Author: harshadbhai, Posted on Friday, May 01 @ 00:35:39 IST by RxPG  

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‘Anvita online’ my Yahoo messenger displayed on the computer. I was sitting in the digital library of my college at 10 pm. I double clicked on her name in the list and opened the chat window.

“Hello!” I typed. She was online after more than a year. Where were she I didn’t have any clue.

“Hey, How r u?” came her words.

“I am doing fine, How r u friend? Long time, no see”

“Ya, I was busy in the studies” she said.

“Ok, what u doing these days?” I asked.

“Relaxing at home”

“Ok, but what about your PG? Which subject u want to do PG in?”

“ I like Radiology” she replied.

“ Ohhh! Its very tough to get! U need so high rank”

“ya I know”

“Hey, in which college u wish to do Radiology?”

“In KEM Mumbai”

“wow! but That’s the job of topper! U wrote AIPGE this time?” I asked.

“Yes”

“whats ur rank?”

“Guess it!”

When she said guess it, my eyes sparkled…

“In single digit?” was my guess.

“Yes, Its 1”

“What!!!!!!!!” I couldn’t believe this. “realllly????" I was using so many exclamatory marks.

“yes, my rank is 1” was her cool reply.

“wow! hey, Congratulations!”

“Thanks..”

“I attended the AIPGE 1st round of seat allotment and got MD Radiology at KEM”

“Congrats again…! And again!” I was stunned.. didn’t know what to talk with her now.

“I was not knowing it yaar… Why didn’t u tell me?”

“I came online today only”

“ya, u were out from this virtual world!”

“yes for almost an year now” she replied.

“Thats unbelievable success yaar! How u feeling?”

“I am happy!” how calmly she can write that!

“U must have put the best efforts for it. How u did it?”

I was totally unaware about Anvita as a student! I knew her for her photography! In fact we met online from the same hobby of photography but “AIPG topper” is her new identity for me.

“Congratulations once again, it’s a grand … grand success” I couldn’t stop saying it once.

“Thank you”

“Ok, so what r ur future plans? When r u joining the course?”

“It will be in the May”

“Ok, so u have April a full month to enjoy!”

“Yes”

“Hows ur photography going? I liked ur recent updates in the album”

“yes I am planning to visit new places and ready for trips now”

“Hmmm That’s good! So be clicking! And updating ur album with lovely pics”

“ya sure.. Hey I got to go now..”

“Ok, Anvita, cu later, surely”

“ok , bye , cya”

and then I sign out from my messenger. I came back to my room and was still in those thoughts of her and the Rank 1. Really, Rank 1 sounds so special! I never imagined that Rank 1 would be someone whom I know! Its all human though, but these are some special humans. I don't know how they achieve this huge task! It feels like a dream to be Rank 1 , actually more than that! After 2 days we met online again and then I said to her.

“You know that I like stories and I am keen to know yours!”

“Oh Yes, of course! What sort of story?” she asked.

“I want to know about U and your efforts , Shall we chat or can I call u ?” I asked.

“as u wish.. u can call me or if u think any q u can mail me”

“Ok, done”

So I spent next couple of weeks in listening to Anvita and her efforts. She used to mail me, reply to my questions and respond to my calls with pleasure. Here I pen down the things which I felt very important about her and her dedication. First of all, she was not on the internet for a complete one year! Its very tough to do this than to just think of! This shows her focus!

“Anvita, how u started all this? U were brilliant student from your 1st MBBS, Isn’t it?” was my first question to her. She said, “Not exactly, I was not even in top 5 in my first MBBS. I started studying seriously from 2nd term of 2nd year”

“ok, so what u were doing in 1st year?”

“Hey come on, first year is to get used to the things, to build the stamina for the long journey…I got familiar with the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical college, Indore. I took interest in subjects in 2nd year”

“ok, which books u used for 2nd year subjects?”

“Robbins for Pathology, Ananthnarayan for Microbiology, Reddy for fmt and KDT for Pharmacology”

“hmmm.. Books are the same, everybody reads the same books!.. ok then in third year, what u did?”

“I love reading and used to study regularly in third year”

“for how much hours?”

“umm, not fixed , may be 5,6”

“Hey did u have MCQ books in the undergraduate days?”

“NO, I think we should prepare the theory part well in these years"

These are building blocks for the entrance preparation. Please don’t neglect theory for solving MCQs in undergraduate days MCQs are imp. but they should never become your staple diet! Use them sporadically for a change or just to get a feel for type of questions. You are going to do mainly MCQs for pre-pg prep later, so in undergraduation the main bulk to be done is of theory!”

“ok… I see… Anvita, how u used to study in 2nd and 3rd year? Any special methods like making notes etc?”

“No, I didn’t make notes, but I used integration”

“Integration!!? That’s there in the mathematics I guess!”

“Hee hee, no not that one, I used to read a system or a specific topic from micro, its pathogenesis in pathology, Then used to see the drugs for it in pharmacology , this was I used to integrate the topic…”

“Interesting! Like for example – Tuberculosis , right?”

“Yes exactly…”

“so.. only studies!! Did u ever participate in some other activities in the college?”

“Yes! I was there in the dance , and I love to play basketball.. I used to play in the sports academy in Indore”

“that’s Good! From Chicago bulls to Indore Buffaloes! Just kidding!”

“What else u like Anvita?”

“Nature..”

“Yes … I know your photography, its awesome!”

“Thank you.. Hey Harshad, I have to leave now.. c ya next time”

“hmmmm… ok , but listen when we will meet again online, I will be ready with set of questions…”

‘Ok sure”

“ok then, thanks for all these info yaar..”

“your welcome.. c ya, m logging off”

And then she left! I noted down all the points from the chat and thought of visiting her orkut profile. Her scrapbook was flooded with the congratulation scraps and greeting cards! I selected an image from a card site and pasted it in her scrapbook.. a skating kid showing Thumps up! I opened her album and here is what I found…

I loved this pic! There were few additions to her album from her south journey like …

“Hellooooo”

I was excited to see her online again…

“Hey Anvita, good to se you, will directly ask you the questions , be ready and reply fast, ok”

“Ok sir!”

“So here we start - Your ranks in your college days?”

“I was 2nd in 2nd year , 1st in 3rd year and in final year”

“wow.. amazing…”

“thanks”

“Hey, When you started entrance preparation, what was your aim? Was it Rank 1 ?”

“No.. nothing like that .. I just thought myself that I am going to study a lot for a decent rank”

“Ok… hey u wrote Nov AIIMS na?”

“Yes , but i got nervous in the exam and could only answer 132 qs”

“ohhh.”

“I was not in the list and I felt sad about it, that time I decided that I am going to concentrate all my efforts and mental power for AIPGE exam., I wrote in my diary following words (She copy pasted those words which she had stored in her computer):

"Believe on your instincts! Mark intelligent guesses abundantly. Mostly do not wait for the second round (for attempting q)- usually it is difficult to come. Speed! think fast, mark fast. Mark/transfer answers simultaneously, and never a bunch of them together in OMR. No excuse for repeat questions! have to get them all right. Do not spend too much time on a single story problem. Mark, or else move ahead. Note down important topics to be revised in the final week. (e.g.. topics which are difficult to memo) in addition to the recent papers of AI, AIIMS plus your notes (if any) exam is more about common sense rather than in depth knowledge. most of the times answer lies in the way the options are framed Hold your nerves until the end! Nobody’s preparation will be perfect- it can never be. Its only having control over yourself in the final days & during exam that matters. Remember- life is long----this is just one small hurdle. take it easy!”

“simply superb, I wish to see your diary one day. Amazing power you have Anvita”

“It was my determination.. My goal to be achieved…”

“Clap clap clap”

“J”

“Hey when u came to know that you are the first?”

“ohh.. that’s a story”

“good , tell it now!”

“Sure, I was with my parents, on a south India trip. We had a visit to a lake, and there we were on a boat. All the water and lush green trees around and our boat was in the middle of the water, then suddenly one of my friend called me and told the news, then another and another, my cell kept ringing till we were enjoying the boating!”

“Heavenly beauty and the sweetest news! What u were thinking at that time - Top of the world?”

“I was happy for myself but some of my friends, who worked really hard but couldn’t make up in the list , I felt sad for them, They were deserving but you know the competition now a days”

“hmmm, yes, then when did you see the result your self?”

“we got out of the lake and reached to the near by net café, it took about 2 hrs, and then finally I with my parents saw the result…”

“Hey your parents with u all the time!”

“Yes, they are my strengths… my best support… I wanted to share any sort of news with them on that day… may be good - to share the joy with them, may be bad – to take their support , I needed them for everything…”

“hmmmmm” I could imagine Anvita with her parents sitting in the boat and also the boatman must be happy hearing the news! He must not have charged them on that day!

"Ok I see, its been very fruitful to talk with u again. Hope to meet u in future or I will send u the email with qs, is it ok?”

“ya sure.. I will mail you back”

“You are answering in that thread in detail to each and every individual questions. Hope to see you there in that thread , at least till you join your PG and get soaked up in the new world!”

“Oh sure, I will be here at RxPG.. I love this site, the crowd and questions, the glamour!”

“Oh ho, You talking like a celebrity ha..”

“come on, don’t pull me, I am just simple Anvita”

“I know , and just be like this only! Wishing you all the best for your future and career, God bless you with ever lasting joy – this is from me and whole RxPG family.

“Thank you so much and I really liked being there at RxPG, Hope to see someone from our site topping the result next time”

“Oh wow, good, and I will get another story to write!”

“ha ha ha”

“Hey I have few more Qs which I will email u tomorrow, ok?”

“Yes sure , c ya , good night”

“Bye”

I mailed her a bunch of Qs and got her prompt reply on next day. Here I am copy pasting those Qs along with her answers.

Dr Anvita Pauranik
Rank 1, AIPGE 2009

Harshad Deshapande: Which MCQ books did you use?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: I studied first volume of Mudit Khanna and Ashish Gupta and did subject wise MCQ books. MK and AG has the best explanations and you get so many new questions from their description.

Harshad Deshapande: What was your study pattern ? Retro or Ante?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: Well, It was retro. We can not read each and every book so we have to mix it up with these two methods. I didn’t refer each and every question but all those tough questions I checked in the books. Retro doesn't mean referring only to a particular line take from a book. have a glance of what's given around and try to frame would be questions in your mind! I used to start by solving MCQs of a subject, find out the important topics, open up the textbook, scan illustrations (if any). If I'd read that book in UG, I used to focus on the highlighted areas. I used to mark important lines in the book with small 'q' in side column. The study style is so highly variable. but if you are fast, focused, have judgement of what to read and what to skip, it helps. Never compromise on your concepts. If you are confused say between type 1, type 2 error, parametric tests in biostats..... try to read from a book or ask someone. Its not about back-referring each individual MCQs, its about reading that whole topic when you open the book. Say if you are doing MCQs of lipid metabolism (biochemistry) wrong repeatedly, just open your Lippincotts and see the flowcharts and read the text well.

Harshad Deshapande: Did you have your own notes?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: I didn't have the time for complete notes. Just that you can keep a small notebook and write few one-liners or few punch points (never write big paragraphs!) especially if you are confused between two answers, even if it has been asked a zillion times, like good prognosis for ALL (leukaemia) or p-ANCA is found in Ulcerative Colitis, not Crohn's or in radiology Cs 137 is temporary implant, while Cs 131 is permanent. You can also write one-liners of the MCQs you do wrong in test series. I wrote down things which are difficult to memorize
(like ICDS values for calories, proteins which have changed in new edition of Park & Park). You can include the weak topics in your notes for me it was biostatistics, values from the PSM and milestones from the Paediatrics.

Harshad Deshapande: Did you used to study single or in group?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: Discussions help you a lot and makes you remember things for a longer time. In discussions you can clear your doubts, you can judge if you are going too slow. Nothing I am saying here is 'must', but group study was quite helpful for me. I can't put in words the immense help I got from all my friends.

Harshad Deshapande: About Test series and coaching - What did you join?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: I’d taken weekly tests of Bhatia’s. Had given major tests of Allen’s. I used to get between 57-60% in Bhatia grand test. All test series are more or less similar, and of course a very essential part of preparation. Always appear in the weekly subject tests (even if u have not completed the required course) take at least half a day to look up the answers (in textbook) for the questions which you’ve done wrong.

Harshad Deshapande: How you managed studies along with the internship ?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: If you have read and marked all the major textbooks- Robbins, KDT, Harrison etc in your UG days, it will certainly save time during internship. If not, pay attention to your weaker subjects first. Its okay to study at odd places too- reading pocketbooks/notes while standing anywhere or while eating in canteen! Discussing things with people around you. It need not be a formal discussion of subjects. Have fun while studying, enjoy it as you do. Don’t get anxious.

Harshad Deshapande: How you kept the Spirit going?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: Well, an excellent support system of family and friends who caught me whenever I fell. I could never have achieve this without their moral support. I love nature and sometimes I used to walk in the trees.

Harshad Deshapande: How was your D Day , the day of All India PG exam ? How u spent it?

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: Ok the D-Day , Good rest, 7 hrs sleep, a moderate breakfast and lots of hope n cheer! But no studies on that day and stay close to your exam centre. I attempted 274 out of 300. It important to take chances. Try to find out your own good average by giving various grand tests throughout year.

Harshad Deshapande: Give us some Dos and Don’t from your side

Dr. Anvita Pauranik: DOs: Building concepts whenever required, Doing both theory and MCQs, and not one of them alone, Be regular with test series (don't worry about rank), Starting with 1st year subjects (preferably, as they require more time), Meet, talk, discus with friends, Make plans: weekly, monthly, 6 monthly, Have exercise and be cheerful always. DON'TS: Don't isolate yourself, Don't burden yourself with high aims, Don't over-tire your body.

That’s about Anvita and her story. She has joined MD Radiology at KEM , Mumbai. Its so personal and individual about how a person studies, People differ in their tough subjects, studying styles and revision techniques. This was a peep inside her world trying to figure out what she did from the 1st MBBS.. The paths may be different but what ultimately matters is the end! She had the dream finish! to Start a PG course. Wish you all the best for your preparations and do scrap or IM me when you achieve the success! Many stories awaiting!!! I am ready with my pen.

Harshad Deshapande (harshadbhai@rxpg.com)


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