got it covered in the previous answer.
