The prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital tops the list of hospitals and research institutes all over India. Every medical aspirant around the globe has this dream of studying in this premier institute offering health science courses. However, out of the lakhs of students who sit for its entrance exam every year, just a few lucky of them get through by cracking the competitive entrance exams conducted by AIIMS. And these few lucky students, who make it to the hardest college to get into, actually spend some best years of their life in the coveted institute.
Student’s life in AIIMS is always a fun, though tugged up with the hectic study schedule; students in AIIMS never leave a chance to enjoy every bit of other activities. Be it politics, sports, debate, exhibitions, cultural functions and fests, and the list goes on, AIIMS students are never laid back, and an enthusiastic participation can always be witnessed. The limitation of class size also ensures a very close-knit amongst the student community.
The student body is predominantly male, with men forming approximately 80% of every batch. Owing to its location in the national capital and its countrywide reputation, AIIMS has a very vibrant and a cosmopolitan student body. Students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mauritius and other nations add some of their own flavor. Exchange students from several Indian and international medical schools also mix with the existing crowd.
September is that month of the year when AIIMS becomes lively for the whole one week with the India’s largest medical fest, PULSE. It is the annual, inter-college festival hosted by AIIMS with daily attendance ranging from 5000 to 15000.
AIIMS is always known for its excellent infrastructure. With proper college buildings, science laboratories, computer laboratories, central library, students avail high standard facilities. The institute also has a large, well-equipped student' gym, swimming pool and courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, squash and soccer which provides ample opportunities for recreation. Prayatna is a student organization that arranges blood donation camps for the fulfillment of perpetual shortage of blood at the AIIMS blood bank.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a residential university; it has several hostels for its undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD scholars and resident doctors. All the hostels are conveniently located, and hence hostellers do not have to travel long distances after a day of hard work and studies.
The day never ends at AIIMS hostel! Be it late night studies, mid night snacks, volleyball practice at 2 am, life in AIIMS hostels is always lively and interesting. But other than these, it also enables students to spend ample time in the hospital, departments and utilize the library and other facilities to ensure they develop academically and acquire the necessary skills that can be obtained only through experience.
Hostel life always helps a student to become social and outspoken. It allows students to interact with their colleagues and peers, make friends, and develop into good human beings capable of independent judgment and coping with the day to day pressures of life. Moreover, one should always remember that a hostel is always a home away from home!