Only 18 out of the top 35 students, who qualified the Eamcet-2013 joined MBBS/BDS course in medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh during the counselling at four places in the State on Monday.
At Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Eamcet rank 18 and 23 were the top two students, who reported for admission and University Vice-Chancellor I.V. Rao handed over the allotment orders to both of them.
At the State level, students holding ranks 1, 6, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34 and 35 took admission in the OU region. Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, was the first choice for a majority. The Vice-Chancellor’s advice to both students, Yalla Bandi Ganesh (rank 18) and Kondam Alekhya Reddy (rank 23), was to start working hard from now on and complete their post-graduation.
Both Ganesh, hailing from Nauduru in West Godavari and Alekhya from Bangalore (originally hailing from Warangal), told reporters that they wished to take up Neurology as a specialisation in PG.
It was an agonising two-hour wait for candidates at all the four centres with the online counselling process beginning at 11 a.m. and JNTU Hyderabad coordinating it. With continuous rain in Vijayawada, all students along with their parents, who were asked to report on Monday (from rank 1 to 1,000) were provided seating inside the administrative building.
Syndicate Bank gave away Rs.1,500 each as a congratulatory gesture to the top three students, who reported at the Dr. NTR University Centre.
Bank Chief Manager M.V.V. Srinivasa Rao said they were receiving fee in cash and were prepared to extend education loan to those who needed it with sanction given across the table on the day of counselling.
Topper prefer GMC
Gandhi Medical College (GMC) was the choice of the toppers compared to Osmania Medical College (OMC) and even the first ranker in the medical stream of Eamcet, V. Venkata Vineeth, preferred GMC during the admission counselling that started on Monday.
Vineeth, who attended the counselling at JNTU Kukatpally, said that GMC was preferred as the college and the hospital were in the same premises and it would be less strain compared to OMC. Moreover, GMC has better equipment being relatively new. Similarly, the sixth ranker Avuthu Praveena, also preferred GMC while the seventh ranker, N. Gowtham Reddy, chose a seat in OMC.
The next best ranker, Surapaneni Pragna, did not choose any college but kept the option open for second phase of counselling. She has been selected for the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.
“She would like to first visit AFMC and then come back here for second counselling if she is not able to adjust there,” Pragna’s father said.
Kukatpally MLA Jayaprakash Narayana’s daughter also attended the counselling along with him. She chose Gandhi Medical College. The JNTUH Admissions Director, A.V. Seetharama Raju, said that counselling went on without any hiccups and it started on time. Some student organisations protested at the counselling centre demanding that the government conduct online counselling for management quota also.
