MBBS open category counselling: Toppers skip session, leave other aspirants smiling

MBBS open category counselling: Toppers skip session, leave other aspirants smiling

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  24.11.2020 

MBBS/BDS admissions for the open category in the state, where more than 5,000 students have scored above 500 marks in NEET, began on Monday amid Covid protocols.

There were cheers when the top 15 performers, with NEET 2020 scores between 710 and 688 skipped counselling, possibly because most had got seats in the all India quota. “We don’t know the complete details about where they are yet, but we are hoping they opted for all India quota seats in Tamil Nadu or central institutions such as AIIMS and JIPMER,” health minister C Vijaybaskar said after handing over the admit cards to 10 students.

Even students with ranks below 57 were celebrating as they would get an opportunity to get seats in premier Madras Medical College. “It will be a gain if students take seats in any college during all India counselling. Every year, 15% of seats from government colleges are surrendered to AIQ. If students from TN take these, it would mean we are retaining seats for our students. If they go to central universities or AIQ seats in other states, our meritorious students are opting for seats in colleges outside the state,” said S Vasanth, a NEET tutor helping students make smart choices during counselling.

Parents and students watching the display screen from the waiting hall cheered each time, they found a candidate had skipped counselling. “This also shows students from our state are cracking NEET and scoring better each year,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam.

The selection committee called 361 students with scores from 710 to 631 for counselling under open category. The state opened 2,747 seats in 26 government colleges, of which 864 were in open category. At the end of the day, all open category and BC seats in MMC and Stanley Medical College were taken. BCM seats in Madras Medical College were also filled.

Of the 307 allotted seats, 143 joined MMC where the cut-off was 631 marks. At Stanley Medical College, where 21 got admission, it was also 631. Admit cards were handed over to three government school students who could not collect them earlier.