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 Amruta Varma and I am from 2013 batch, GMC, Latur.
Marks : Pharmac-109/150
Pathology- 109/150
Microbiology-123/150
Fmt-70/100
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) Initially when 2nd year began, I had no idea about how vast the syllabus is and I had nothing planned, like, I have to do this or that,all I had in my mind was to keep reading and try to understand whatever I’m reading and I guess all I actually did throughout 2nd year was just read the text books and understand and try to grasp everything that I’m reading and of course put an extra effort during exam time and I guess this is what helped me score good in 2nd year.
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 have a time table but i could never stick to it,so I had to prepare a new one every now and then and the amount of time you put in self study varies, the most being in the exam time and the least during the post exam period.
4.Did you have a different methodology of tackling the subjects? Any special notes that you prepared?
4) I followed the basic rule of studying- read,understand, revise. Yes, I did prepare notes of the topics that were vast and hard,so that during exam time I didn’t have to waste a lot of time to go through those topics all over again.
5.Do you have any special pointers for specific subjects? The do’s and don’ts of it?
5) For Pharmacology-Dos: revise revise revise and Prepare notes
Don’ts- dont directly read the notes first read the text books, that is more useful in long run.
Pathology-Dos: prepare self notes and Practice the microscopic diagrams
Don’ts-“DON’T MISS YOUR PRACTICALS” ,most of the Pathology you actually understand is in the practicals.
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) My father is a doctor ,so that is the most important help I get during my exam time; he clears my doubts regarding any topic or subject if there are any. And of course the “little tit bits ” from professors are very helpful.
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) Question bank is very important,as it helps you to understand the topics and questions that are important keeping the theory i.e. university exams in point of view,but even more important is reading the text thoroughly.
8.How do you propose the students study and what kind of discipline should be followed during exam time?
8) Every student has his/her own way of studying and the main thing that should be followed during exam time is that don’t put a lot of stress on yourself, for those who do and for those who wait for the last moment, do not take time for granted.
9.Could you give some important pointers on Exam writing skills? And also how should one prepare for a practical exam?
9) Write what has been asked and to the point, we are being trained to be doctors not story writers.
And if possible keep your paper presentation good (this is one thing that I have tried to maintain in my answer sheet but in the end while going through my paper the thought that always comes to my mind is whether the examiner will be able to read what I have written).
10.Any special tricks and tacts for the students of your college who would be reading this?
10) No special tricks regarding study but I would like to say my juniors that, focus on concepts and clinical importance of the topic.
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 seriously though..anything at all?
11) The mantra that I firmly believe in is -“Success is not final, failure is not fatal”.
