I study at Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine in Prague, Czech Republic.
1. Why did you choose to study medicine?
I was quite fascinated with Biology in high school and always wanted to pursue a field in which I could help others. I did play around with the thought of pursuing other fields like Biomedical sciences or Pharmacology but I'm a very extroverted person and being in a lab all day did not sound as appealing to me. Thus, medicine just seemed like a good fit for me based on my personality and my interests. I have never looked back since.
2. What is your daily schedule like?
My schedule varied a lot over the years. The first year was probably the most brutal as the jump from high school to university was quite a shock for me. In my first year, I woke up at around 7 AM every day to get ready and make it to my classes which started at 8 AM. Most days I would be free by 2 PM but somedays were stretched out until 6 PM. The rest of the day I would spend in the library (6-10hrs/day) studying for tests/exams which were scheduled every week. There was no time to do anything else other than sleep, study, eat(sometimes), and repeat. There were some obvious exceptions to this when I went out on the weekends but that was quite rare. Although it sounds nerve-racking, it wasn't as bad as it sounds because everyone else with me was pretty much on the same schedule. I was always surrounded by friends and colleagues who were helping each other out which honestly made the difference.
Since then, I've learned how to study better and more effectively reduce the time spent studying each day to a mere 2 to 3 hours a day. Moreover, coursework seems much easier now because of the time I spent learning the basics in my first year, which we build on as the years go on. Currently (in my 4th year), my lectures start at 8 AM which lasts about 2 hours and is followed by practical/clinical work which takes 2 to 4 hours depending on the work assigned. Most days, I'm free by 12 PM and then I find time to do activities outside my university like hanging out while also keeping up with my coursework.
3. What extracurriculars, if any, are you involved in?
I did a lot of extracurriculars, like volunteering and sports, while I was in school but none of it was considered when applying to Charles University. They were more interested in my SAT scores (now replaced by the university entrance exam) and what I had to say in the interview that follows the exam.
I have been part of AIMS (Association of International Medical Students) since my first year of University. I have served different positions over the years but right now I am a part of the Academic Events team which organizes lectures, interviews, and workshops for Medical students of my faculty.
4. What advice would you give to students who are currently aspiring to be medical students?
The hard part about medical school is not getting in but staying in. You do not have to be the smartest kid in class to be a doctor, you just need to be hardworking and confident enough to know you'll make it. Having a good group of friends and not being afraid to ask for help also makes life much easier.
Written by: Aviral Chandel, Fourth-year medical student, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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