How to Become a Doctor - Steps to Becoming a Doctor in India | Part 1 of 2 I #ChetChat

Summary

In this insightful interview, final year medical student Divya Parekh shares her journey and insights on pursuing medicine in India. She discusses the early decision to become a doctor, the choice between Indian and international education, and the challenges of entrance exams. Divya highlights the importance of practical experience in Indian medical schools, the significance of community medicine, and the stark difference between government and private institutions in terms of patient exposure and teaching quality. This video offers valuable guidance for aspiring doctors considering their educational path.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Divya Parekh is a final year medical student at Grant Medical College in Mumbai, India.
• 👶 She decided to become a doctor in the third grade, inspired by her older cousin brother's initial interest in the field.
• 🌍 Divya chose to study medicine in India due to the time advantage and the specific medical cases endemic to the country.
• 📚 She made a mistake by initially choosing the IGCSE board, which complicated grade conversion for Indian medical school admission.
• ⏳ The MBBS program in India is five and a half years, including four and a half years of study and a one-year compulsory internship.
• 📉 The time to complete medical studies in India is significantly less compared to eight and a half years in the US.
• 📚 Divya recommends studying in India if one plans to practice there due to the unique medical education and experience provided.
• 🏥 The compulsory internship is a way for the government to get back some of the investment made in the medical student's education.
• 🔍 Practical experience in the Indian medical system includes early exposure to wards and direct patient care from the final year.
• 📈 Large class sizes are common in Indian medical education, but practical sessions are conducted in smaller groups for better interaction.
• 📝 Clearing entrance exams for medical colleges in India is highly competitive, requiring a high level of dedication and sustained study.
• 🏢 Government medical colleges in India offer more clinical experience, while private colleges may have better teaching staff but fewer patients.

Q & A

What inspired Divya Parekh to become a doctor?

Divya Parekh was inspired to become a doctor from an early age, influenced by her older cousin brother who initially wanted to be a doctor but switched to engineering.

Why did Divya choose to study medicine in India rather than abroad?

Divya chose to study medicine in India due to the time advantage, as the MBBS program in India is five and a half years compared to eight and a half years in the US, including pre-med.

What was Divya's experience with the IGCSE board and how did it affect her?

Divya considered choosing the IGCSE board a mistake because it made it difficult to convert her grades into an Indian percentage, which was necessary for her to apply to medical colleges in India.

How does the MBBS program in India differ from studying medicine abroad in terms of duration and curriculum?

The MBBS program in India lasts for five and a half years, with four and a half years of study and a one-year compulsory internship. Abroad, the process includes pre-med and medical school, totaling eight and a half years.

Why is community medicine an important subject for students studying medicine in India?

Community medicine is important for Indian medical students because it deals with cases that are endemic to India, providing a specific understanding of diseases and health issues prevalent in the country.

What is the structure of the MBBS program in terms of practical and theoretical learning?

The MBBS program in India starts with theoretical learning and dissections in the first year, followed by ward visits and observation from the second year. In the final two years, students are posted to wards and are immediately involved in patient care.

What is the significance of the compulsory internship after the MBBS program?

The compulsory internship is a way for students to give back to the government institution that provided their education at a lower cost. It also includes a rural internship component, ensuring exposure to diverse healthcare settings.

How does the Indian medical education system handle large class sizes and ensure effective learning?

While lectures may have large class sizes, practical sessions such as dissections, lab work, and tutorials are conducted in smaller groups to ensure effective learning.

What are the challenges of clearing entrance exams for medical colleges in India?

Clearing entrance exams in India is extremely competitive, with lakhs of students taking the exams. To succeed, students must be highly motivated, manage their time well, and engage in sustained study.

What advice does Divya give for choosing coaching classes for medical entrance exams?

Divya recommends choosing coaching classes that are specific to the common entrance test, start early with weekly tests, and are located conveniently for time management.

What is the difference between government and private medical colleges in terms of patient exposure and teaching quality?

Government medical colleges offer more patient exposure with a greater number of cadavers for dissection and clinical experience. Private colleges, on the other hand, may have fewer patients but provide higher quality teaching.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Medical Education in India: Divya's Journey and Insights

Divya Parekh, a final year medical student at Grant Medical College in Mumbai, shares her early decision to pursue medicine, influenced by her older cousin brother's initial aspiration. Despite his switch to engineering, Divya remained steadfast in her choice. She discusses the challenges of choosing the IGCSE board over the Indian system for her early education, which complicated her later transition back to the Indian board for medical studies. The conversation highlights the structure of the MBBS program in India, which is a five-and-a-half-year course including a compulsory one-year internship. Divya emphasizes the time advantage of studying in India compared to the US, where the process is significantly longer. She also touches on the importance of studying in India for those planning to practice there, given the unique medical cases and community medicine subject relevant to the local context.

05:01

🏥 Practical Experience and Challenges of Medical Studies in India

The script delves into the practical aspects of medical education in India, where students engage in dissections and lab work from the first year, and by the second year, they observe and participate in hospital wards. The Indian system is distinguished by its early immersion of students into real-life patient care, with final year students taking on responsibilities akin to doctors. The discussion also addresses concerns about large class sizes and the limited interaction with professors, explaining that smaller groups are formed for practical sessions. The competitive nature of entrance exams like the Maharashtra CET is highlighted, with Divya sharing her strategies for success, including the importance of choosing the right coaching classes and maintaining a high level of sustained study.

10:04

📚 Navigating Medical College Admissions and Curriculum Choices

Divya provides guidance for students considering medical studies, discussing the importance of choosing the right curriculum and subjects early on. She advises selecting the ICSE over IGCSE for those planning to study medicine in India and emphasizes the significance of choosing all three sciences for the common entrance test. The conversation outlines the entrance exam process, including the Maharashtrian CET and the All-India exam, and the criteria for eligibility. Divya also compares government and private medical colleges, noting the trade-off between clinical experience in government hospitals and the quality of teaching in private institutions. Lastly, she looks forward to part two of the video series, which will cover postgraduate studies, cost comparisons, application processes, international work opportunities, and personal experiences.

Keywords

💡Doctor

A doctor is a licensed medical practitioner who provides medical diagnosis, treatment, and care for people. In the video, Divya Parekh's aspiration to become a doctor is highlighted, and her journey through medical education is discussed, emphasizing the importance of early decision-making and commitment to the profession.

💡MBBS

MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, which is an undergraduate medical degree. The script mentions that the MBBS program in India lasts for five and a half years, including a compulsory one-year internship, and is a central part of Divya's educational path.

💡Medical College

A medical college is an institution that provides medical education and training. Divya Parekh is studying at Grant Medical College in Mumbai, which is a prestigious institution for pursuing an MBBS degree.

💡IGCSE

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education, which is an educational program for students between the ages of 14 and 16. Divya mentions that she chose IGCSE over the Indian curriculum in 8th grade, which later posed challenges in grade conversion for medical college entrance exams.

💡Community Medicine

Community medicine is a branch of medical science that focuses on the health of entire communities rather than individual patients. The script highlights its importance in the Indian medical curriculum, as it deals with endemic diseases and health issues specific to the country.

💡Internship

An internship is a period of practical training in a job or profession. In the context of the MBBS program, Divya discusses the compulsory one-year internship after final exams, which is a part of the medical education where students gain hands-on experience in a hospital setting.

💡Entrance Exam

An entrance exam is a test that determines eligibility for admission into an educational program or institution. The script discusses the Maharashtra CET and the All-India Exam as crucial steps for getting into medical colleges in India.

💡Medical Curriculum

The medical curriculum refers to the planned course of study in a medical school. Divya's experience with the curriculum is detailed in the script, including the different stages of study, from basic sciences to clinical practice.

💡Government Institution

A government institution is an organization that is owned, operated, or managed by the government. The script mentions that government medical colleges provide education at a lower cost, and in return, students are required to complete a compulsory internship.

💡Clinical Experience

Clinical experience refers to the practical experience gained by working with patients in a clinical setting. Divya emphasizes the importance of clinical experience in the Indian medical system, especially in government hospitals, where students see a high volume of patients.

💡Private Hospital

A private hospital is a healthcare facility that is privately owned and operated. The script contrasts private hospitals with government ones, noting that while private hospitals may offer better teaching staff, they provide fewer opportunities for patient interaction.

Highlights

Divya Parekh, a final year medical student at Grant Medical College in Mumbai, discusses her early decision to become a doctor influenced by her cousin brother.

Divya chose to study medicine in India due to the significant time advantage of the Indian MBBS program compared to pre-med and med school in the US.

She regrets choosing the IGCSE over the Indian board for her early education due to difficulties in grade conversion for medical college entrance exams.

The MBBS program in India is five and a half years, including a compulsory one-year internship after final exams.

Divya recommends studying in India for those planning to practice medicine in India due to the specific cases and community medicine subject.

The Indian medical education system exposes students to a wide range of diseases and patient backgrounds, unlike abroad.

Divya describes the structure of the MBBS program, with a heavy focus on practical experience in the final year.

Students in the Indian medical system are immediately responsible for patients in their final year, providing hands-on experience.

Divya discusses the challenges of large class sizes and less interaction with professors in Indian medical colleges.

She shares her experience with entrance exams, emphasizing the importance of early preparation and subject coaching classes.

Divya explains the eligibility criteria for the Maharashtra CET and the All-India Exam for medical college entrance.

She advises high school students to choose their subjects wisely, favoring the Indian curriculum and all three sciences for medical entrance exams.

Divya discusses the differences between government and private medical colleges in India, focusing on patient exposure and teaching quality.

She recommends government hospitals for the clinical experience they provide, despite the smaller teaching staff compared to private institutions.

Divya provides insights into the process of choosing medical colleges in India, including entrance exams and preferences.

The transcript hints at a part two of the video series, which will cover postgraduate studies, cost comparisons, and the possibility of Indian doctors working abroad.

Transcripts

Hey, everyone welcome to the show and today the guest with me is a budding doctor

He's a final year student a Grant Medical College studying in Mumbai, Divya Parekh. Hey Divya welcome to the show, thank you, it's good to be here

Being a doctor, the way, I look at it

It's a calling, so tell me how early did you find out that this was it for you?

I decided I want to be a doctor all the way back in like the third grade, wow

Actually, I have an older cousin brother, who is two years elder than me,

He also wanted to be a doctor and then like he made a last-minute change and he went in the engineering

And you were stuck, no, but I've always wanted to do this

I've loved it all the way through

Wow, because I've heard this a lot from people that you know the ones that want to become a doctor

are pretty much sure and the rest of the world is

undecided

Tell me you always had the choice in front of you of studying in India or

Going abroad was that always a choice for you or were you very clear you wanted to study in India

The thing is I was quite definite on having this doing my medicine in India because of the time difference that it makes

But the mistake I actually made back then is in the 8th when you have to choose between ICSE and IGCSE

I picked IGCSE which is the Cambridge one, okay, so at that point

It was a hassle to convert grades into an Indian percentage okay? So you're calling it a mistake because ideally looking back

You're saying you should have studied in the Indian whether it's ICSE

or perhaps

CBSE or one of the Indian boards up to tenth grade and then continued in the Indian Boards. And because you switched to the Cambridge Board

The switch back to the Indian board after 10th is where you had a challenge

Yeah, so now these conversions are easily available because people do it a lot, okay

And the ICSE marks come out a good like two months before IGCSE actually gives you the grade. Yes

So I got lucky that there was an SSC court case going on which dragged the whole admission procedure further, okay

So like I could afford to wait for my final marks

and

Then have them converted. So when you say the reason you chose the Indian system for the time advantage so coming back to the program

That you do how long is this?

MBBS undergraduation program. So the MBBS program in India after 12th is five and a half years of

Of which actually four and a half years are of studying and one year is a compulsory internship that you have to do at the hospital

at which you're studying. And in comparison abroad it would be the whole pre-med and then you go to med School

Which is the four and a half years [oh], so you have that big time saved?

So you have like eight eight and a half years yeah

If you were somewhere there if you were in the US versus five and a half when you are here, okay

so what would you recommend for a student wanting to study medicine

What is your strong

Recommendation about apart from the time studying in India versus studying in another country. It depends on where you plan to practice after

But if you're undecided or you're planning to practice in India then starting in India makes the most sense

As I told you the time difference is already significant and also

There's a very important subject called community medicine and all the cases that you see are very endemic to India they're very specific

So the experience that you get studying in India

Helps you like so much to practice in India is which is something you would not get abroad right?

So there's a different spectrum in the kind of diseases, so the bacterial diseases in India.

So more infectious diseases, here, people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds compared to affluency abroad

So even though it's a five-and-a-half-year course by name of the year technically, it's three years

First Year is just a one year course where you, you're learning normal functioning

So normal structures, processes and everything in the body and you have dissections and things to do

Second year is actually a year and a half and second year is

Regarding what causes disease and what are the disease

Processes and the drugs that counter it, and third year is two years,

It's over two years, where your first year is called third minor and the second is

Called final year, and most of your like the main important stuff comes in final year crammed together

So final year is easily the most hectic. Okay and which is what where you are right now, yeah just started, and

And where does the internship fit in? No the internship is compulsory after you pass your final exams. And the whole point of the compulsory

Internship is that

They have provided you education at the government institution for a much lower cost than what others eh private institutions would

So to get something back from you, you're doing an internship as working for them for that year for very minimal, wage

right, and off which some bit understand has to be in the rural areas yeah, so

Generally, you should have a month and a half or two months of rural internship at a place in maharashtra

Okay, this just tells me this five and a half year program and one year you're working out now off

This is this largely at the classroom, or is there sort of a practical aspect to it as well?

So on the first year you have a lot of lectures

But you also have a lot of practicals in the sense that you're working with dissections and things in the lab

But not at a ward in the hospital okay, but from second your onwards

Which is really early you can attend the wards and you can go to the medicine department, surgery department

Where, you don't have that much to do you have like an observing role

And then the two years of third year you get posted immediately to the wards, okay?

and

the difference in the Indian system

compared to others is that we don't really have dummies for people to learn on, so as soon as you start final year

You get like immediately thrown into it like you're a doctor everything is to be done for you

You have a bed patient and it's like kind of on you wow, so it's really good experience

That's like a mock? you're doing you're doing an evaluation before the doctor really comes in yeah

That's the thing so you do the whole you take the history the examination and everything then but then the doctor comes

You can explain to him your case, but then that's your bed case you get immediately thrown into it to learn on a live patient

one of the other common objections that people worry about when they have to study in India is the

Possibility of Perhaps having large class sizes and less interaction with the professor's so how does that work for you?

[oh], yeah

so to an extent that's correct because that so that's a difference in the

Education system here and abroad that a lot of our classes are kind of like lectures which are a little more

imposed learning compared to an open discussion

but

barring lectures anything where you have to practically see or do anything like dissections or

Lab work or tutorials you get broken down into smaller batches of twenty

Ten or twenty so there's not as much of a problem as large groups. Which is only limited to lectures

So one of the things that students tell me they find ominous about the prospect of studying in India is the challenge of clearing

the entrance exams

So tell us a bit about how difficult that is

You have two entrance exams to give to get into medical Colleges one is the

Maharashtra CET, and you have an All-India Exam which is for states from outside Maharashtra to be applicable to come to Maharashtra Colleges

Okay, so CET is you give the exam at the end of your 12th right

And it's an extremely competitive exam you have students in lakhs giving the exam, and the good medical institutions here

To join one of then you'd have to rank in the top 500

So it's extremely tough so the thing is

From the start you have to have made up your mind that you want to achieve that goal

and you have to have picked your

Subject coaching classes correctly but from halfway through the 11th till the end you have to have a good level of sustained study in

To reach that level to achieve a rank, so it's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of work

So what kind of coaching classes you have any?

Recommendation there. You pick the classes based on your location actually because a lot of a lot of the thing is time management

Needed get optimum work done

but it's very important to pick coaching classes which are specific to the common entrance test and not just the general 12th Standard College and

Early from like, early on from the start they take weekly tests

[oh], which are graded and there's like a printout of the Marksheet. You need a parent sign and everything

Tell me one more thing you said Maharashtra entrance exam does it allow anybody to apply for it?

Or do you necessarily have to have lived in Maharashtra for a certain number of years?

But you have to have lived in Maharashtra for a specific amount of yours they have some

government specific guidelines which you have to match those criteria to be applicable for it. So for a student who's perhaps a

Parent is in a transferable job and has lived for a couple of years in different states of the country

How does the MBBS

entrance Exam work

So there's an all-india exam, right which

As long as you're an Indian citizen you can give so it's not state specific and the advantage of that is that that exam is

Applicable to medical colleges of all states, okay

So having given that exam you have the widest range of options to go to if you are willing to move okay

And there you could possibly go to than any state

But if you want to be in the state that you've lived in for a longest period of time then it's probably advisable to go

for that state cet is how you're saying that's

[okay], so you decided really early?

But I'm looking at a high school student perhaps in grade six seven trying to decide should I go

IGCSE should I study Indian Curriculum, and there's a plethora of subjects there are combinations of subjects and all of that available

So what's your advice to that student in terms of choosing the right subjects etc

oh

so if you like you have to made a decision by the end of your seventh grade before the 8th standard because

Not only is it really important to pick ICSE over IGCSE if you plan to study here

It's also important that given the option you have to pick all three

sciences split rather than a coordinated course so the format of the common entrance test is that

Every student who gives it has to give physics and chemistry I have to give it right then

Those are [50/50] marks if you have 100 marks from Math

Oh, we should give if you're moving to engineering right and 100 marks for biology which you give which allows you to apply to

medicine dentistry and

Also, Pharmacy [ok] [ok] so the same scores of physics chemistry plus biology are used by the medicine

medical Colleges, dental Colleges and pharmacy Colleges and in the pecking order the

Sort of top ranked students are chosen by the medical colleges. Is that how it is yeah? Yeah, so there's a system

Where you have to submit a sheet based on your order of preference of institutions and a computer matches you

But generally a much lower rank compared to medicine would allow you to get into a decent place in densitry or pharmacy because most people

Would do it actually aiming towards medicine

And tell me there are private colleges within say if I look at within maharashtra there are private colleges there are government colleges

So do you get to choose where you want to go and how?

Yeah, you get to choose some private hospitals have their own entrance test

Which is separate from CET but the major difference

Is that being in a government hospital, but you see a lot more patients, okay

[so] in in dissection and first year you get an ample amount of Cadavers and your patient your clinical experience in the government hospital is

Very good. You see a lot a lot of patients and

On the flip side if you go to a private hospital you have a great teaching staff

That your level of education is high, but you see much fewer patients

So what would you recommend to a student if they had to choose?

Generally everyone in the in the top ranks would pick a government hospital because at the end of the day

Clinical experience is something that cannot be substituted

You were watching part one of a two-part video series titled how to become a doctor

Look out for part two where Divya Parekh talks of postgraduate studies

comparison between studying in India and abroad cost comparisons the process of application

whether an Indian doctor can work abroad

vacations one lesson learnt

future plans

Social life and a fun experience