NEET training academies mushroom in Chennai
Naomi N January 16, 2018
Chennai: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) last year put aspiring medical students in a tight spot with all the suspense surrounding it. In the last minute, many joined crash courses in NEET academies in the city to get through in the exam and land a medical seat.
According to a leading NEET academy spokesperson, when it was confirmed that the exam would be held, his phone did not stop ringing. Everybody was willing to pay Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 to enrol for the month-long crash course and put in 8-10 hours of intense studying.
News Today spoke to a few leading institutes in the city to find out the kind of preparation undergone to enable aspiring doctors crack the national entrance exam and also the fees they charge.
CRASH COURSES
Archana Ram of Smart Academy in the city said, “On an average, students put in a year or two in preparation. Last year, there was a huge demand for crash courses in summer due to uncertainty over NEET. Our fees structure ranges between Rs 25,000 and Rs 60,000. Last year, three of first five toppers were from Smart Academy. Interestingly, 50 per cent of the toppers were from the State board. We understood that if we tweaked the syllabus, the State board students will be able to make the grade. The students spend an average of seven hours a day and even 8-9 hours absolutely focusing on preparation a month or two ahead of the exam. Otherwise, it is an hour or two daily.”
These academies go through the profile of the students before enrolling them. The school report is regularly checked and they are even given a bit of coaching for other subjects so they do not lag behind in school curriculum.
KURUKSHETRA
At Jupiter Education Academy, which has a centre in Porur, the fees range between Rs 30,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh. “We have a two-year integrated course which is for 1,000 hours including revision and tests, and a one-year integrated course. The crash course we call Kurukshetra is a month-long one. The academy also has morning classes for girls and night classes for boys when the exam date approaches. The academy has qualified Ph.D faculty who earlier served as head of the department in various colleges so that students can ask doubts freely,” said Ramya Vandana, the spokesperson.
STUDENTSPEAK
For the students, it is a different story. Most of them who couldn’t make it through NEET last year are trying this year too. They are not disappointed about it: they feel they are more experienced this time.
“I will attempt next year. I had attended a crash course in an academy last year where I had paid Rs 30,000. They have given study material which I am using now and learning by myself,” says Nishangan, a resident of Virugambakkam.
“I have joined an engineering course in a college in Sriperumbudur. So, many of us have enrolled for other courses and are still trying for NEET. I spend two hours each in the morning and night preparing for the exam,” he says.
The students are also analysing their strength and weakness in each subject during the preparation.
An aspirant, Varsha from Anna Nagar, says, “For me, Botany and Zoology are easy; however, Physics and Chemistry are not. So, I put in more effort in those two subjects. The study materials from coaching centres are very useful. In a day, I spend around four hours on it. I am planning to increase it to 5-6 hours a day. During holidays, I study for 8-10 hours without fail.”
Naomi N January 16, 2018
Chennai: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) last year put aspiring medical students in a tight spot with all the suspense surrounding it. In the last minute, many joined crash courses in NEET academies in the city to get through in the exam and land a medical seat. According to a leading NEET academy spokesperson, when it was confirmed that the exam would be held, his phone did not stop ringing. Everybody was willing to pay Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 to enrol for the month-long crash course and put in 8-10 hours of intense studying.
News Today spoke to a few leading institutes in the city to find out the kind of preparation undergone to enable aspiring doctors crack the national entrance exam and also the fees they charge.
CRASH COURSES
Archana Ram of Smart Academy in the city said, “On an average, students put in a year or two in preparation. Last year, there was a huge demand for crash courses in summer due to uncertainty over NEET. Our fees structure ranges between Rs 25,000 and Rs 60,000. Last year, three of first five toppers were from Smart Academy. Interestingly, 50 per cent of the toppers were from the State board. We understood that if we tweaked the syllabus, the State board students will be able to make the grade. The students spend an average of seven hours a day and even 8-9 hours absolutely focusing on preparation a month or two ahead of the exam. Otherwise, it is an hour or two daily.”
These academies go through the profile of the students before enrolling them. The school report is regularly checked and they are even given a bit of coaching for other subjects so they do not lag behind in school curriculum.
KURUKSHETRA
At Jupiter Education Academy, which has a centre in Porur, the fees range between Rs 30,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh. “We have a two-year integrated course which is for 1,000 hours including revision and tests, and a one-year integrated course. The crash course we call Kurukshetra is a month-long one. The academy also has morning classes for girls and night classes for boys when the exam date approaches. The academy has qualified Ph.D faculty who earlier served as head of the department in various colleges so that students can ask doubts freely,” said Ramya Vandana, the spokesperson.
STUDENTSPEAK
For the students, it is a different story. Most of them who couldn’t make it through NEET last year are trying this year too. They are not disappointed about it: they feel they are more experienced this time.
“I will attempt next year. I had attended a crash course in an academy last year where I had paid Rs 30,000. They have given study material which I am using now and learning by myself,” says Nishangan, a resident of Virugambakkam.
“I have joined an engineering course in a college in Sriperumbudur. So, many of us have enrolled for other courses and are still trying for NEET. I spend two hours each in the morning and night preparing for the exam,” he says.
The students are also analysing their strength and weakness in each subject during the preparation.
An aspirant, Varsha from Anna Nagar, says, “For me, Botany and Zoology are easy; however, Physics and Chemistry are not. So, I put in more effort in those two subjects. The study materials from coaching centres are very useful. In a day, I spend around four hours on it. I am planning to increase it to 5-6 hours a day. During holidays, I study for 8-10 hours without fail.”
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