Rebecca C. is a second year medical student at the Medical University of Plovdiv. She answered the questions of the Director of Studies of SB-Academy Stamatia Vangeltsiki specifically for those interested in our website.

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I suppose many high school graduates picture their life in ten years as follows: medical scrubs, stethoscope in your pocket, a card with your name on it, starting with MD, and a wide smile, trying to hide the accumulated fatigue. I was one of them.

I always wanted to practice medicine, but my dream was to study abroad and not in Greece.

My choice was either η Bulgaria, or η Italy, and the reasons for this were:

1.Much easier admission to the specialty of my choice. In Greece, one day (the day of the national exams) is crucial for our future. Today, I do not believe that secondary school graduates demonstrate all their knowledge and potential for these exams. You may be well prepared, but on the day of the exam you may feel the stress and pressure getting to you, or even due to illness you may not feel well and much more. Unfortunately, our education system in Greece gives us only one chance a year.

2. I have studied and found that in both Bulgaria and Italy medical education has many practical courses. Students after the 3rd year start practical courses for many disciplines in university hospitals, where they have direct contact with the patient. Under the supervision of our supervisor we are not only monitoring the patient but also being able to examine, take histories and give our own recommendations for diagnosis, etc.

3.I wanted to study in English to have the opportunity to work in all EU countries and communicate with other colleagues in English as well.

4.And last but not least: Attending with students of different nationalities. In universities abroad we have the opportunity to get to know other cultures and change our worldview.

5.I chose Bulgaria because it is closer to Greece, and it is easy for me to visit my parents and for them to visit me.

6.My next choice had to do with my choice of university. I was between the Medical University – Plovdiv and the Medical University of Sofia. With the representatives of SB-ACADEMY – STUDY IN BULGARIA we discussed the advantages and disadvantages between these two universities and in the end I chose the Medical University – Plovdiv.

You are now in Bulgaria, and you are a second year medical student. What would you say about the university you chose to study at?

I started studying in Bulgaria in the academic year 2019/2020. Η SB-ACADEMY – STUDY IN BULGARIA took care of all the preparation of my documents and supporting documents for my admission to the university. It carried out my registration, I also took part in the course preparation for the entrance test. I was admitted to the university in one of the first places among all the candidates.

I was lucky because I completed my first year of study by March on the spot and was not affected by COVID -19. I was able to attend the labs we had in the anatomy class which for me is the first exposure we have in medical specialties.

As far as the university is concerned, it is very modern. Just look at the auditoriums and you will understand.

The library is at our disposal, including Saturday. Students have the opportunity for online access to many books from wherever they are.

What is life like for a Greek student in Bulgaria?

I am sure that life for every single student around the world is very beautiful. But here, apart from the fact that we live together, I mean Greek students, we live more freely. We have a different way of life, since life in Bulgaria is significantly cheaper than in Greece and Italy.

The apartment I live in is very nice, furnished with new furniture and electrical appliances. It is located 200m from the university and the price is the same as an unfurnished apartment in Greece.

The Greek student community in Plovdiv is very large. At the university there are even Greek professors who finished their studies here and decided to work in Bulgaria.

We have “Greek” shops, where all the students get together, visit gyms, cinema, etc. In general, we have a normal student life that has nothing to envy that of Greece.

How do you imagine your future?

It is still too early to say for sure. For me, my life is all about dreams and goals.

My short-term goals are to be a very good student, because my dream is to become a very good doctor.

To pursue medicine – it’s a real adventure and life experience and to be able to constantly outdo yourself. Because there is no goal that is not conquered but a lack of willpower.

I’m happy to have 4 more years of experiences, motivation , lots of books, lots of nights out with friends, and definitely late nights reading. I hope to achieve my dreams.

When I reach my sixth year we can talk again and I can tell you how I see my future. It is still too early to say for sure.

What would you like to say to all prospective students who want to study medicine?

First, think about why you want to study medicine. If the answer is “because I see in it my own recognition in wanting to help people”, then this is your path.

You’re looking at six years of lots of books, worrying about state exams, maybe even no sleep. You’ll want to understand the material you have to study, have to start your day sometimes and at five o’clock in the morning with the desire to go to your practice. You will want to be part of that group so that you can continue to do it all with joy and pleasure. Within you will be the excitement of knowing exactly what to do and exactly what patients need. You should be able to overcome fear and improve on many practical guidelines!

So choose a profession that will challenge you every day. A profession with which you will be able to express yourself, a profession that will make you happy!

Believe and follow the advice of SB-ACADEMY so far has always been helpful to me. You should know that if you trust them, they will be there for you with any problem you may have. From “why don’t I have internet today”, “where to go for a doctor’s exam”, “do you have physics lectures from previous years?” etc.

I wish you good luck!!!!

And I hope after 4 years we can do an interview as a medical school senior.

Rebecca Gantzou!

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