Urmeeta Dutta completed her SSC and HSC examinations from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. After sitting for the admission tests, she made it to both Dhaka Medical College (DMC) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). "According to my family's choice, I decided to study in DMC. I completed my MBBS in 2015 and internship training in 2016," she shared. She stood first in all three professional exams and for this result, she received the Prime Minister Gold Medal Award.

She has always been fascinated by engineering subjects, like physics and mathematics. After completing her internship, she started her career as an Honorary Medical Officer at DMCH.

"I noticed a significant difference between the skills of a government trainee and a private trainee, and realised the importance of the Bangladesh Cadre Service (BCS) to develop my experience as a clinical practitioner," she shared. Urmeeta emphasised on the importance of BCS in attaining first-hand experience of the healthcare system. Considering all these factors, she decided to apply for the exam. She appeared for the 37th BCS examination and obtained the first position in the health section.

She completed her FCPS in surgery in 2017 and an honorary training in surgery from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Meanwhile, she also took a residency admission test and was selected in the neurosurgery department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. She regards the life of a doctor as a never ending learning course. Accordingly, she intends to keep herself updated with medical advancement and modern technologies.

Preparing for the preliminary round of the BCS examination is challenging for doctors in general. A medical student has to be completely focused on their curriculum throughout their undergraduate life which leaves little time to study for the BCS examinations. Urmeeta's preparation strategy involved having a clear concept of everything she had studied.

In order to revise language and literature, she went through basic English and Bangla grammar textbooks.

"For literature, I took renowned writers and poets into account and learnt about their notable works. I also focused on some historical aspects of Bangla literature," she shared. She followed a similar routine for foreign writers and their works.

"I took help from past year papers to identify the important topics. Past year paper analysis allowed me to focus on things that were actually important," she explained. The main challenge was revising the vast syllabus of general knowledge, for Bangladesh and foreign affairs, geography and disaster management.

Before sitting for the exam, Urmeeta regularly went through current affairs and some basic general knowledge books covering significant topics. "Reading the newspaper daily was really helpful. In case someone does not have access to newspapers, they can surf through the news channels on television for an everyday dose of general knowledge," she further said.

Model tests also played an instrumental role in Urmeeta's preparation strategy as she could easily assess her progress. "Negative marking is an important factor in determining success in BCS preliminary round. I avoided answering questions only on the basis of my assumption," she said while sharing tips and tricks for future candidates. Additionally, for written and viva tests, knowledge from the preliminary preparation is essential. It is also a good idea to review the subject one pursued during graduation in order to cover the technical questions.

Urmeeta looks forward to becoming a dedicated neurosurgeon and a humanitarian activist. "Through my work, I want to raise awareness about neuroscience, and thee promising future it holds. I want to eliminate any underestimation regarding the skills and dedication of surgeons in this field," she added. She is planning to achieve an MS degree and is willing to participate in several advanced training programs in both home and abroad.

The author is a medical student and a freelance journalist who likes reading, scribbling, and blogging. Email: mislammonamee@gmail.com.