Ekjot Sodhi (rank 1), Pooja Goyal (rank 39) and Ranjana Bhandari (rank 89) in a jubilant mood at the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik
Ekjot Kaur outshines 40,000 others
Link to news
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110602/chd.htm
Chandigarh, June 1
Attain exceptional levels of performance, 31 of the 33 students of (UIPS), Panjab University, who appeared in the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test 2011 (GPAT) conducted nationwide have cleared it. This rigorous exam is the gateway to masters in pharmacy program in prestigious institutions in the country and makes a candidate eligible for doing PhD in pharmacy.
Ekjot Kaur of UIPS scored the first rank in the test outshining 40,000 students across the country. Besides, seven other students of the institute have made it to the top 100. Incidentally seven of the eight top rank holders are girls.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) introduced the test last year for entrance to the MPharma course in leading institutes including the eight National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPERs). Admissions to the course were earlier done on the basis of the GATE exam. In 2010 and 2011 10,000 students across the country cleared the exam conducted by MS University, Baroda.
Besides Ekjot, others from PU who secured top slots in GPAT include Sukneeraj Pal Kaur (rank 5), Anurag Singla (17), Tanya Choudhary (26), Pooja Goyal (39), Ashna Puri (56), Ranjana Bhandari (87) and Navjot (96).
“Since the first day after enrolling in the BPharma course our teachers had been motivating us to work towards the entrance test for the masters program. Even during the GPAT exam our classroom lectures helped us score better than others,” said Ekjot, who aspires to seek admission to NIPER, Mohali.
“The mode of teaching at our department is so rigorous we were very well versed with our syllabi. First were taught in the class, followed by practical training and at the end we used to submit our synopsis,” she added.
Pooja, who scored the 39th rank, said besides academics all top rank holders also participated in extracurricular activities. “Students in this department are so disciplined they set an example for others on the PU campus. Our teachers guided us and encouraged us, not only for the entrance exam but also to participate in extracurricular activities”, she added.
“I began preparing seriously for the test last year and the classroom instruction was of great help,” said Ranjana. She, Ekjot and Pooja won positions in the college competition in the National Pharmacy Week organized by IPA.