HIS STORY

From NEET Aspirant to BDS Student: My Unexpected Turn Towards Dentistry
Like thousands of other NEET aspirants, my dream was clear — to become a doctor with an MBBS degree. My first attempt, however, didn’t go as planned. It was during the COVID-19 lockdown, a time when distractions were many and discipline was difficult. I found myself deeply immersed in anime and social media, ignoring the very goal I once chased with passion.

The day the results were declared, reality hit hard. I cried — not because I didn’t make it, but because I knew deep down that I could’ve done better. I promised my father that I would give it my all in my second attempt, and I truly did.
The second year was different. I studied harder than ever before. But as NEET approached, I felt lost watching others excel while my scores barely moved. Self-doubt crept in. I felt judged, like I didn’t belong. I gave my second NEET attempt and scored 520 — a huge improvement from 320, but still not enough for an MBBS seat. While my coaching center applauded my growth and advised me to take another drop, my mind and heart were exhausted. I knew I couldn’t go through the same pain again.

Dentistry was an option, but the noise around it was deafening. “It’s saturated.” “No future.” “BDS is just a compromise.” These were some of the things I constantly heard. I would observe dental clinics — some filled with patients, others painfully empty — and feel even more confused.
But deep inside, I still wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t want to shift to engineering or arts like many of my friends. And I knew I couldn’t stay in the same environment that reminded me of failure.
That’s when I made a bold move — I applied for dental colleges outside my hometown, Nagpur. I chose Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai, followed by GDC Mumbai and GDC Nagpur. And finally, I got into Nair Dental Mumbai.
That’s where my journey in dentistry officially began.