ISCOMS

UMCG, Groningen, Netherlands

The teaser is out- 18th ISCOMS 2011

18th ISCOMS 2011

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Hey, this is not a place where you can find out what ISCOMS is, or where it is conducted, or when it will be held the next year. This is also not a place where I am penning down my experiences for the 2010 conference.
This is a place intended for the Indians, (yeah, only Indians!) to help them with the preparations once they are selected for the conference. Given our burden, planning a trip and getting done with the formalities can be exhaustive, and more so, when you have nobody to tell you how to go about it. I am just doing my bit, so that you do not face the anxious and tough times, the ones which I faced. I seriously hope it helps.

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First of all, if you're reading this far....I know you've been selected for a presentation!
CONGRATULATIONS!! You have been selected. Come On, rejoice. Party. :)


The first thing that hits you is: FINANCES!!

To-do's:
# Go and meet your Dean. Ask him for finances. This is an honor you bring to the college.
( Most colleges give something -my colleagues got Rs. 5000 from their colleges. But, if your place is a regressive place like mine, be prepared to receive lots of assurances but not a single penny. Just be prepared.)

# Contact your College's Alumni Association. They are quite supportive.
(One of my colleague managed a sum of Rs. 25,000 !! Yeah. They can be very helpful, provided you do have a functional alumni association. Unfortunately, I did not have one.)

# Now, let's get serious. Contact, NO, Send your application to the ICMR. Since Jan.2010, they give travel grants to students also. They'll require you to take an Air-India booking, which might seem very costly, but they provide you the complete funds, and the registration fees too. Get LORs from your guide, and one more person, and apply. Remember: Deadline-3 months before the conference dates.

# CCSTDS - Yes, this is another place to send in your application, But it is quite depressing to find out that they do not give any preference to students, and the best CVs are chosen for the grants (amongst the professor level, and lecturer level and completely insignificant people like students.) So, do not put all your hopes on this organisation, solely.

# ISCOMS Travel Grant - Yeah! I forgot to tell you about this earlier. The organization has its own travel grant, which is an amount of 200 euros.


#The key: Behave like the neediest person in the world. Otherwise, they'll rule you out. So, you can go up like this: 'This is indeed an honor for being selected for the conference, but am sorry, I won't be able to meet the expenses and henceforth, would not be able to attend the conference.' 'Though, I would have been glad to to attend it, but due to financial restrictions, I won't be....'
I think, you got a hook at what I am trying to convey. ;)

That's AALL what I have come to know about Finances.

Now, About FLYING !!

Make out an itinerary for the trip. Pleaase, If you're going so far, please, take the time out for visiting some nearby places, i.e. the Schengen countries. Make out a plan. A rough one. And, decide the dates of departure and arrival.
Once, you're done. Book the airlines as per your luxury.
Believe me, how-so-ever reputed an airlines you chose, you're bound to get the panics of the turbulence, or the mid-way air-falls, or any damn thing. Each flight I board, I pray to God. ;)

Let's Go to VISA !!
Schengen Visa is very very easy to get, since you've got this invitation letter from ISCOMS.
1. Don't worry about which visa you get: Business/ Travel !! Coz, its their headache, not yours. ;)

2. Be ready according to the Business Visa checklist. (The documents!) DO NOT waste money on travel agents. Schengen Visa is one thing you needn't pay extra for. If you think you won't be able to appear yourself for the application procedure-->> Can your Dad/ Mom go? Can your brother/ sister go? Can your good friend do this for you? If answer to all of this goes to a NO, then, finding a Travel agent is the only option you have. :)

3. The application procedure- Get your documents ready (as per the Business Visa Checklist, only because it is better to be prepared, in case they ever ask you for the finances) There isn't any formal interview. They just check the documents, and during this procedure itself, they'll ask you what is the purpose of going there, for how long will you be there, do you have the tickets booked, what will be your itinerary like, will you visit some other schengen countries also, If yes, then which all, and for how long. If you answer this, you are through.

4. The Application fee. Submit the fee. (Do not pay for the SMS services. You anyways get to know your application status through net. SMS service adds nothing more to it. You unnecessarily pay 200 bucks for that.) Now, The Netherlands embassy does not charge fee for VISA to a Scientific Researcher. Claim for Refund. And you are one! SO, Write down a mail to the Netherlands Embassy, and ask them to consider your case for refund of Application Fee. (We did it after we came back to India, And we got the entire amount back!!)



5. The cover letter that may be of use:

Netherlands Embassy, India

6/50 F, Shantipath

New Delhi

India

Reference: Issue Of Schengen Visa

May 10^th 2010

Dear Sir/ Madam,

This is to inform you that I, (Name), submit my visa application, for attending the 18^th International Student Congress Of Medical Sciences (ISCOMS), which is being held at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) at Groningen, Netherlands from __^th to __^th June , as a presenting participant.

I, hereby, forward this application, along with all the required documents, for your consideration for issue of visa.

Kindly grant me a Visa, for my stay from __^th June 2011 till __^th June 2011, in Netherlands and France.

Thanking You,

Yours Sincerely,

Signature

Name

6. For proving your financial ability for the stay, Add a sponsor letter from your father/ gaurdian. A sample:

Netherlands Embassy, India

6/50 F, Shantipath

New Delhi

India

Reference: Consent for Sponsorship

May 10^th 2010

Dear Sir/ Madam,

My daughter, _________, a medical student of University Name, who is presently (Year of College), (Name of College), has been invited to present a research paper in the 18^th International Student Congress Of Medical Sciences (ISCOMS), which is being held at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) at Groningen, Netherlands from ____to_____.

I, hereby, consent to sponsor him/her and bear all the expenses (lodging, boarding, traveling etc) incurred during the trip. I have no objection for this trip, from ____ till _______.

Please find enclosed the documents required to prove my financials. *keep the ITR -3 yrs copies ready/ Bank Statements-6 mnths ready.

I request you to kindly grant her the visa. 

  

Yours Sincerely,

Name

(Father of ......)

Address

Phone No.

7. For Visa, you need to have your Tickets. Get them asap. (coz they'll be cheaper) ;) If you're applying for ICMR, get the Air India ones. Coz, they'll not negotiate on this aspect.
And your Travel Insurance- take the one which is cheapest. It ain't of much use, seriously. No use spending 200-300 more on expensive plans.

Once submitted, wait for the Visa to reach you. Believe me, you'll obviously get one. :)

Now, The thing for which you're going-- Presentation 

For Poster presentation::

The tips:
Scientific Posters

For Oral Presentation::

The format:
Oral Research paper Presentation

For THE PRESENTATION on THE- DAY::

How to Present a Paper


Apart from presentations, Some more 'To KNOWs' are here:

* For communication at Home/India - Wi-fi is easily available @ accomodation provided to you, @ UMCG- has its own internet room-Free, @ Airport -NOO. The worst thing-Schiphol Airport does NOT give free access to Wi-fi, not even for trial (like the one at New Delhi airport) :(
Don't invest in the Uniconnect SIMs they offer here in India. Matrix is Still worth. The Europe SIMs are pretty cheap. So, If you have a GF/BF to whom you need to talk daily and longer. Go for the Euro SIMs.
Otherwise also, these SIMs are better amongst all the options.


* For accomodation at Groningen - My personal advice would be to go for the Stay with a Student. You get to interact more. No use paying twice for staying alone. One cons: The houses where these students stay might be some bit distant from UMCG. But, believe me, Groningen is such a town where no place is beyond a 10-min walk. 
And, Please...Do not use public transport buses- They are far too expensive- 3 euros for a 1.5 minute distance!!


* If you're a Vegie- Get this right- Tell them explicitly that you don't eat Eggs and you don't eat Meat. (coz, for them, vegie means the one who doesn't eat eggs, but does take meat!!) I had quite a lot of problem, and had to survive on fruits/juices/mashed potatoes!! :(

Oh Yeah, Making your CV & LOR could be tough & time-consuming too.
Have added a Sample CV, though can't help you much with LORs. Google LOR, you'll find a ton of them.
Sample CV

~~~~~^^^ I hope I answered some of your queries!! ^^^~~~~~~~~




For any more information/queries/help, you can drop a comment here.


Or, Mail either of the University Indian Ambassadors, ISCOMS 2011:
*Mail with the SUBJECT: ISCOMS 2011 (strictly)
Amitesh Khare - amitesh_kh88@yahoo.com 
Kalpajit Banik - kalpajit.banik@gmail.com or kalpajit_banik@rediff.com
Sumit Gupta - sumit_hp303@yahoo.co.in

Facebook Page - 18th ISCOMS Promotion in India


Facebook Group - ISCOMS 2011


:-)