Top Mistakes to Avoid During MCC Counselling

Most medical student aspirants try to enroll in a postgraduate degree in medicine, but are unable to secure seats. This is because admission to MD/MS in India is a lengthy and detailed process that stresses out the aspirants.

Every single step in this procedure is essential, from choosing colleges to submitting documents; applicants must always be ready and flexible while going through each and every step to avoid any kind of error.

During the process, candidates often make common mistakes, which can result in them losing their desired specialization or even their seat. In this blog, we will discuss these typical errors to raise awareness among candidates.

The entire counselling process consists of 3 rounds:

• First Round
• Second Round
• Third mop-up round

The first two rounds are conducted one after the other, and the third mop-up round will be conducted only after keeping seats vacant after the first two rounds.

NEET Counselling Process: All India and State-Level Admission Guidelines

All India Level Counselling

In this counseling, around 15% of seats are reserved for all government medical colleges in India, all central government medical colleges, and deemed universities. The DGHS (Directorate General of Health Sciences) conducts this counseling on behalf of the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee).

State Level Counselling

State quota reserves 85% of the seats for the students of the respective states, and the remaining 15% of the seats for the students on an AIR basis. It is organized by the respective states.

Note: DGHS carries out two rounds for the counselling based on AIR, and if there is some vacancy left then those are transferred to other states and are considered medical universities. Then these universities carry out the mop-up round and fill the remaining vacancies.

First of all, you need to register yourself and apply for the state and all-India counselling. Then, you will be allotted to fill out some choices according to your marks and ranks, and you will then need to go through document verification. After filling in the choice, lock it, and then wait for the result.

If you do not get selected or are dissatisfied with the given options, then you have to wait for the mop-up round and get your dream college. If you wish to upgrade the college allotted to you, make sure you save your first allotted college and then upgrade. If you get lucky and are upgraded, then you can attend your upgraded college.

Hence, proper follow-up for the correct counselling process and giving adequate attention to it is extremely essential. Any error at this stage may cause you to lose a seat in your desired medical college.

Some of the Top Mistakes to Avoid During MCC Counselling

1. Seeking Advice from the Wrong Sources

One of the first mistakes that students typically commit is seeking advice from individuals. The majority of students rely on peer-group seniors (PGs or SRs) for advice related to college majors. While they appear to be the most self-evident option, PGs and SRs tend to lack insight into the essence of how the profession operates outside of medical colleges. This can create unbalanced viewpoints regarding careers and choices that are not necessarily in accord with some long-term career aspirations.

Tip: Approach a person in real life, an experienced physician, for a more practical overview of the profession.

2. Believing Income Is Entirely Dependent on Branch

It is also a frequent shortcoming that a branch is either suitable or never pays. Check Reality: Income hinges on several factors: effort, business sense, and generating opportunities in the branch. A psychiatrist with a de-addiction center or inpatient facility, for example, can earn much more than one who practices without these facilities.

Tip: Focus on what you are ready to do in a particular branch to record financing successes, as opposed to almost anything about the branch itself.

3. Preferred Branch Over the College

Choosing a college based on reputation and attempting to manage with a branch you dislike is among the most significant mistakes. Prioritize the branch you wish to study over the most popular college. For instance, if you wish to become a physician, it is preferable to take the stream at a state college rather than an unwanted stream at AIIMS.

Tip: It is the department that determines your professional life and not the title of a college.

4. Gauging Effort vs. Outcome

A degree does not merit success in any department; the difference, however, occurs after college, when a professional path begins to take shape. Whether it is establishing clinics or pursuing extra certifications, it is these endeavors that create the difference. Example: A cosmetologist from a not-so-popular medical college who sets up a clinic in a central location can earn more than a faculty member at AIIMS specializing in dermatology.

Tip: Plan your degree after graduation; maximize opportunities after post-graduation.

5. Considering Earning Over Passion

This method will tend to make an individual study a branch based on earning year by year without any consideration for personal interest or interest in the subject. Ultimately, they will regret their decisions and feel burned out.

Tip: Select a branch based on something that you resonate with; otherwise, you might regret it later.

6. Burnt-Out Decision-Making Setting

Students, frustrated and exhausted after two years of an intense internship or a drop year, tend to decide in a dazed, frustrated state. Under such influence, some opt for “cool” or middle branches rather than pursuing their true interests. Such choices have a tendency to generate significant regret over time.

Tip: Allow some time to sort through the plethora of alternatives, and don’t make your choices on fleeting mindsets.

7. Exaggerating the Relevance of the MD Degree

The decision between pursuing an MD in any non-clinical field and pursuing a diploma in any clinical field of study has a tendency to confuse students. A diploma in the clinical stream of study can be worth more if you possess a clinical mindset, unlike an MD in the non-clinical stream of study. Beyond medical colleges, what gives you the edge is the way you treat your patients and gain their trust, not the name of the degree that you possess.

Tip: Allowing perceptions in college to taint your judgment is not a good move; keep an eye out for what will benefit your career.

8. Too Held Back by Perception

Some students avoid particular fields of study or diplomas due to the fear of ridicule. Though perhaps having asymmetric rank and judgmental biases while in medical school, out here in the real world, basic skills, effective communication, and outcomes count much more than a label.

Tip: Tune out the distraction and become a skilled practitioner; patient satisfaction is the final proof of your success.

9. Relying on Contingency Options

There are students who simply occupy a branch seat under the assumption that they shall study for another exam or switch streams altogether. This never works out, since most branches take a lot of effort and time, and do not leave much scope for any more preparation.

Tip: Invest in the specialty you select and become an expert, instead of holding a "plan B."

10. Being Tied Up with Medical College Norms

Hierarchies of prestige at medical schools (e.g., ortho being more well-respected among peers within psychiatry) often influence students' decisions. These hierarchies, however, play little to no role in the real world. What actually makes a student successful is developed patient trust, communication ability, and skills.

Comparison Between Common Mistakes & Their Consequences

Conclusion

It can be intimidating to navigate the medical admission process, but understanding the worst mistakes to make while MCC counselling can dramatically help you ace your college and branch choices. From taking a wrong advice to underestimating your own career goals and personal interests, every choice made during MCC counselling can haunt you in the long run.
To not regret later, make smart decisions, remain current with counselling dates, put passion over perception, and never discount the value of post-PG planning.

Whether it is AIIMS or a respected state medical college, if you steer clear of these popular MCC counselling blunders, you will remain on the right track. Never forget that the secret to a successful medical career begins with wise counselling choices.

Keep the following top mistakes to steer clear of during MCC counselling in mind in order to get not only a seat, but a career that you love.