Prism Reflections: I survived the MDCAT scandal, but the hardest question wasn't on the exam

It was the night of December 8, 2024 and I was scrolling through Instagram reels, trying to distract myself after one of the most important exams of my life, the MDCAT which I had sat that morning.

Suddenly, a message appeared on my phone. Someone had sent me the official answer key released by IBA Sukkur. I began checking my answers. With every correct response, my heartbeat grew faster. Then came the moment I had spent months waiting for, the realisation that I had achieved a score that could secure my place at a medical college.

For a moment, everything felt perfect. The sacrifices, sleepless nights, and countless hours of preparation seemed worth it. I felt I was finally one step closer to the white coat.

But to understand what that moment truly meant, I have to go back to where this dream began.

The dream of becoming a doctor started long before I knew what the MDCAT was. After middle school, my thoughts gradually shifted towards medicine, shaped largely by my parents’ expectations and the environment around me.

Deep down, however, my interests leaned more towards mathematics. I was fascinated by logic and problem-solving and I imagined a career in engineering. But in Tharparkar, becoming a doctor is often considered the ultimate success because the profession is associated with respect, stability, and the hope of a better future. Like many students around me, I saw the white coat not as a career choice, but a measure of achievement.

After my SSC-II examinations, I joined Sindh Academy Umerkot for MDCAT preparation. This was where the real struggle began. On my first day, I felt overwhelmed, surrounded by students who appeared confident and academically strong. I started questioning whether I truly........

© Dawn Prism