Karnataka:Absence of common counselling for NEET raises admission expense

Bengaluru: The lack of coordination on common counselling for seats under the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or NEET between private medical colleges, deemed universities and CBSE for Undergraduate medical and dental seats is going to cost aspirants heavily.

Medical aspirants have voiced their concerns over the expense they will have to entail in the absence of common counselling for NEET 2016, by having to applying separately for separate institutions.

Avlon Maria D'Souza, a student of Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar, Udupi has already got a medical seat through CET. However she wants a better college through NEET. “The government has really made it difficult for students. Was it not bad enough that NEET has already caused so much confusion?” she asked.

Speaking about expenses Avlon brought to light the costs that will be incurred. “The cost of applying for ComedK counseling is Rs 600. I have also applied for Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal (deemed) paying Rs 2,000. If I decide to apply to more institutions, I will incur quite an expense,” she said.

Deeksha Chakravarty, another medical aspirant, has applied for counselling under the ComedK, KMC, Manipal, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru (deemed) and is thinking of applying to JSS Medical College (deemed). “Presently I am looking at an expense of at least Rs 10,000 just for applying,” she said. Another concern raised by Deeksha is the running around that she will have to do. “Counselling for many of the institutions will be held around the same time, and I will have to shuttle from one place to another in a short time,” she said.

The NEET results were declared on Wednesday and soon enough a directive was issued from the centre to states asking them to conduct common counselling. However, the government has not been able to carry along any of the concerned institutions along with its decision controversy, divergent opinions surround the government’s directive on common counselling. The state government’s stand as helpless onlookers to the pandemonium created.

NEET results were announced on Wednesday. Although there has been a directive from the Centre to states to conduct common counselling, the state government seems helpless.

An official from the Medical Education department said that in a state like Tamil Nadu, common counselling is being held although this was not possible in the state.

Separate counseling is being witnessed under the Karnataka Professional Colleges Foundation, religious and linguistic minority colleges under the Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association (KRLMPCA) and the Association of Minority Professional Colleges, Karnataka. deemed institutions are going ahead with their own counselling.

Applications for the Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association will be available on Monday. Online applications are to be submitted by August 25.

Medical counselling will be on till September 9 and counselling for dental seats till September 10. Comed K counselling schedule is hosted on its website.