- I Paid A Bribe
- 8 years ago
- 6497 views
Bribe for getting transcript in medical college
- Education
- Obtaining Transcripts
- Paid INR 25,000
I am an outstanding student in my batch and wished to pursue my masters in United States. Getting a residency in US is far more difficult than any other branches like engineering or management etc., It takes around 2 years, to clear 4 levels of exam and also atleast 3 months of observership in a US hospital (everything at the expense of the candidate). And, even after this, there is always a chance you wont be matched into any program/residency. In that case, the candidate has to spend another year in US preferably, to improve his resume. Engineering students on an average pay around 15-25 lakhs as tuition fee, in the guarantee of a confirmed seat. But, in medical field, we have to pay around 15-20 lakhs, just for the process of application/exam fees/interviews, with no guarantee of a residency. But really good students, get through within the first two years, and use the stipend to repay the amount spent on the process.
Medical School Transcript is needed to apply to ECFMG (Educational Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates) and all the residency programs . A transcript states a candidate's total hours in each subject and also the total marks in the university exams. My college doesn't have a standardized format, and it is always, we students, who have to prepare our own, with the help of seniors, which involves tallying 5.5 years of education hours and marks and get it signed from the dean. It comes upto 7 pages, and the dean has to sign in every page. For one copy of this, I was asked to pay 25,000 INR in the name of College welfare fund. I would love to contribute to my college, after all it made me who I am now and Im always indebted to it, but coercing into paying 25,000 only (no less) and not signing the forms otherwise, is the most elite way of asking for a bribe. No one knows what happens with the money. Even if four students apply, it will mount to 1,00,000 INR. Worst of all is, we are given only 1 copy. As some of the universities may ask for original copies, I asked them for two copies, but was charged extra 10,000 INR. So totally 35,000 INR for just two copies of 7 page transcript which we prepared ourselves ( no work for the govt official). Another document which we have to submit is a MSPE (Medical Student Performace Evaluation) to the ECFMG, which is nothing but a dean's letter stating we are a good student, for which I was charged 10,000 INR. USMLE is such an expensive exam with exam fees approx 5 lakh(for four exams) and with this huge bribe ( 45,000 INR) makes middle class family doctors like me to regret the whole decision itself. College officials tell us, that this amount is so less when compared to the amount we are paying to write exams and demand us the money assuming, people who pursue USMLE are rich people. They dont understand students who meticulously calculate to avoid unnecessary expenses to their parents due to their ambition to study abroad and how even few thousands matter a lot in our journey to our dreams. One horrible experience in my life and a shame on my college.