Seminar on MBBS, international education routes in Pune gets huge response

There was a huge turnout of prospective students and parents at an enlightening Mission Admission seminar organized by The Times of India in collaboration with The Astute Academy at Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao Junior College auditorium on Sunday.

Organized by Tushar Vinod Deoras, a former scientist at BARC and current chairman of Astute Academy, the seminar sought to de-mystify Indian and international MBBS and higher education admissions.

The first session was on the Indian MBBS admission process, providing clarity for students with as low as NEET 200 scores. Students also heard about cost-effective means of studying medicine in the US through formal Indo-American university partnerships.

The second session focused on US and German postgraduate and undergraduate admissions. Students and parents were given in-depth information on getting a place at a top university abroad.

In the initial session, Deoras introduced a lot of information. He highlighted the fact that most of the private medical colleges provide donation-free management quota merit seats. He explained fee regimes, where funding is managed by govt, and offered to students tripartite Indo-American university partnered models, which deliver low-cost, sophisticated contemporary medical education in the US and then go on to impart employer-relevant value worldwide.

The second session dealt with undergraduate and postgraduate programs available in the US and Germany, with a special focus on Ivy League institutions and Germany's technical universities.

Deoras pointed out how loose and inter-disciplinary the US system is, with greater career orientation than fixed course patterns. He advised students to begin developing their profiles as early as Std IX and applying to overseas universities at least a year in advance, since most work on the first-come, first-served principle.

He added, "Quality education and a successful career are the inherent right of a student. Students and parents must not judge countries by stereotypes but identify which system best fits the goals of the student."

A highlight of the seminar was its interactive nature. According to one parent, "The session was very insightful. Most doubts about my son's education were clarified, and I feel much more relieved now."

One of the participants also asked a question regarding dentistry as a profession, to which Deoras replied that it is an undervalued but very rewarding profession in India. Although the early years in practice can be tough, dentistry provides immense long-term growth and financial opportunities.

Deoras also answered some of the audience questions regarding state-wise quotas in MBBS admissions, foreign university application processes, and foreign medical education admission timelines and requirements.

The seminar ended on a positive note with the audience's appreciation for the frankness, hands-on advice, and motivational style.