Aula Conversations

Tag: student community

  • USMLE STEP 1 in 5 months?

    Hello everyone. Hope you all had a restful weekend.

    If you followed my Update post, I mentioned that I had a friend who took her USMLE step 1 and got her Pass in December last year, a short 5 months after graduating. Today, I’m sharing a short interview with her on her process. We’ll be talking about the preparation process, useful resources and the exam itself. So onto the interview.

    Q: Hey girl, So congratulations on passing step 1 of the USMLE. How did you find it?

    A: Hey! Thank you. I actually found the whole process rather frustrating. The exam requires you to pay attention to little details so I had to really focus on these.

    Q: We personally talked about this before but for the audience, when did you first start seriously considering taking the exam?  What drew your attention towards the US as a possibility for residency?

    A: I started thinking about it as a possibility in my 5th year. I realised that I wanted to be near family, so after a lot of consideration the US was the best option.

    Q: Yes, of course. Honestly it’s the same for me. Having a support system close by can help make residency a more enjoyable process. So, let’s talk about the preparation period. What did that look like for you?

    A: Well, I officially started preparing in July 2024, and I took the exam in the 2nd week of December 2024.

    Q: 5 months is impressive, and certainly makes it seem less daunting. What did your study schedule look like?

    A: I typically split my week. I would start with First Aid for one subject, and later on in the week, I did the UWorld questions for that subject. I also followed a study guide for USMLE that I found online, so that was helpful.

    Q: Since you were no longer at the university, where did you usually study? – library, home, café, etc.)  

    A: I studied at home for the whole period.

    Q: What study resources did you use? Was any more useful or less so?

    A: First Aid and UWorld were absolute musts. I used Sketchy for Pathology and Microbiology. Dirty medicine was perfect for Biochemistry. Bootcamp videos were also helpful, and I did the free 100 questions on NBME to test myself. I would say most of these were useful and when one resource didn’t work, I was quick to check another out.

    Q: Did you take any courses or use tutoring services?  

    A: Not at all. I would’ve liked to but that wasn’t in my budget.

    Q: When did you schedule your exam, and how did you know it was time to schedule it? 

    A: There was no special landmark or study milestone, so to speak. In October, I just booked the exam. Having a standing date helped me focus a lot more- just knowing I had set that deadline for myself.

    Q: That’s a good way to look at it. Which subjects did you find the most difficult? How did you tackle them?

    A: Biostatistics, Microbiology, and Cardiology were my weaker subjects. I tried to answer as many questions on them as I could, which helped. Just more exposure.

    Q: And which subjects did you find the easiest or most enjoyable?

    A: Psychiatry and Neurology.
     

    Q: Did you have any strategies to help you retain information better?  

    A: I tried to revisit my study material from the previous day every morning before starting a new material.

    Q: Spaced repetition for the win! Love that. As the time came closer, I’m sure you were a bit more nervous. What did that final month of preparation look like?  

    A: During the first half of the month, I was mostly going over topics I found very confusing, but for the second half I spent majority of it on UWorld.

    Q: Did you take any assessment tests?

    A; Yes, I took one in November and passed, but just at the mark. It helped me identify my weak points at that moment.

    Q: How did you structure your last week before the exam?  

    A: I went through some review notes, and UWorld questions but I mainly rested. The day before the exam, I studied till around 2pm, packed my bag for the exam, and then rested till the next day.

    Q: So how did the examination process go for you?

    A: We were required to be at the exam centre 30 minutes before the exam time. I just needed to show my scheduling permit and passport/ID card. After the sign-in, I finished 3 question sets. I took my first break for 15 minutes, after which I did 2 more sets and took another break. At this point I was very tired, so I had to take a break after every question set.

    Q: How did you feel immediately after finishing the test?  

    A: Honestly, light-headed. I just needed to sleep.

    Q: Looking back, what would you do differently if you had to take it again?

    A: I wish I had started going through UWorld questions from my first day of studying. I also wish I had started doing questions with mixed subjects, rather than focusing on one subject per week.

    Q: How did you spend the time waiting for your results? I imagine that was a stressful waiting period.

    A: I checked my email everyday. I knew it was going to take a while for the results to come out but yeah, I guess you can say I was a bit anxious to just get the results.

    Q: After confirming your pass, how did you celebrate?

    A: The results arrived 2 weeks after my exam, just before Christmas, so I had a very lovely Christmas celebration.

    Q: Now that you’ve successfully passed, do you think PTE gives you all the tools you need to pass it?

    A: I would say we cover roughly 70%. Biostatistics seemed completely new and very different compared to how we are taught the equivalent subject, biometrics for example. But with a bit more studying, you will be able to easily catch up. Concepts are the same.

    Q: Do you think this is an exam that is passable while in med school and if so, when would you recommend PTE students take it?

    A: If you can take it in your 3rd year, that would be perfect. So I would suggest to start studying for it in your 2nd year, this way you’re studying for your usual exams plus the USMLE step 1

    Q: Wow, well that’s an interesting take. I would’ve personally said 4th year as the earliest. Okay, I have one interesting question: as we all know, the societal and political climate in the US is now shaping up to be quite different compared to when you started your preparation process. It has made a lot of formerly-aspiring US residents change their minds on the decision. Has that affected your decision in any way?

    A: I’m a bit scared to be honest, but at the end of the day it’s not perfect in any one country. As I said, the plus here is that I get to be close to family and this is important to me, so I’ll keep going.

    Q: Fantastic. So what’s next for you?

    A: I’m currently searching for an externship or observership, while preparing for STEP 2 CK.

    Q: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any extra tips for out US residency aspirants?

    A: Yes! When practice your questions on UWorld, practice on the timed mode. It will help you adjust to solving the questions in good time. Sure you can fail if you get questions wrong, but you can also fail if you don’t get to finish all your questions in time. The night before your exam, make sure to get a lot of sleep. The exam is mentally tasking and you will need to be well-rested to perform at your best. One last thing- you’re not allowed to share the questions you got on the exam on any platform. If you’re caught, your exam may be cancelled.

    Q: Thank you! Congratulations again and I wish you all the best in your preparation process.

    There you have it! Step 1 done in 5 short months. It seems daunting; a whole different education system and testing style. But it’s absolutely doable. You are prepared for it at PTE. I personally have not come across many concepts in my own studying that are completely foreign to me. So don’t be fazed by the bulk of material. Start chipping at it as soon as you can. I’ve gotten the study schedule that she used, which you can access here.

    And this brings me to an idea. In the past few months, I’ve spoken with a few of fellow students who are also interested in the US route. One thing I’ve come to learn, accountability can be very helpful in this journey- being able to see each other students’ progress, co-ordinate study schedules and keep each other on track. I was thinking, how about we connect? If you would like to join a group solely for this purpose, kindly send an empty email to aulaconversations[at]gmail[dot]com with the title ‘USMLE’, or a DM on Instagram (@aulaconversations) with the word ‘USMLE’. I will set up a group and be in touch with details.

    That’s it for now. Next I’ll be talking to 6th years about my written state exam experience, so stay tuned.

  • I Took An OSCE and Here’s What Happened.

    On the 11th of March last year, a mass email was sent out from the registrar’s office, informing 5th and final year students of the possibility of taking an OSCE. This was supposed to be a no-stakes clinical exam for research purposes.

    The email called for 20 students from the English programme in the 5th and 6th years who were willing to take this no-stakes clinical exam. I constantly try to test myself and push myself out of my comfort zone, especially in academic settings, so signing up was a no-brainer. My next Google search? What is an OSCE? I had always heard of it. I knew my friends in medical schools in the UK took it, for example but I really did not know much about what it entailed and the process.

    OSCE stands for objective structural clinical examination. It is an exam format that aims to implement theoretical knowledge in simulated clinical settings. It helps to test not just clinical knowledge, but reasoning skills, resource management skills and more.

    Shortly after signing up, I received an email with all our instructions. We were asked to bring a lab coat, name tag, stethoscope, reflex hammer and notebook & pen (for note-taking). We showed up on the 4th floor of the main building in front of the MediSkills lab.

    There was a small delay, just by a few minutes and we were briefed in person on what would happen. We signed consent forms because recordings were to be taken for research purposes. We were directed to our starting stations and asked to stand in front of the door. Taped to each door was a clinical case that gave us our positions and the most general information about the patients. It went something like this:

    You are a first-year resident spending an over-night shift in the ER. A middle-aged woman, BMI 30 comes in complaining of severe abdominal pain which started after her dinner. She has no known medical conditions and has taken 2 painkiller tablets. Conduct a physical examination.

    We were giving 2 minutes to read this and take our notes and once we received the signal, we went into the room. There was a timer counting down from when you stepped in. Some rooms had actors who did a fantastic job simulating sick patients. We also had a nurse in one or two rooms to assist. In other rooms, we encountered dummies or phantoms. During this time, the examiners sat in the corner and observed, only interrupting to give a 1 or 2-minute warning on the clock. They watched our hygiene practice, interview skills, bedside manner, etc. One thing to note is that we had specific instructions. Some stations required only a physical exam, while some required just the anamnesis.

    This is where my details are hazy. If I remember correctly, we had 7 minutes to deal with the patient and 2 minutes to speak with our examiners and receive feedback from them. The examiners did not necessarily need you to make a full diagnosis but if you were able to make logical decisions and come to a reasonable conclusion, this was enough for most.

    We did 5 stations at a time with a 20-minute break and refreshments at the half-way point. Internal medicine, neurology, surgical techniques, general medicine practice all featured and we had a station where we had to break bad news to the family member of deceased patient. Altogether, it must have lasted about 2 hours.

    We had a short session where we gave in-person feedback. One of the more common sentiments was that we did not have enough time to complete our tasks. I do think this is moreso tied to the fact that we were unfamiliar with the OSCE format. In theory, we are taught this long list of questions during the interviewing process with a patient. In practice, as I am sure you know, there is barely ever enough time for that and that was really reflected in this OSCE. I had a hard time isolating just the questions relevant to the patient’s condition in such a short time.

    Another problem I personally had was that I did not really understand to what extent we had to be thorough. We had actors who played their role but ultimately were not actually patients and even dummies in some rooms, so in my first few stations I was unaware that I had to also wash my hands and glove as I would in real life. A few stations had imaging that I did not know was an option I could request. All in all, it was a rather fun and educational experience. I was nervous despite it being essentially no-stakes. I can say with a certain amount of certainty that this was the first time most of us were exposed to the OSCE; it definitely was for me. On my first station, I was rather confused on what to do and scrambled a lot, but by the 5th station, I was a lot more confident.

    Two weeks after the OSCE, we received our evaluation forms. Did I pass? No. If I am correct, passing can be confirmed when you meet the requirements for all stations and unfortunately I did not meet the requirements in my first station. I remember freezing for a good 10 seconds because the simulated patient was moaning and groaning in mock pain, and the nurse was just staring at me waiting for my instructions. A bit of a chaotic situation to be thrown into for the first time, so I didn’t expect much there.

    I believe in the long run, the plan is to implement the OSCE into our examining system and I believe this will be an excellent idea. I did some research and found that a medical school in France conducted a study that made some interesting findings regarding the OSCE. 6th year students were examined via the traditional testing methods and also with the OSCE. The study reported lower scores at OSCE exams compared to other evaluation formats, suggesting that the OSCE is able to test in a way that traditional testing formats do not. It also showed that students who had a single OSCE training session prior to the OSCE saw an improvement in their OSCE scores. So if you are unsuccessful based on these OSCE standards, try not to feel bad about it. A new testing method will always take some adjusting to. Another study from a sample group of final year medical students across a variety of UK medical schools found a positive connection between mock OSCEs and an improvement in student confidence and anxiety in future high-stake exams. The OSCE tests your clinical and theoretical knowledge, as well as your technical skills and medical competency. It is able to test a large group of students in a short period of time and because with a variety of examiners, it reduces the possibility of examiner prejudice or bias. Complementary to other forms of testing and provided that it is well administered, it will significantly improve our university experiences as students.

    So I encourage students to register for this opportunity and attend it. And if you missed it this year, it might come around again next year so keep your eyes peeled for that. It’s a great way to know how you reason in a clinical setting. And to those who have registered: At this point in the 5th or 6th year, you have all the knowledge to do well in the OSCE. Brush up on a few concepts if you need to prior to the exam. The Youtube Channel Geeky Medics has an OSCE guides series that can be helpful for you. Also remember to go through the SPIKES model for delivering bad news. Aside that, it won’t be anything crazy.

    In the spirit of sharing, I have attached my assessment sheets here. I encourage you to check them to see what is expected of you. Just an FYI: I have 11 sheets because 2 examiners separately assessed me in my first station. I also received assessments from the simulated patients and have attached them here as well. Why did simulated patients also give their assessments, you may ask… Their experience with you also gives you feedback on a patient’s experience with you as a potential healthcare provider, so this definitely matters.

    EDIT: I just remembered that we were able to get a certificate for this!

    Next up is an interview with a good friend that some of you are waiting on. Won’t be long now. Cheers!

  • Update: Post-Graduation.

    Hi guys,

    I hope everyone is doing well. It’s been an unbelievably long pause.

    If I did my calculations right, it’s week 7 of the spring semester. I have been MIA and there’s a reason for it. It’s been quite the roller-coaster but I feel as though I am now at a good enough place to share my thoughts and experiences since graduation, for those who are interested.

    For some background, I am from a third world country, and that means I do not have easy access or the right to stay within Hungary or the EU without fulfilling the proper applications via the National Immigration office. All this will make sense in a second.

    After graduation, my first priority was leaving the bubble of uni. I am sure many of you have felt this but POTE feels like its own little world and after 14 plus weeks at a time in uni, battling one course or the other, you can easily forget about the “real world”. There are many things I appreciate about that, but they are all tied to university and become unimportant postgrad.

    There were two things I knew: (1) I didn’t want to go back home just yet and (2) I didn’t know what next exactly.

    I shared the ECFMG process earlier last year. I think those who can put two and two together can make up that I have my eyes set on US residency. I had not made any concrete plans to dive into anything yet so it was time for me to figure it out. I have family and friends in North America and being closer to them was a main incentive for me looking at the US. I have a friend with whom I also share this goal, so we began working towards that.

    What does that mean? We gathered all our study resources and started studying. If all went well, we could be matching in 2026. If you have any questions, please bear with me. I will do a whole post about that in a few days.

    With regards to my residency status, I had applied for a job-seeking permit prior to graduation that would give me time to stay in Hungary to take this exam and just get myself together. It is usually issued for a maximum of nine months, but can be shorter, and it can only be applied for once, so regardless of how long you are given, you do not get to extend it. I eventually got my job-seeking permit and I was only given 3 months (until November), for reasons still unclear to me. This complicated things because based on how I was studying, the soonest I could take my exam was at the end of November or beginning of December. What next? Find a job. That was the purpose of my new permit right? So the process began while studying. I had been applying here and there but not so seriously. Now I dusted off my CV and revamped it to a much more professional one. I gave my LinkedIn profile a huge update and started putting myself out there. I can’t count how many jobs I applied to between August and November. The jobs I was looking for were jobs that would accept my medical degree and also accept my poor Hungarian, or better my English proficiency. These were jobs like Clinical Research Assistant, Medical Lab assistant, etc. I had a lot of help and connections with this and yet, I did not get a single response, not even an interview. By October, I had exhausted everything I could apply for and was seeing only the same jobs over and over again. So, I widened my pool. I would take a job as an assistant of any office, it didn’t have to be clinical. I even applied for internships. A few rejection letters, mostly no responses. Guys, some of those job listings are still out there. I wonder if they were ghost jobs. All of this sounds bleak and it is. The job market is a nightmare these days. It doesn’t mean it would be like this for you but please be prepared. In the middle of this, I was doing 8 to 10 hours a day of studying. This was putting a lot of stress on me as the days were passing by. By some miracle, I was connected to the job I now work at which changed everything for me with regards to my residency status. I wish I could talk more about it because it’s a dream fit. I have signed a non-disclosure agreement and am not at liberty to say more, however once I can I will talk about this experience.

    Settling into work was not easy at all. We had a lot of things to sort out with regards to my residency status before officially commencing. Around that time, there had been a lot of rules that were changed with regards to the classification of and processes for applying for residency for employment. I could not ask friends who were already working because they were unfamiliar with the new system, so there was a lot we (my boss and I) had to figure out. I was pulling up legal papers online and trying to translate them, aggressively googling to see what could afford me the best opportunity. At a point, I was calling and emailing the Immigration Office constantly, and showing up twice a week. Somewhat reminiscent of a toxic relationship really. The officers were not much help as many of them did not really know much about this new system and the legal implications and were unable to direct me. A lawyer was involved at some point. By this time, I had put my studying to the side. I booked my flight and got ready to go home. It wasn’t the worst thing because make no mistake, I still have a loving and supportive family back home. Luckily we were able to get everything sorted in the nick of time.

    This is not a period I like to think about much if I don’t have to. It was rather nightmarish but I came out of it and am happy that I have that experience to share with you.

    So…where am I at now?: It’s been almost 9 months since graduation. I work a lot- this takes up the bulk of my day and with what time I have left, I study. I am constantly rotating between Anki, Notability and UWorld. Work has pushed my goal back by a lot but this is work that I believe can only contribute to my career in a positive way and ultimately, some progress > no progress. I’ve gotten back to something I love- leisure reading. I work out when I have the time. I am tired at the end of every day but I am getting things done and am extremely grateful to be where I am.

    My friend…drumroll please….got her P in December and is getting ready for Step 2. I have an interview with her coming up soon so stay tuned.

    I hope this will be helpful to someone, especially those graduating in June. My only advice is to be resilient and consistent. This is the winning combination, but by 6th year I’m sure you knew that already.

    Alright, bye. See you shortly.

  • The Power of Consistency: An Interview With the 2024 Outstanding Student of the Year.

    Hi guys, It’s week 4 of the semester already. Can you believe it? Time does fly fast and won’t be slowing down either because it’s only a matter of time till you’re logging into NEPTUN to secure those exam spots.

    Today, I wanted to feature one of our many inspiring students- Tobias Evason Fredriksen, a current 5th year student in the General Medicine English programme and a worthy recipient of the Outstanding Student of the Year 2024 award for the 23/24 4th years.

    While we learn from those above us- the professors, doctors and researchers, it’s just as important to learn from those beside us, our fellow students. So today, Tobias will be sharing his journey as a medical student here in PTE and how he’s navigated the path to success.

    Q: Thank you for agreeing to be a part of this interview. To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

    T: Thank you for having me! I’m from Norway. I’m currently in my fifth year of medical studies at the University of Pécs. Throughout my education, I’ve developed a particular interest in cardiology and infectious diseases. This has shaped my focus during clinical rotations. Like most of my fellow students, I’m really passionate about medicine and excited as to what the future brings!

    Q: Excellent. So just to go back a little, what motivated you to pursue medicine and why at PTE?

    T: Medical science has always piqued my curiosity. Even though no one in my immediate family was in the medical field, I was determined to be the first. A close friend of mine who intended to study here introduced me to PTE, and it was via this relationship that I became aware of the option. At the time, we could enroll in what was commonly known as the “Bjørknes Program”—which has since changed its name to ONH. Thanks to this, I was able to finish my first year of the basic module in Norway, even though the COVID-19 outbreak made a large portion of it online. This setup was ideal, giving me a solid foundation before transitioning to full-time studies at PTE.

    Q: Oh so you didn’t have your first year here. Regardless, your first few semesters here had to have been quite a big transition. The transition can be overwhelming with the amount of material to learn and the demanding schedule. How have you experienced the educational system from your second year up until now, and how have you adapted to its challenges?

    T: So the first year in Norway came with its share of difficulties but, all in all, went pretty smoothly. It wasn’t until I began second year here that I truly realised how challenging becoming a doctor would be. The volume of knowledge required, and the level of detail expected on exams increased significantly! I also realised that the examination procedure itself is nearly scientific in nature; you have to know not just the material, but also what your particular professor or examiner values. It’s important to respect the faculty members, as they usually know what’s best.

    One of the biggest challenges has been the feeling of uncertainty about passing an exam or whether my knowledge will get me a good grade- rumours from other students, particularly those about failing due to an oddly specific question add to this uncertainty. My advice would be to take such rumours with a pinch of salt—most of the time, they aren’t as bad as they sound.

    All in all, the most difficult part has been managing the theoretical requirements as well as learning how to interact with and comprehend various instructors. Some instructors are stricter than others, but that’s just part of the process; this doesn’t really change with time.


    Q: This year, you earned the prestigious title of Outstanding Student of the Year in the English General Medicine program for your year, which is a remarkable achievement. Was this your first time receiving this award?

    T: Yes, this is my first time receiving the Outstanding Student of the Year award in the English General Medicine program. I’m incredibly appreciative of the acknowledgment, and it’s an amazing honour.


    Q: My sincere congratulations to you! It’s no easy feat. Was this a goal you actively worked toward, or did you simply focus on doing your best and happen to achieve it? What adjustments or strategies did you implement to secure this prestigious title?

    T: To be honest, I didn’t even know this award existed! I understand it may come as a shock, but I have never been one to focus on awards or prizes. I remember witnessing some students being awarded at the Opening ceremony, and now I understand the reason! My focus has always been on working hard for my own growth and to become more knowledgeable for the sake of my future patients. Though I didn’t specifically aim for this title, I believe that my commitment to my studies has ultimately resulted in this achievement.

    “When I study, I decide beforehand that I want to fully understand a topic, and I’ll keep going until I feel like I’ve grasped it.”

    Q: That is a great mindset to have and definitely one that moulds a model doctor. For students who are curious about your process, could you share a bit on how do you prepare for tests and exams? What are your go-to study techniques?

    T: I have never strongly supported any particular study method. I am aware of several widely-used methods, such as the Pomodoro Technique, but I think it is important for each person to discover what method suits them best. For me, the focus is on jotting down my own notes, frequently using pen and paper, and occasionally collaborating with my roommate. When I study, I decide beforehand that I want to fully understand a topic, and I’ll keep going until I feel like I’ve grasped it. If it takes three hours or more, I’ll take a longer break. If it takes less time, I take a shorter break.

    I also recommend attending lectures. I understand that the quality of lectures may differ, but even if a lecture is not excellent, you can still passively absorb information while reading something else. Frequently, instructors have 30 slides, yet they use 30 minutes of the 45-minute session focusing only on two or three of them. That’s a clear sign of what will probably be included in the exam. Plus, being present at lectures helps build familiarity with the professors, which can be helpful when exam time comes around.

    Q: Okay, and are there any special resources you use outside of university resources? Is there any you would recommend?

    T: Textbooks are usually a reliable source of information, but they may occasionally provide excessive detail. However, I rely on them frequently to reinforce my comprehension. Besides that, I mainly depend on university resources and not much else. I primarily rely on my own notes, as well as notes that are exchanged with my classmates. In my opinion, these individual and joint notes are typically the most beneficial.

    Q: It sounds like you have quite an efficient system in place. So outside of the classroom, are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

    T: I’m not currently involved in any extracurriculars, aside from some TDK (Student Research) work with the biochemistry department, which is related to the thesis I’m writing.

    Q: Oh wow. Could you share a bit about your thesis? Perhaps the working title?

    T: Yes, of course. The title is still a work in progress, but my thesis focuses on evaluating the therapeutic potential of benzofuran derivatives in the treatment of breast cancer.

    Q: And do you have any hobbies or activities you enjoy?

    T: Currently, I don’t have particular interests, but I make an effort to remain physically active when possible. I usually prioritise spending time with friends to relax and cope with stress. Spending time with them gives me a break from the academic pressure and keeps me balanced.

    Q: How do you prioritise between your academic schedule, extracurriculars, social life, and personal hobbies? How do you structure your semesters to maximise success?

    T: I rely on my calendar to keep track of important dates and deadlines, but otherwise, I tend to approach each day and its challenges as they come. I aim to keep things simple and concentrate on what requires immediate attention.

    Q: Have there been any courses that you have found particularly challenging?

    T: I found Neuroanatomy and Pharmacology to be the most difficult subjects. I didn’t discover any magic formula for these challenges; I realised that the key to overcoming them is staying dedicated to studying and putting in effort consistently.

    Q: Are there any specific professors or mentors who have played a significant role in your academic success?

    T: Professor Rékási from the Anatomy department and my supervisor, Professor Kovács from the biochemistry department, have played significant roles in my academic journey. Professor Rékási helped me build a strong foundation in anatomy (which is essential), while Professor Kovács has been instrumental in guiding me through my thesis work and research.

    Q: What has been your most memorable experience in PTE so far?

    T: The white coat ceremony was definitely one of my most memorable experiences at PTE. It was a significant milestone that reminded me of all the hard work I had put in up to that point.

    Q: If you could go back to the beginning of your academic journey here, is there anything you would do differently?

    T: No, the only difference would have been that I would have been more confident from the beginning. Reflecting on the past, I understand that having more confidence in myself and my skills could have eased the journey

    Q: With regards to the future, what are your future career aspirations and how have your academic experiences shaped those goals?

    T: Even though I have certain goals and specialties in mind, like cardiology or infectious diseases, my aspirations continue to evolve as I progress through my studies.

    Q: Fantastic. And finally, can you give a piece of advice for the first year students?

    T: My advice for first-year students is simple: trust in yourself and work hard. The journey can be overwhelming at times, but believing in your abilities and staying dedicated will take you far. Staying consistent and being confident are crucial in overcoming the upcoming obstacles.

    Q: Perfect. Thanks a lot for your time.

    There you have it.

    For Tobias, this award was the result of consistent hard work, driven by a genuine passion for learning and excelling. As Stephen King once said, “What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work” and Tobias exemplifies that perfectly.

    There’s no magic formula for achieving your goals—no shortcut, no quick fix. Success is determined by the effort you put in and the results you achieve. So, start pushing and keep pushing. The decisions you make today will shape your future. And always remember: work smart, not just hard.

    Congratulations to the all the students who were awarded the Outstanding Student of the Year prizes, including Tobias and Jessica, who was featured earlier this year on the blog.

    Author’s note: My sincere appreciation goes to Tobias for generously participating in this interview and sharing his experiences to inspire fellow students in their academic and personal growth. I wish him the very best as he continues his journey into a very promising career.

  • Extracurriculars: EGSC

    Extracurriculars: EGSC

    Today’s about our favourite student body, EGSC!

    I’m genuinely excited to discuss the EGSC because it’s a topic that tends to spark a lot of debate. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what’s going wrong or what needs to change within the council.

    Personally speaking, my two years in EGSC were among the most dynamic and challenging experiences of my extracurricular journey, yet they proved to be the most rewarding. By the end of this piece, I hope you’ll see why joining them is a decision worth making.

    So what’s EGSC anyway?

    EGSC is the student representative body in ÁOK for the English and German programs. This covers the medical school students and- surprise, the pharmacy students! Yes pharmacy students, you are absolutely entitled to be a part of this body.

    And what do they do?

    Their main role is to act as a liaison between the university and the students. They address student issues- academic and personal, conveying them when necessary to the appropriate authorities and finding a solution for the student body. And as you may know by now, there’s the event organisation: the White Coat ceremony, Tea & Talk, International Evening, Motivational Speech, amongst others.

    A little bit about my experience.

    I was in EGSC for 2 academic years serving in the capacity of PR rep. At the time, there was a concern that this role would not be able to be filled because of how skill and time-demanding it is but a good friend who knew about some of my hobbies thought I could be useful in PR and urged me to apply. I applied and just as was thought, I was the only PR applicant. I fell into the role quickly and essentially hit the ground running. In that time, I had to make social media posts and event posters. I had to learn how to optimise images for certain displays and even some video editing was required here and there. I made myself available to attend most (if not all) EGSC events for media purposes. It took a bunch of my time and I had to learn how to manage my schedule and balance the duties with academics. Sometimes the two overlapped but that was okay because I thoroughly enjoyed it. As it turns out, walking past a poster in uni that you spent 2 hours working on the night before gives you a dopamine rush.

    As a member of the board, I also had to participate in board activities. These ranged from organising the new white coats for the new 3rd years or taking the new students around the campus during orientation to having meetings with faculty or guiding a student on how to set up and access Amboss.

    There was also critique- hardly ever in person- just online. Because EGSC acts as a representative body for the students, they are also the first line of attack when students do not necessarily get the outcomes they desire. In truth, a student body is also limited in many ways and this one does the best with what they have. It was never taken personally, even the nasty digs, and we just did the best we could as a team. I still recognise it as one of my best moments in PTE. I encourage any student to apply and be able to contribute to the student body.

    Who can join EGSC?

    All active students of the Medical school or Faculty of Pharmacy are eligible to apply. Just as a side note, presidential applicants should either have been an EGSC member for a year already or been a year representative for 2 years.

    EGSC members of the previous board who would like to continue in the following year also have to re-apply, so all positions are really open to any student.

    Can first-year students join?

    Technically, you can. There’s nothing stopping you but I really would not advise joining EGSC in your first year. First year is such a fundamental year where you are trying to find your footing. EGSC activities require anticipating certain situations and planning ahead a lot. This can be a bit difficult to conceptualise if you do not have a first-hand idea of what’s going on. It’s been done before, don’t get me wrong but I think you put yourself and your academic goals at a disadvantage volunteering in such a big way in your first year.

    What posts are available in EGSC?

    • President and VP positions (2 each for the English and German programme): They primarily handle executive roles, delegation duties and academic concerns. They are often in closest contact with university leadership. If you have an eye on this role, you need to come with charm and charisma. You need to have good communication skills and be quick-thinking. Most importantly, you should know how to advocate for your fellow students.
    • Communication contacts (2 for the English and German programme): They are in charge of all things communication- emails, social media, etc. They also create the What’s Up in Pécs posts, keeping students abreast of planned events in Pécs. I would say if you have your eye on this role, you have strong organisational skills, time management and, of course a strong command in whatever language you are studying in. Emails are not sent only in response to students, but also to faculty leadership, external bodies, guests of the university, etc.
    • Dentistry representative: This role is reserved for a student from the dentistry programme who can advocate for the dentistry students. This role is relatively new and was introduced to bring the board’s attention to any issues faced by students in the dentistry programme. You will need to be an advocate for students where you see dentistry students not receiving as much support or help. The role as introduced when it was observed that the board was overwhelming full of GM students who did not have as much knowledge of the goings-on in the other programmes. It is a dream that it would one day be redundant, but till then…
    • Pharmacy representative: Similarly, this role is reserved for a student from the pharmacy programme who can advocate for GYTK students. The role is the same as that of the dentistry rep.
    • PR representative: This role is not language or programme-specific. This role can be quite time-demanding, speaking from experience. The PR rep makes the pretty social media posts and the posters that go up in the university and are flashed on the monitors in the university. Around the time of events, even more work is required in the position. If you have an eye on this role, it’s imperative that you can read and summarise large bits of information to smaller bullet points. You should have an eye for detail and basic design skills. You will need to use certain design programmes like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, even some video editing programmes (iMovie, Final Cut pro,) etc.
    • Secretary: This role is not language or programme-specific. If you have your eye on this role, you should also have strong organisational skills and time management. You will be required to make agendas, plan meetings and take minutes of internal and external meetings and sometimes assist with task allocation.
    • Treasurer: Also not language or programme-specific. This role was once in charge of financial duties. Due to a change in how financial responsibilities are handled, the role is now more of a miscellaneous role, assisting the other members in their roles, especially PR as it can be quite time-consuming. So it is beneficial to have a similar profile as PR and even communications contact.

    How can I join EGSC?

    A call for applications will be put out, typically in the first 2 weeks of the new academic year (so anytime now). Usually a CV and a motivation letter is requested and then all you have to do is wait for the elections.

    What does the election process look like?

    As far as I know, it has always been an electoral process conducted by the group leaders and year representatives. Candidates for each position are asked to prepare a small campaign speech and pitch themselves, after which the attendees (group leaders and year reps) vote. Votes are counted and the new board is announced shortly after the voting process is done.

    I will add that I am not so much a fan of this method as it can quickly become a popularity contest. But I got to understand that there is an obligation for EGSC to open up voting to representatives of the student population- that being the year reps and group leaders, rather than internally conducted interviews for the sake of transparency.

    What are the perks?

    EGSC offers multiple opportunities to develop essential soft skills like leadership, time management (I never needed a planner till I joined!), teamwork, communication, and conflict-resolution- skills that are valuable in both social and professional settings.

    You also have the chance to make a difference, even in small ways. EGSC runs an open-door, walk-in service service throughout the academic year, where students come in with a variety of concerns. Depending on the issue, you could help by simply offering a listening ear and a supportive hug, or by taking more involved actions like accompanying them to the registrar’s office or sending an email on their behalf.

    Another rewarding aspect is being part of the behind-the-scenes work for some of our most popular events. Watching weeks of preparation come to life from the ground up gave me a deeper appreciation for the relationship between hard work and tangible results.

    Working with students from different programs also exposes you to the inner workings of the educational systems within PTE and widens your understanding.

    Lastly, being an EGSC member can boost your Erasmus or POE exchange program applications, giving you an edge with extra points for participation.

    Any cons?

    One downside is the time commitment, which varies depending on your role. Some positions require more time than others, but all roles can become demanding. Even members with lighter duties often step in to support others when the workload becomes overwhelming.

    A common question asked by students is whether EGSC is a paid extracurricular. To the best of my knowledge, up till now there is no remuneration for EGSC members. This is intentional, to attract those with genuine passion and drive to make a difference, rather than those motivated solely by financial incentives.

    Even so, none of these are peculiar to EGSC and many of our extracurriculars have similar cons. There’s a lot more to benefit than lose by joining EGSC.

    This brings us to the end of the piece. Keep your eyes peeled for the Call-for-Applications on EGSC’s Facebook and Instagram pages. I hope everything has been clearly explained, and I trust that when the application period opens, there will be a few more enthusiastic applications coming through.

    Stay safe!

    EDIT: Applications are currently open until 22nd September. Send your CV and motivation letter to egsc[at]aok[dot]pte[dot]hu. This year, not all positions are open so check the listing here to see what you might qualify for.

    Author’s note: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are solely my own and do not represent those of any institution. Any conclusions drawn or interpretations made are personal and should not be attributed to any entity other than myself.

  • Introducing Questioshare: A Student Research Platform.

    Hi PTE students,

    It’s already week 12 and stress levels are climbing rapidly. It’s coming to that time we all dread. Wishing much luck to everyone already deep in midterm and exam preparations.

    Today, I would like to present a small project born out of my experience with research. I began the thesis journey as early as February 2022, which was in the second semester of my 4th year. It was my first time being involved in anything research-related. I didn’t have much clue on what exactly to do and what direction to take the thesis work. After consultations with my supervisor, we decided on a survey study. This would mean quite a bit of work. I had to collect data, analyse and present it. I watched a lot of Youtube videos to acquaint myself with the type of work I would have to perform. I also received relevant material from my supervisor to guide me.

    As of April 2024, I am completely done with everything related to the thesis. Since then, I have been involved in one other survey study. The hardest part both times has been survey distribution and data collection. We have quite a few uni-oriented Facebook groups here and there, and I would see posts from students in these groups asking their fellow students to fill their surveys. I would fill a few out here and there when I had a minute to spare and I admittedly scrolled past quite a few as well.

    Having to distribute surveys myself turned out to be a humbling experience. I once walked around the main University building for 2 hours distributing QR codes to students sitting around. I must have distributed at least 40 copies of these QR codes that day and only got 2 responses from this venture. I reached out to parties that I thought might be useful and supportive in my research. Nothing came out of that either. The most effective way, it turned out, was distributing amongst friends and via social media, and asking these participants to distribute amongst friends as well.

    After going through this experience twice, I was able to collaborate with a dear friend of Aula Conversations to create a platform for students’ questionnaires to be distributed amongst fellow students. It’s like a big virtual bulletin board where we can all help each other out. It is called Questioshare and is now live here.

    How it works

    It’s pretty simple. All you have to do is visit the page and fill in the relevant details regarding your survey.

    Once you submit it, it is entered into the system to be verified. You will receive a prompt message stating that it is pending verification, after which it can then be displayed on the page.

    Available questionnaires can be sorted by major/field, by title or by added date.

    So that’s Questioshare. Whether you’re knee-deep in thesis writing or embarking on your first research project, Questioshare is here to simplify the process and make your journey a whole lot smoother.

    Now, here’s the deal: Questioshare is all about teamwork. It only works if we as students have each other’s backs. That means taking a second every now and then to see if there’s a survey you can chip in on, and passing it along to friends who fit the bill. Think of Questioshare as our secret weapon—a platform where we can rally together and make each other’s lives a little easier. And a little note to add, it’s not just for the medical students; all PTE students are welcome to jump on board! Let’s show some solidarity and make research a breeze for everyone.

    Author’s note: Questioshare could not have materialised without the work and support of a dear friend and I am profoundly grateful for their invaluable contribution in turning this vision into reality.

  • A Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience with EXEGYPT

    PTE students, hi again.

    Earlier this semester, the university put out a call for applications for the EXEGYPT Intercontinental Summer School. It was described as an once-in-a-lifetime experience for students to experience Egypt. Students would benefit from whichever scientific program they sign up, which includes lectures, group discussions, and hands-on practical experience. 

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