For parents, securing the right medical college for their child is about much more than simply getting a seat. It is about finding an institution that matches the student’s academic goals, personal preferences, comfort, location and long-term aspirations. The NEET counselling process can make this decision even more challenging, especially when multiple colleges and counselling rounds are involved.
Gunika Chawla’s admission journey is a great example of how careful evaluation, timely decisions and the right counselling support can make this process smoother. Her mother, Kavita Chawla, shares how the family explored their options, evaluated colleges such as BGS Global and Graphic Era, and eventually chose Graphic Era as the right fit for Gunika.
Starting the Journey After NEET Qualification
After Gunika qualified NEET, her mother Kavita began researching options for her daughter. During this process, she came across My Career My Future (MCMF) through a Google search and initially connected with the team over a Zoom call. She later visited the MCMF office personally with Gunika.
According to Kavita, the initial counselling helped the family understand which colleges could realistically be available based on Gunika’s score and preferences. This gave them a clearer picture of the options they could consider rather than making decisions without knowing what was realistically possible.
BGS Global and Graphic Era: Evaluating the Options
Gunika was initially allotted BGS Global, an institution that the family considered to be a very good college. However, after evaluating the option, they decided not to proceed with it.
The primary concerns were distance and language. For the family, being able to reach Gunika easily was an important consideration. Kavita explained that the distance would make frequent visits difficult and would require considerable planning, including flights and other travel arrangements.
Gunika was also not comfortable with the Kannada language. Since she had primarily been comfortable with Hindi, Punjabi and English, the family felt that adjusting to a new language environment could take considerable time.
During the first and second counselling rounds, Gunika was subsequently allotted Graphic Era, which the family felt was a better fit for her.
For Kavita, the fact that Graphic Era was much closer to home made a significant difference. The family could potentially reach Gunika in around three hours, making it easier to be there whenever needed. Just as importantly, Gunika felt comfortable around students with a similar background and environment.
Choosing the Right College Is About More Than the Cut-Off
One of the most important takeaways from Gunika’s journey is that getting a college is only one part of the counselling process. The bigger question is whether that college is actually the right choice for the student.
The family evaluated the available options based on several factors — distance from home, language, the student’s comfort, the surrounding environment and the overall institutional experience.
Kavita explained that although Gunika could potentially have adapted to the challenges associated with BGS Global, her preference was to study closer to home and in an environment where she would feel comfortable. For the family, the student’s happiness and comfort were therefore important factors in the final decision.
Why the Family Liked Graphic Era
After personally visiting Graphic Era, Kavita was impressed by the institution and its overall environment.
She particularly appreciated the modern educational approach, including exposure to areas related to AI, preparation for future opportunities and interaction-based activities. She also highlighted the institution’s infrastructure and the overall living environment available to students.
The family also considered factors such as food quality, air quality and water quality while evaluating the college. For them, these aspects contributed to the overall comfort and well-being of Gunika during her medical education.
The Importance of Timely Counselling Support
For a parent going through NEET counselling for the first time, the process can quickly become overwhelming. Different states have different counselling schedules, rounds and requirements, and missing an important update can potentially affect the options available to a student.
Kavita described the support from the MCMF team as extremely helpful throughout the counselling journey. A dedicated WhatsApp group was created, allowing the family to communicate with the counselling team and receive timely updates and guidance.
She particularly appreciated the fact that the team remained available even during late hours whenever questions or confusion arose. The family was guided about documentation, college research and the requirements associated with the admission process.
For Kavita, having a complete document checklist and knowing exactly what needed to be prepared provided significant confidence. She felt that handling every document and requirement independently would have been considerably more difficult.
Managing the Anxiety of NEET Counselling
Counselling is not just an administrative process — it can also be emotionally stressful for students and parents.
There can be uncertainty about whether a seat will be allotted in a particular round, whether another state will open up an opportunity, or whether waiting for one option could result in losing another.
The MCMF team explained that counselling decisions need to be planned according to the student’s score, preferences and the expected movement across different rounds. Knowing what could realistically happen in each round can help parents remain patient and avoid unnecessary panic when a preferred seat is not immediately available.
This kind of planning was an important part of Gunika’s journey, as the family evaluated different possibilities before finally deciding on Graphic Era.
Why Staying Updated Matters
Another important lesson from the experience is the importance of tracking counselling timelines carefully.
NEET counselling involves multiple states, authorities and rounds, each with its own schedule. According to the discussion, families can sometimes approach counsellors only after discovering that they have missed an important counselling round or deadline.
For this reason, staying connected and keeping track of updates from the beginning can help families avoid missing important opportunities.
Kavita also highlighted how frequently the MCMF team provided updates whenever new information became available. The family was guided regarding counselling processes in states such as Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka, helping them remain prepared for the next decision.
Making the Right Decision at the Right Time
One of the most crucial parts of counselling is knowing when to wait and when to make a decision.
Different counselling processes can have different timelines, and waiting for one result can sometimes affect another opportunity. In Gunika’s case, the family received guidance about the timelines and whether it made sense to continue waiting for another option or proceed with the available seat.
The objective was not simply to secure any medical seat, but to make a decision that would work in Gunika’s favour and provide her with a suitable environment for her medical education.
This highlights why counselling guidance can be particularly valuable for families who are experiencing the process for the first time.
Gunika Is Now Happy With Her College
Ultimately, the most important outcome for the family was Gunika’s happiness.
After joining Graphic Era, Gunika settled in quickly, made friends and became comfortable with her new environment. Kavita shared that Gunika was enjoying college life and was already participating in college activities and events.
For her mother, seeing Gunika happy and comfortable with the college that was ultimately chosen was the biggest source of satisfaction.
A Journey Built Around the Right Fit
Gunika Chawla’s journey demonstrates that NEET counselling is not simply about chasing the college with the highest cut-off or accepting the first seat that becomes available.
The right decision may depend on several factors — academic opportunities, location, language, accessibility, student comfort, institutional environment and future goals.
For Gunika and her family, BGS Global was a strong option, but after carefully evaluating their circumstances, they felt that Graphic Era was a better fit. With timely counselling guidance and continuous support throughout the process, the family was able to make that decision with greater confidence.
Today, Gunika is happy with her college, comfortable with her surroundings and enjoying her new journey toward becoming a doctor.
Her story is a reminder to NEET aspirants and parents that the best medical college is not always simply the one you can get — it is the one that fits the student’s needs, preferences and future aspirations.
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