I did make a schedule, but more than that I kept targets and tried to finish it in due time.
Anoushka Nair
MIMER Medical College
I YEAR Topper
1.Congratulations on achieving such an amazing feat. Tell us a bit about yourself. Please also tell us your individual marks in each subject.
I’m Anoushka Nair, studying in 2nd year MBBS at MIMER Medical College. I scored 152 in Physiology, 149 in Anatomy and 146 in Biochemistry.
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?
I wouldn’t say that I could tackle the entire syllabus, there is still a lot left to do. But revising many times does help to remember key points in every answer.
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?
I did make a schedule, but more than that I kept targets and tried to finish it in due time. During exam time, I devoted all waking hours for studying, but on a daily basis, I studied 1-2 hours every day.
4.Is there any particular way in which you study or any special notes that you make? Maybe a different approach that what students normally do?
I don’t make notes for everything. I write down points of important answers which are used only for a quick revision before exams. Mnemonics help to some extent, especially in Anatomy. Flow charts in physiology are very useful.
5.Do you have tips on the Do’s and Don’ts of it? How do you manage to keep yourself motivated when studies start taking a toll on you? Are there any ‘distractions’ that actually help you in the process?
My family has been a great support to me. They kept me motivated every time I was in the brink of breaking down. The biggest don’t is wasting time making unnecessary notes which you might not even read ever again. The best break you can take are power naps. They give your mind the desired rest and you are ready to fill your brain a little bit more.
6.Also how important do you think is attending lectures in college? Considering half of the students are either busy on thier phones or sleeping, does it really help?
According to me, attending lectures is very very important. Most of the mcqs I solve are from what I’ve heard professors say. Having tried out both, attending and not attending lectures, I have to go with sleeping less and attending more.
7.Was there any help you required while preparing for the exams? 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.
YouTube videos helped me a lot for Anatomy viva. They also helped in clinical practical’s. And of course, without Google, last minute doubts would never be solved!
Perseverance. That is all it takes to pass any exam.
8.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?
The question Bank is very important as those are the must do questions. Preparing the question bank thoroughly is necessary but at the same time studying entire chapters is essential in the long future. And yeah, studying the entire chapter helps with the odd questions.
9.Could you suggest a method of studying or kind of discipline that should be followed during exam time?
Perseverance. That is all it takes to pass any exam. And also knowing which questions deserve more importance.
10.What do you do to keep yourself stress free? Go for a swim, go for a walk or just wiggle under the blanket and fall asleep or what?
Sleep and sleep some more.
11.Are you involved in any extracurricular activities, be it sports, cultural or academics? How do you manage it along with your routine academics?
I write. It is not that hard to find time to pen down a few sentences.
12.Could you give some important pointers on exam writing skills? And also how should one prepare for a practical exam? Any special tips for the people of your college who would be reading this?
Don’t beat around the bush. Professors like to the point answers. Diagrams, flow charts are real scorers. Highlight key words.
13.What is the one major thing that you would like to change in today’s curriculum?
I still find that we learn a lot of unnecessary things, and fill up our journals without knowing stuff. I would like it if we had a more practical approach.
14.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?
In the end, all we can hope for is for fate to be in our favor.
Interviewed By- Dharmin Doshi & Shivani Indrekar
