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) My name is Swathi Yennemadi. Currently I am doing my BDS from Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai.
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) The subjects were difficult for me as well. Initially, it was hard for me to understand but after repeated reading, I could follow what the subjects were and why they are important for us to know.
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) The initial half of my first year was spent in figuring out the subjects after which I developed a pattern to study them. I did not have a time table as such, but I used to read the chapters in sequence so that there is continuity and no chapter is left unread. My daily hours of study would fluctuate but I feel that after you finish your college an hour of rest is a must following two hours of study regularly, if not daily.
4.Did you have a different methodology of tackling the subjects? Any special notes that you prepared?
4) Our subjects demand good memorization and understanding. Silent reading is what most of us do but for those difficult chapters I preferred reading it out loud or writing them, making note of certain chapters which were hard to remember.
5.Do you have any special pointers for specific subjects? The do’s and don’ts of it?
5)General anatomy consist of a lot of diagrams which is good..diagrams help us remember things easily..I prefered drawing them by myself which helped me retain it better.
For Dental anatomy focus on carving will help in understanding the subject better .again visual memory aids in good retention.
Biochemistry & physiology ,I study mostly by writing down and making notes and flow charts for the complex processes
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) Our college staff was very supportive, I did get a lot of guidance from my teachers, friends in clarifying doubts. It is very important to surround yourself with positive people, your friends and family who always bring out the best in you.
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)The question banks are of some help during or just before exams for quick revision or to check important questions but you should not depend on them if your seek for long term knowledge, text books are definitely the only option. It is difficult initially but in the long run, repeated reading of standard text books is beneficial.
8.How do you propose the students study and what kind of discipline should be followed during exam time?
8) It’s good to revise the whole portion which gives us a sense of completion but that does not mean studying one day before the exam. Exams are meant for us to know how much information were we able to absorb throughout the year and this has to be understood by the students. Adequate sleep and remaining calm are the two most important things we should remember.
9.Could you give some important pointers on Exam writing skills? And also how should one prepare for a practical exam?
9) The way one presents a paper is also important.. A good legible hand writing and well spaced answers with diagrams where ever possible helps the examiner to correct the paper with ease.
10.Any special tricks and tacts for the students of your college who would be reading this?
10) I genuinly don’t feel that they need any tricks or tactics, they are well informed about how to study.
11.So, do you have any parting thoughts? Like disclosing that secret mantra that you chanted or that special brand of energy drink you savored? Just kidding. Seriously though, anything at all?
11) Studying to score in the university exam is good but studying only to score is not what we should aim for….what matters is how much knowledge we have gained and are going to carry with us from the subjects we study.