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

When you clear NEET, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical admissions in India. Also known as NEET UG, it's the only gateway to MBBS and BDS seats in the country. But clearing the exam is just the first step. What comes next—NEET counselling, the centralized process that allocates medical seats based on rank, category, and choice preferences—is where most students get lost. It’s not just filling a form. It’s a high-stakes game of timing, strategy, and paperwork. One missed deadline, one wrong choice, and you could lose your seat—even if you scored 650+.

NEET counselling happens in two main phases: All India Quota (AIQ), the 15% of seats reserved for candidates across India, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), and state counselling, the remaining 85% of seats, handled by each state’s medical admission authority. If you’re from Uttar Pradesh, you’ll apply through UP NEET counselling. If you’re from Tamil Nadu, you’ll go through TNMCH. But you can also apply for AIQ seats regardless of your state. That means you can compete for seats in Delhi, Maharashtra, or Karnataka—even if you’re from Bihar. Your rank decides your options, not your home state.

Documents matter more than you think. You need your NEET admit card, scorecard, class 10 and 12 certificates, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile proof, and ID proof. Missing even one? Your counselling gets paused. No second chances. And don’t assume your rank is safe. Seats fill fast. Last year, a candidate with a rank of 18,000 got a seat in a government college in Rajasthan because someone else didn’t lock their choices on time. That’s how unpredictable it gets.

Choice filling isn’t about listing your dream college first. It’s about building a smart ladder. Put your top choice at the top, but include backups—colleges you’d actually take, even if they’re not your first pick. Many students lose seats because they only listed three colleges and all three were full. Others lock choices too early and miss out on better options in later rounds. The system runs in multiple rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up, and Stray Vacancy. Each round clears leftover seats. You can upgrade if a better option opens up. But you can’t downgrade unless you formally withdraw.

And what about private colleges? They’re part of state counselling too. Some students think private means higher fees and no counselling—wrong. Even private medical colleges in Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh use the NEET rank list. Fees vary, but the process doesn’t. You still register, fill choices, and get allotted based on merit. The only difference? You pay more. But if you’re aiming for a seat and can’t crack AIQ, private colleges are your backup—and they’re still valid degrees.

There’s no magic trick. No shortcut. Just one rule: know your rank, know your options, know your deadlines. Check the MCC website every day after results. Set phone alerts. Talk to students who did it last year. Don’t rely on coaching centers to remind you—they’re busy. This is your future. And if you’re wondering whether you’re eligible for counselling, yes—if you’ve cleared NEET with the minimum cutoff (which changes yearly), you are. Even if you’re in the general category with a rank of 70,000, you still have a shot at a private seat or a college in a less competitive state.

Below, you’ll find real guides from students who’ve been through it. From how to fill choices without panic, to what documents to carry on counselling day, to which colleges actually give decent hostel facilities. No fluff. Just what works.