Parents cling to hope, look to round 2 of medical counselling

A total of 555 students were admitted to various medical colleges on Thursday, the second day of counselling for government institutions in the State. Admission for 720 seats in the reserved categories will take place over the next couple of days. With the end of counselling for general category seats, many parents are looking forward to the second phase.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) is yet to confirm the allotment of 285 seats to Madras Medical College, Stanley and Tiruvannamalai Medical Colleges. Though the seats have been announced, the MCI will have to inspect the colleges before confirming seat availability.

Urgent discussions and a spree of SMSs ensued each time the details were updated on the screen in the shamiana outside the auditorium at Kilpauk Medical College, the venue of counselling. Students and parents obsessively scrutinised the details of candidates, especially the rank in the general merit list, special category list and the college allotted.

“We need not worry too much as there are two more rounds of counselling left,” a parent told a group of persons waiting in the shamiana. “The counselling for the 285 seats will change the equation and the all-India quota counselling is also yet to take place. At least 20 seats will go vacant then as some of them will not take up the course,” he said.

The mother of a student, who was admitted to Theni Medical College, explained that though everyone with an interview call letter was assured of a seat, it was the college that mattered. “My son has applied for Coimbatore Medical College but all the seats there are taken,” she said.

Two first-generation learners, students of Vidya Vikas School, who got their seats on Thursday, were upset that their marks were not good enough for the colleges of their choice. While S. Arulselvan, with a score of 1164 was admitted to KAPV Medical College, Tiruchi, his classmate, S. Vijay got into Tirunelveli Medical College. “My cut off was 198 and his was 198.25. I wanted to get into Madurai,” he said. Arulselvan, the son of a farmer, who also works as a casual labourer in Tirunelveli district, had wanted to study in Tirunelveli. Vijay’s father runs a sweet shop in Perunali village in Karimedu taluk of Madurai district.

Both boys were toppers in their schools and chose to study at Vidya Vikas School, Namakkal.

Mujibur Rahman’s son was admitted to Coimbatore Medical College, the last in the reserved category to get the seat. “He got the seat because he applied under the BCM quota. Only 3-1/2% reservation is given to Muslims in the BC quota. The government should start more medical colleges now that so many more are getting educated and opting for medicine,” he said.

According to officials of the Directorate of Medical Education, detailed information about the second round of counselling along with seat availability, method of applying etc. will be provided on the website.

Aspirants must visit the website, >www.tnhealth.org frequently for updates, an official said.

Sources said that the second phase of counselling would be held in July.