Waitlisted for MBBS, students left in a limbo

First phase of counselling for seats in govt. colleges ended on Saturday; officials provided little information, say students

For many candidates, it was uncertainty that ruled the day, as the first phase of counselling for MBBS seats in government medical colleges ended on Saturday.

For some of the State Board students, there was not much to cheer as they were informed they were waitlisted.

There was very little information forthcoming from officials, students complained.

A total of 1,823 seats were filled in the first round. On Saturday, counselling was held for 286 seats in the SC and ST categories. By noon, only the seats in the ST category were left to be allotted. By evening, the vacancies in this category too had also been filled. Those who had not been allotted seats were left disappointed.

M. Sangeetha had been ranked 59 in the SCA category. On Saturday, when her turn for counselling came up, medical education officials told her seats had been allotted up to the 51 rank and she was waitlisted.

“They have called 72 candidates in the SCA category for counselling. I had hoped so much for a seat,” said Sangeetha, who had come with her mother from Pollachi.

In the general rank list, she had been placed 8,526 and was seeking admission under the SCA category. Her cut-off is 190.75.

“I had hoped to get into medicine. I have applied for agriculture but I scored only 156 in mathematics, so I am not sure I would get a seat. I have been ranked 4,250 and my community ranking is in the range of 2,000. I think it was a waste coming to Chennai,” she said.

R. Krishnamurthy from Karur had come to find out if his son had a chance. “He has a cut-off of 197.25 but was not called for counselling under the SC rank list,” he said, wondering if his son would get a call letter for the second round of counselling.

There were several others like him, seeking answers. “If only they would upload the details of how many students are waitlisted in each category and how many were called for counselling, we would have a clearer picture,” he said.

Mr. Krishnamurthy’s son has also applied for engineering. “He has been called for the counselling on Sunday. If I pay the fees for engineering, then he cannot appear for counselling for medicine if he is called. He had set his heart on medicine,” he said.

According to official sources, the details of waitlisted candidates will be uploaded only after the second round of counselling, which is expected to be held in mid-July.

It would include counselling for seats in self-financing colleges and the 285 seats in government medical colleges that the Medical Council of India is expected to approve.