Exclusive Interview with Kalpana Kumari (AIR 1) – NEET Topper 2018

The Bihar girl Kalpana Kumari has secured AIR 1 with 99.99 percentile in the country’s biggest medical entrance exam NEET 2018 and also topped the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB). She frequently traveled from her hometown to Delhi to take coaching classes and studied for almost 12-13 hours a day. With the guidance of her teachers, Kalpana believed in taking as many mock tests as possible to make her concepts strong and learn from her mistakes. She wanted to be a doctor from a very early age and right now her aim is to pursue MBBS and then an MS in Cardiology. Kalpana likes playing badminton, but during her preparation days, she only concentrated on her studies. With her dream college being AIIMS, her second preferred was Maulana Azad Medical College.

In this exclusive interview with Aakash Institute, Kalpana shares details about her preparation strategy, the driving force behind her dream and other essential aspects which helped her ace the exam.

Aakash Institute: Congratulations Kalpana on being AIR 1 in NEET 2018. How are you feeling after this achievement?

Kalpana: Thank you so much for your wishes! I am feeling very excited today. I am thankful to God, my parents, and teachers. I can’t express it in words. It is just an amazing feeling and I am letting the feeling just seep in.

Aakash Institute: Tell us a little about your family and how they supported you in this success?

Kalpana: I belong to a middle-class family. My father is a lecturer at Mahatma Budha Teachers Training College, Sitamarhi, and my mother is a school teacher. My elder sister has qualified IES exam in 2018. My elder brother is studying in IIT, Guwahati. There were full support and motivation for me from my entire family.

Aakash Institute: What motivated you to pursue Medicine as your career?

Kalpana: I decided to become a good Doctor when I was in class 6^th. In my family, no member belongs to the field of medicine. I wish to serve people and due to this I feel medical is the best field for me.

Aakash Institute: Tell us about your preparation routine for NEET -18? How much time did you put for coaching vis a vis self-study?

Kalpana: I devoted my entire time to “NEET-2018”, preparation. For self-study, I used to sit for at least 10 hrs/ day on regular basis. I attended classroom programme of Aakash Institute.

Aakash Institute: Your schedule would have been quite hectic during preparations. What did you do to keep yourself refreshed?

Kalpana: For refreshment, I used to talk to my parents, sister, friends, and my teachers.

Aakash Institute: Among all the three subjects, which was the easiest and toughest subject for you?

Kalpana: Physics was quite tough for me, mainly for numerical, but teachers helped a lot for making my own concepts and viewpoints for solving all my problems.

Aakash Institute: Where do you see yourself in the next five years down the line in the medical career?

Kalpana: I will give a good Doctor to my nation after completing my U.G. and P.G. courses.

Aakash Institute: How your coaching center helped you in preparing for NEET 18 exam?

Kalpana: I joined Aakash Institute, South Ex branch of New Delhi for my NEET-2018 U.G. preparation. The study material, test, and discussion provided in Aakash Institute helped me a lot. Teachers clear my doubts whenever I need them (Day/night). Sometimes I used to clear my doubts telephonically from my teachers. Test and discussion held at Aakash Institute is like concept booster and increased my knowledge.

Aakash Institute: Other fellow aspirants also knew what books and syllabus points were to be prepared. But what according to you ensured success for you?

Kalpana: For other fellow 1^st of all I would like to suggest that they should prepare the complete syllabus from NCERT book but for more question practices and concept strengthening also go through the study package of Aakash Institute. Follow all the instructions/guidance provided by your teachers and mentors.

Aakash Institute: What suggestions would you like to share with the future NEET Aspirants?

Kalpana: For future NEET aspirants I would like to suggest for studying NCERT thoroughly and study material provided by Aakash Institute. For Physics and Chemistry, more concept based numerical practice is required.