Choose the right career option after neet | best courses after NEET

A Complete Guide to Select Best Course After Qualifying NEET Exam

NEET stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is the qualifying examination for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses in India. NEET was introduced in 2016 by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Earlier, admission to medical and dental colleges was based on state-level entrance exams. This led to non-uniformity in difficulty levels and complicated the admission process. To standardise medical admissions across India, the MCI introduced a single common entrance exam called NEET. NEET is based on Class 11 and 12 syllabus and has questions from physics, chemistry and biology. It is a 3-hour long exam conducted in pen-paper mode. NEET scores are used for admission to 15% All India Quota seats and all private medical and dental college seats across India. State quota seats may also use NEET scores or conduct their own entrance exam. NEET has made the admission process more merit-based and transparent by introducing a unified exam and rank for admissions.  
Also See: More About NEET Examination 

10 Best Courses  After NEET

There are several courses after NEET that  one can choose from depending on the cutoff marks. We will discuss the best medical courses after 12th with neet examination, along with the qualifying details and the top colleges list in India.

MBBS - Bachelor Of Medicine and Surgery

MBBS or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is an undergraduate medical degree program. It is the primary qualification required to practise medicine and surgery in India. The MBBS degree program is 5.5 years long and includes 4.5 years of academics and 1 year of practical internship training.  In order to qualify for MBBS courses, the cutoff marks is 50th percentile which is 130 out of 720 for general category. However, these marks are generally not sufficient to get admission into the top medical colleges through the NEET exam.  In fact, in 2022, the cutoff rank was under 100 for admission into top AIIMS colleges, and under 500 for other top medical colleges like MAMC Delhi, MGIMS Wardha, AFMC Pune etc. Apart from marks, eligibility criteria like age, number of attempts, academic qualifications etc also apply.   Here are some of the top MBBS colleges in India for admission through NEET:  

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi - The most reputed medical institute in India. Extremely high cut-offs.
2. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore - Top private medical college known for state-of-the-art infrastructure.
3. Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune - Premier medical institute of Indian armed forces. Very low fee.
4. Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi - Top affiliated govt college with Delhi University. High cut-offs.
5. Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi - Leading govt medical college for women. Attached to a top hospital.
6. Grant Medical College, Mumbai - Premier govt medical college in Maharashtra with high demand.
7. Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai - Highly sought-after govt college with excellent patient exposure.
8. St. John's Medical College, Bangalore - Reputed private medical college with great faculty.

  The top MBBS colleges require extremely high NEET ranks for admission especially under general category. Factors like college infrastructure, teaching quality, hospital exposure, campus life and fees are also considered for ranking colleges.  

BDS - Bachelor Of Dental Surgery

BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is an undergraduate degree program for training dentists. The BDS program is 5 years long with 4 years of academic study and 1 year of internship. The key specialisations that BDS graduates can pursue include Orthodontics (deals with alignment of teeth), Periodontics (treatment of gums), Pedodontics (paediatric dentistry), Oral Pathology (oral disease diagnosis) and Oral Surgery among others. After BDS, dentists can specialise further through MDS programs in various disciplines. The minimum qualifying NEET percentile cutoff for BDS is 40th percentile for general category. This translates to around 115 marks out of 720. In 2022, the closing NEET rank for BDS admission in top colleges like Maulana Azad Dental College Delhi, Manipal College of Dental Sciences and Sri Ramachandra Dental College Chennai was under 1000 for general category. Find the list of top colleges in BDS if you are seeking admission into dentistry colleges.

1. Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal - Top private college for BDS associated with Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Excellent faculty and hospital exposure.
2. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi - Premier dental institute established by Govt of India. Attached to MAMC hospital. Very high cutoffs.
3. A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore - Reputed private college with state-of-the-art facilities. Ranked high for dental education.
4. Sri Ramachandra Dental College, Chennai - Deemed university dental college known for highly qualified faculty and research focus.
5. SDM Dental College, Dharwad - Highly sought-after private college in Karnataka with merit-based admission. Excellent clinical training.

BAMS - Bachelor Of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery

BAMS or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery is a 5.5 year degree program in the traditional Indian system of medicine - Ayurveda. BAMS teaches diagnosis and treatment using natural herbs, diet, yoga, meditation. With growing adoption of ayurveda, there is high demand for BAMS doctors in India and abroad in areas like clinical practice, research, manufacturing, spas, panchakarma centres etc. The course has a bright scope due to the increased inclination towards natural medicines and preventive healthcare.    The minimum qualifying NEET percentile for BAMS is 40th for general category which translates to around 115 marks out of 720. In 2022, the closing NEET rank for admission to top BAMS colleges like National Institute of Ayurveda Jaipur, IPGMER Kolkata and Govt Ayurveda College Thiruvananthapuram was under 1000 for general category. Here are some of the top BAMS colleges in India for admission through NEET:

1. National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur - Premier institute under Ministry of AYUSH, high cut-offs.
2. Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar - Leading govt institute, attached to an ayurvedic hospital.
3. Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram - Prominent govt college in Kerala, low fees.
4. IPGMER, Kolkata - Premier institute offering BAMS and MD Ayurveda degrees, very competitive.
5. Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai - Reputed college with excellent clinical exposure and facilities.

BHMS - Bachelor Of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery

BHMS stands for Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery. It is an undergraduate degree course in homoeopathic system of medicine. The 5.5 year BHMS program includes 4.5 years of academic study and 1 year of internship. BHMS covers subjects like anatomy, physiology, homoeopathic pharmacy, pathology, forensic medicine along with studying concepts of homoeopathy. The minimum qualifying NEET percentile for BHMS is also 40th percentile for general category candidates, translating to around 115 marks out of 720. In 2022, the closing NEET rank for admission to reputed colleges like Dr. MPK Homoeopathic Medical College Jaipur, Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College Delhi etc was under 1500 for general category. Here are some of the top BHMS colleges in India for admission through NEET:  

1. Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College, Delhi - Premier homoeopathy institute in India, extremely high cut-offs.
2. Dr. MPK Homoeopathic Medical College, Jaipur - Top ranked college in Rajasthan, excellent clinical exposure.
3. National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata - Leading homoeopathy institute under AYUSH ministry.
4. Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College, Greater Noida - Reputed private institute with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
5. Sri Sai Ram Homoeopathy Medical College, Chennai - Top private homoeopathy college in Tamil Nadu.

 

BPT - Bachelor of Physiotherapy

BPT is a 4.5 year undergraduate degree program in physiotherapy, which involves treatment of injuries, disabilities and promotion of mobility using techniques like exercises, manipulation and therapies. The scope for BPT graduates is growing in hospitals, health clinics and sports training centres due to increasing focus on mobility assistance and rehabilitation.  Here are some of the top BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) colleges in India:

1. Delhi University - The premier public university offering BPT across its colleges like MAMC, LHMC, etc. Very high cut-offs.
2. Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences - Top private institute for physiotherapy education with state-of-the-art facilities.
3. Christian Medical College, Vellore - Reputed private college known for high quality training and excellent placement.
4. Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Mumbai - Premier public institute in Maharashtra offering BPT.
5. Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Physiotherapy, Pune - Leading private college with merit-based admissions. Great faculty and infrastructure.
6. SRM College of Physiotherapy - Esteemed private institute, part of SRM university, Chennai. 

B.Sc Nursing

BSc Nursing is a 4-year undergraduate degree program that trains students in providing comprehensive care to patients and communities. The course covers subjects like fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, paediatrics, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology etc. The program includes practical training in healthcare settings to develop clinical skills. BSc Nursing graduates can work as nurses, educators, administrators across healthcare facilities.  The nursing field suits people who are compassionate, strong, dedicated, good decision makers and efficient under pressure. Great career for women looking for flexibility and growth.

BSMS - Bachelor Of Science in Medical Studies

BSMS is an undergraduate program focused on medical sciences and healthcare. It provides foundational knowledge in human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology etc. The program duration is 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time. BSMS graduates can pursue careers in allied healthcare like medical writing, health administration, medical sales, public health etc. The program equips students with knowledge about medicine and healthcare to prepare them for jobs or postgraduate studies.  Unlike MBBS, BSMS graduates cannot practise clinical medicine independently.

BUMS - Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery

BUMS is an undergraduate degree program in Unani system of medicine with duration of 5.5 years including 1 year internship. The course provides training in fundamental Unani principles of diagnosis and treatment using natural resources like herbs, minerals, dietary practices, cupping etc. BUMS graduates can practice as licensed Unani physicians.

BVSC and AH - Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry

BVSc and AH is an undergraduate degree program with duration of 5 years including internship. The program provides training in animal health care, disease prevention and cure, diagnosis and treatment procedures, food safety and production, livestock management and welfare. Graduates can work as veterinarians in private clinics, farms, wildlife conservation, research etc.

BNYS - Bachelor Of Naturopathy and Yoga Sciences

BNYS is a 5.5 year undergraduate degree program that provides training in naturopathy and yogic sciences. The course teaches principles of achieving positive health through natural methods like diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, yoga, acupressure, hydrotherapy etc. BNYS graduates can work as naturopathy consultants, yoga therapists, and open wellness clinics.

Best Career Options After NEET

Based on the trends witnessed in NEET 2023 counselling and cutoff ranks, the scope of admissions for medical aspirants through NEET 2024 is expected to remain highly competitive, especially for coveted MBBS seats. 

While over 90% qualified candidates vie for MBBS, the availability of seats is limited, forcing cutoffs for top medical colleges to remain extremely high demanding ranks below 10,000 under general category. BDS, ayurveda, homeopathy and paramedical courses will offer better chances but will also require ranks within 20,000 for reputed institutes.  The predetermined 15% All India Quota seats in government colleges will continue to be the most difficult to secure, needing ranks under 10,000. State quota seats may provide advantage based on domicile criteria. Overall, a very high rank in NEET 2024 will be essential for admission into preferred medical or allied healthcare courses, especially under general category.
Also Read: How to Prepare for NEET Exams

FAQ's

What happens after clearing NEET?

After clearing NEET, you become eligible for counselling and admission into various undergraduate medical and allied healthcare courses based on your NEET rank.

What Courses can I do after NEET?

The courses that you can complete after doing NEET include MBBS, BDS, BAMS,BHMS, BUMS, BPT, BVSc, BNYS and Bsc Nursing

How Can I Prepare for the NEET Examination?

Follow NCERT textbooks, solve previous year questions, take mock tests, have a healthy routine and revise regularly.