NEET Counselling: How It Works, When It Starts, and What You Need to Know

When you clear NEET, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical courses in India. Also known as NEET-UG, it’s the single gateway to MBBS and BDS seats across the country. But clearing NEET is only half the battle. The real game begins with NEET counselling, the centralized process that allocates medical seats based on your rank, category, and choices. This isn’t just filling a form—it’s a high-stakes decision that can change your career path in minutes.

NEET counselling happens in two main phases: All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, handled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for 15% of seats in government colleges, and state counselling, run by individual states for the remaining 85% of seats. Your rank on the NEET merit list, the official ranking of all candidates based on their scores determines your window to choose colleges. Higher rank? You get first pick. Lower rank? You wait, watch, and sometimes gamble on last-minute seat openings.

What most students don’t realize is that counselling isn’t just about picking a college—it’s about understanding the rules. Your category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) changes your cut-off. Your home state affects your chances in state quota seats. And if you don’t lock your choices before the deadline, you lose everything. There’s no second chance. Many students miss out because they assume their rank guarantees a seat in Delhi or Mumbai. It doesn’t. Seats fill fast. A rank of 10,000 might get you a college in Bihar or Odisha, but not in Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.

You’ll need your NEET admit card, scorecard, caste certificate (if applicable), ID proof, and passport photos ready. Online registration opens within weeks after results are out. The MCC usually starts AIQ counselling in June, while state counselling begins in July. Some states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have multiple rounds. Others have just one. Missing a round means waiting a full year.

And don’t get fooled by coaching centers promising "guaranteed seats." No one can guarantee that. Only your rank and your choices matter. The system is transparent, public, and strict. The real advantage? Knowing the process inside out. Knowing which colleges have historically filled seats late. Knowing how to prioritize options based on location, fees, and reputation—not just名气. Knowing when to take a seat and when to wait.

Below, you’ll find real advice from students who’ve been through it—how to pick colleges wisely, how to avoid getting stuck in a seat you don’t want, and how to use your rank to your advantage. No fluff. Just what works.