Madras medical college is the preferred choice for students during counseling

Tamil Nadu: The first two days of counselling for medical admissions in the state clearly saw the top choices being made by the students. Three colleges in Chennai- Madras Medical College (MMC), Stanley Medical College and the Government Kilpauk Medical College have been preferred during the two day counselling. 543 seats allotment has been done, and 458 seats are in these three medical colleges.

MMC has emerged as a clear winner with 193 students opting for it, followed by Stanley Medical College, preferred by 174 medical aspirants. 91 students then opted for the Kilpauk Medical College. Government Madurai Medical College is the only other college which was the preferred choice of 85 aspirants.

MMC is the top choice with 10 toppers opting for the college. None of these students reside in Chennai, but opted for the college because of excitement and exposure of a metro city. Besides, super specialisations that these three colleges offer.

“MMC is a reputed college in Tamil Nadu and many famous doctors have graduated from here. So it a pride to study there,” said V Aarthi, State topper in Class XII board exam to Express. Having secured the 10th rank in medical counselling, she was one of the few students to whom health minister Dr C Vijaya Baskar personally handed over the allotment orders on Tuesday.

State toppers Aarthi V. and K.H. Jeshwanth, who were not accorded the top rank in the merit list are happy that they have got admission in MMC.

“I lost because I am younger than them,” said Jeshwanth to Hindu, who was ranked 17. Aarthi was ranked 10, also due to the same factor.

“MMC had always been most preferred because it had produced many experts in the field. Again, it offers speciality and super speciality courses. Students get to see different surgeries, rare diseases and high number of patients with different cases, all these will help students gain expertise in their respective fields”, said Dr G Selvarajan, secretary of the selection committee at the directorate of Medical Education to Express.

Another unusual tale of friendship emerged in the media where one girl sacrificed her medical seat for her friend during the counseling. An aspirant, Varshini S hailing from Trichy gave up her seats reserved under special category of ex-servicemen for her friend Janani N. Both the students are from SRV Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Trichy.

"I secured a cut-off of 199 marks and I am from a backward community ," said Varshini to TOI, who voluntarily pulled out of counselling. "I'm sure to clinch a seat in the general counselling. But it isn't the same for my friend. As a toast to our friendship, I want her to have this."

Janani, visibly overwhelmed by Varshini's gesture, said it established the bond between the two girls and their families. "We've been friends since kindergarten," said Janani, who secured an MBBS seat in Madras Medical College (MMC). "It was magnanimous of Varshini to let go of her seat. Though the difference in marks between the two of us might just have been 0.25, it would have been tough for me to have secured a medical seat. I owe my dream of becoming a doctor entirely to Varshini." With many students in the 190-199 range, it will be tough for V arshini to bag a seat in MMC, but that does not bother her. "As long as I get a seat in any medical college, it is all right," she said.

Almost 3,694 candidates appeared for the first round of counselling in the state. This includes 159 aspirants under special category. Pursuing super speciality courses is also one reason why many students opted for medical colleges in Chennai.