Preparing for Dental PG Entrance Exams can be a daunting task for everyone. Those have been through the rigor will know that it is no child’s play.
At Odontrack, we got a chance to talk to Dr. Aalisha Kanodia, the best outgoing student from the best dental school in the country (MCODS, Manipal), who also secured a much coveted rank of 101 in AIPGDEE 2015 right in her first attempt.
Here are the excerpts from our talk.
Starting with the most cliched question: Did you opt for the BDS course by choice, or did it play second fiddle to the medical course?
Ahh.. Though it’s a tough question for me to answer, I would say that YES I was trying for MBBS course but I was never against doing BDS or never thought of it as an inferior option. I kept all options open for myself. As a matter of fact, I also took the entrance exams for fashion designing in NIFT and got through. So basically I was not very particular about pursuing MBBS.
For you, how was a typical day with books? Did you actually follow a pre-planned schedule for self study?
Yes, always. I cannot study if I don’t have a plan of what I have to study.
The first thing that I do when I sit with my books is make a schedule-be it for a day or few days or even a month ( that’s before exams). I always prefer setting a goal first and then studying. I would like to say that it’s not necessary that I was always able to achieve what I planned but without a plan I could do nothing.
Disciplines of Dentistry you aced? What were your academic achievements from I BDS through final year?
I was good with my theory knowledge. I would not say that I aced in clinical aspect but I tried my level best to improve my handwork with the help of my batchmates and teachers.
I stood first in BDS I, II and IV PART 1, second in BDS III, topped many subjects, was awarded gold medal in the subject of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics and also for the Best Outgoing Student.
What were the innovative/ tailor-made techniques you adopted to excel in academics?
I would not call them innovative. What I have to say is I never studied for very long hours (other than exam times). Whenever I study, I am physically and mentally only into books.. I am not a person who can manage two works at the same time and I never try doing that. My motto is ‘full concentration while studying, be it for a short duration’.
If I study something with some distraction I always make it a point to study back.
Also when I study something my conscience never allows me to go ahead without understanding a particular thing. So even if I take more time I always make it a point to understand everything. If I don’t have time I might just ask someone to explain it to me ( as a shortcut) and later look it up myself when I have time.
They say that all work and no play makes a person dull, boring and insipid. What about your para-academia ? Did you represent and participate in Cultural, Literary and Sports activities as well?
Yes, completely. I am not the best in any particular extra-curricular activity but I do keep myself busy in things other than academics. I used to always participate in dancing in culturals and throwball in sports.
More than that even if I was not participating I was more involved with the organisation.
During internship I was a part of organizing most of the events of college, be it cultural, literary or sports.
Great! So, how did you manage to shuffle between all this? Please share your time management skills.
That’s again a very difficult question for me..haha..but I will try to answer it.
While being involved in these, I used to try my best to either take out some extra time by cutting down on sleep or utilising more time for study during my leisure.
I will not deny the fact that I had to compromise with my studies when being involved in these activities, but when those events were over I used to take extra effort in compensating for the lost time.
Internship is touted to be a honeymoon period. It is that time of the course where either people become too lackadaisical or are extremely focused. Which side of the coin did you see yourself following?
Internship- yes it was surely a honeymoon period for me too but I was never sitting idle during the same.
I was not always into books, was focused but could not give much time preparing for entrance exams initially. I was always involved in something or the other the whole year.
I was a member of the Student Council, took active participation in every college event, was a member of the Amchi team.
I had some of the best times with my friends too in internship.We made a lot of trips far and near.
Whatsoever, I always had in mind that I have to study and had few study spurts in between during the whole year.
Being a student from MCODS, Manipal, you were a key member of the contingent selected for the coveted ‘Aamchi’ project in Ladakh. Share your experience.
AMCHI- I always heard it from many of seniors that ” Amchi!!-it’s a lifetime experience.”
I used to seriously wonder whats so great about it. But today I tell my juniors that yes. AMCHI is a lifetime experience. So much of learning, team work, overcoming obstacles , management, working with completely new people, making friends for life- every moment was worth to cherish!
Those ten days what we were striving for was a smile on every child’s face, giving them the best dental care we could, teaching them how best they could maintain their oral hygiene and, moresoever, in a remote place like Ladakh. Worth to mention it is the most beautiful place I have been in India where nature shows you everything-sand, water, mountains, greenery all in a single vision.
You represented Manipal University in EDSA (European Dental Students’ Association) in Hungary. Did you get intimidated by the fact that you were representing your university globally? Did it inspire you , or were you perturbed?
No, I was never perturbed or scared at all. I did not have any such feeling.
It rather boosted my self-confidence to be chosen for the same. It was a great feeling indeed. It was my first trip abroad, and hence another unforgettable experience.
You wrapped up a fine UG career being declared as one of the ten best undergraduate students in the country. Tell us more about that award.
It is the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award. Every college selects one of their students and then the association selects the top 10 students amongst them. They see the overall performance of the students in all fields of dentistry. Obviously I was too happy to have been one of those 10 students but for this I am grateful to the head of my institution who selected me for the same.
What are your further plans in academics? Did u consciously build up a CV for application to universities abroad, or were you determined to crack the tough nut of the Indian PG examinations?
At present my aim is to do my post graduation. I have never thought about going abroad for further studies. I was very determined about clearing the exams in India.
A little birdie told us that you have performed brilliantly in the entrance exams! We want to know the ranks , straight from the horse’s mouth herself .
Haha ..My ranks are :-
101 rank in All India Post Graduation – Dental Entrance Examination (AIPGDEE)
146 rank in COMED-K
52 in KLE college entrance exam
While preparing for the entrance exams, did you go back to read all text books?
Umm..I would not say all textbooks, but yes initially when I had time and also more doubts, I used to look them up in the text books if required. It varied from subject to subject. So I agree that referring textbooks whenever in doubt is really helpful.
What were the MCQ books you referred to?
Mainly Pulse. Then, Neeraj Wadhwan for previous years AIPGDEE papers, TARGET MDS for previous AIIMS papers. In the very end did some papers from Mudit Khanna (AIPGMEE) and Amit Ashish (AIIMS) for medical questions.
Did you join any coaching institute?
No, I did not join any coaching institute or test series.
Cracking an entrance exam is indeed a herculean task in itself. What were the difficulties/obstacles you faced during your preparation time?
I do not think there were any major obstacles apart from the usual ones before exam- managing time,lack of sleep,the monotonous routine, tiring days, the scare of not clearing the exam and so on.
Along your eventful journey, whom all would you like to take a moment to thank?
Ah…that’s a long list.
First of all my parents, MY GREATEST SUPPORT. Like I know I could not have done anything without their blind trust and confidence in me.
Secondly God- he has been with me always. Hardwork does help but for me the blessings of God are as important.
Thirdly, my eight friends who were with me in Manipal, a constant help for me during the main 6 months of our preparation. They were there when I was sad, when I was happy, to boost my confidence whenever it went down, tell me how to go about things when I was confused. Also all my other friends who even though far were always there for me whenever I needed help.
I must also mention my teachers, who have helped me always. They were like the first stair of the ladder to the cracking the entrance exam.
And also a big thanks to all my family and friends who have always prayed for my success.
Where do you see yourself fifteen years from now? A clinician, an academician or an administrator?
Clinician as well as administrator.
Finally, some words of inspirations for our readers. What has been your mantra for success?
I would just like to say believe in yourself, compete with yourself.. Give your 100% that you can. Don’t look at others, have your goal set and work for it.
Synonyms : Chronic perforating hyperplasia of pulp , Internal Granuloma, Odontoclastoma, Pink tooth of Mummery 
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