Every year lakhs of students compete for the highly competitive NEET examination. Our aspiring candidate too appeared for NEET but missed the opportunity to pursue Medicine in India by just a few marks. She then decided to follow her dream at a place where one would not have thought conventionally, for higher education. This story is about Dr Archita Gupta, who with her persistence and determination, have let no hurdles stop her from making her dream come true.
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“When my score came, I knew it would be highly competitive to get a seat for MBBS in India, and I was not at all ready to compromise on the field of Medicine. It was at that time that I practically considered studying at Southern Medical University (SMU), Guangzhou, China. My parents being doctors themselves were highly supportive of my decision. China is known for its high technological advancement in the field of medicine. Also, being an Asian country the medical standards were quite similar to the Indian standards of Medical education making me eligible to practice in India. The education there was way cheaper than any other developed nations and India. The country also offers additional scholarships at school, provincial and country-level based on one’s academic performance. It was a fair opportunity for all the students irrespective of their origin to compete for the scholarship and win them based on their hard work. I was awarded the ‘Outstanding International Student Scholarship’ for all my academic years. These felicitations encouraged me to work more diligently and broaden the horizon of my professional credibility.
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The session each year starts in September with the total duration, of course, being five years with an added year of internship. The first two years of study include ‘Para-Clinical subjects’, and last three years, ‘Clinical Subjects’ which are inclusive of in-class lectures and hospital orientations. In those three years, we cannot do direct dealing with patients which is the same as in India. It is only during the internship that we are allowed to be in charge of the patients. The medium of my education was in English. However, we did learn Mandarin as it is a crucial learning component for long term survival in the country. As far as the faculty at SMU was concerned, I was highly blessed. They provided much-needed support and assistance to get proficient with the language, acclimated with the culture and weather. They made sure our curriculum was not hectic during the first three months giving us plenty of time to adopt a new language.
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China is not an easy country, so if anyone decides to go there, they have to go with a hard shell. I came here with a promise to myself. Along with learning what I came here for, obviously, I wanted to enjoy my college years to the fullest and work judiciously to grow as a person. I will not deny that food in China can be a problem for many, but you will have to accommodate to make your life easier. One has to take an active initiative to adapt and adjust in a new environment. Within three months in this enchanting land, I fell in love with the country’s oldest continuous civilization, its unique culture, food and customs. Also, initially, when I landed in China, it was pretty shocking because of the language barrier. As a result, I felt a bit bound but at SMU there are ‘Volunteers’ that help the newbies settle in the country and also take them on city tours in the initial months. My experience with them was extremely cooperative and hospitable. We even have a Psychology department at SMU that regularly keeps a check on the mental state of students to understand their coping mechanism with curriculum, language, culture and various other latent factors, which could otherwise abate the efficiency of students. The university provides accommodation for all five years. Nevertheless, some students still did opt for outside accommodation. In my opinion, living on campus helps one to grow culturally, explore and engage with more ethnicities.
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For visas, unlike other countries, China does not require you to show your living cost. However, China issues only study visas and not work visas along with them. Also, the visas are bound to be renewed every year based on your academic performance and college attendance. During my first visit, I was issued a visa for 30 days. After completion of an admission procedure, I was allotted a Visa sanction for one year. For healthcare of international students, one has to get mandatory healthcare insurance with their visas. If one falls sick, they have to pay the price upfront for the medical facilities. Once they have the bills in their hand, they can file for an insurance claim, and the due amount is later reimbursed in their accounts. If it is a scheduled surgery, then you can get the money directly credited to the hospital account from insurance firms.
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Another thing that I liked about China was that during my stay, there was quite a bit of conflict between the two countries. However, I never came across any discrimination because of that towards me. There was zero hostility. The Chinese government makes sure that the crisis between two governments does not in any way affect its citizens and students, and I think it is of prime importance. In my opinion, despite the stigma it carries, China is a very open and welcoming country. Everyone is treated fairly irrespective of the caste, colour, region, religion and faith. However, yes, you are not allowed to practice and propagate religion publicly. In terms of global ethnicities, the University accommodates students from across the globe and from various walks of life. It gave me a chance to meet and share the roof with students from around the world and cherish diversity. The city is also home to many expats.
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Early in those days, Android Phones just entered the market, and there were not enough Translation Applications available. It was at this time when I realised that I had to learn Mandarin to communicate effectively and enjoy my time in China. Initially, I relied on my basic instincts and also, if I wanted a career in Medicine, I had to stop cribbing and take the required corrective action. Also, WhatsApp too is banned in the country. So, we managed communication through WeChat or VPN.
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The last five years of my life in China just flew in a blink of an eye. It groomed me, made me street smart, independent and made me learn some fundamental aspects of life lessons. I hope if you plan to study in China, you accept the country as it is and not crib about it. Also, life is more about creating opportunities, accepting changes, and looking forward to what makes you stronger and more complete”.
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