Hello dear friend, you are standing at a very difficult threshold. You will be taking a decision that can change the course of your life.
Medicine is the most secure profession in the world. You will be financially stable for life. The respect, the authority, it is all unmatched. Just imagine yourself in a white coat, with a stethoscope around your neck, how does it make you feel? Does it not make you feel like the happiest person in the world? Does it not feel like the answer to all your problems?
But then, fourth drop, is it worth it? It is not a ‘Yes or No’ question, there are so many aspects to this decision.
Let’s dissect it and understand what a big decision it is. I’ll lay down the reality of a 4th drop year in front of you, no sugar coating. The truth as it is, then you can decide for yourself.
I’d like to start by asking you a question in return.
Where Do You Draw the Line?
I know, you might be thinking that ‘This is the final drop, I can feel it, I will definitely crack NEET this time.’ But how much of it is real? The confidence is half feeling ready, and half just giving yourself assurance, we all know it.
Some of you might actually be confident. But still, let’s consider the worst case scenario. What if you do not crack NEET even after taking your fourth drop? Even after 6 years of studying? What will you do then?
Will you take another drop or will you opt for another course? Will you be lost? Or do you have a plan?
No guarantee of success
What will your mental condition be like in case you don’t succeed even on the fourth drop? Will you be able to move on?
You will face lots of pressure from family and friends. You will be a laughing stock for your relatives and cousins. Your parents might not support you. Even your siblings will turn their backs on you during this drop. Will you be able to handle the pressure and isolation?
The future
I hope you know that MBBS is a 5.5 year long degree. It is very difficult to pass exams in MBBS too. It might take 5.5 at best or even 7-8 years to get through MBBS. Most medicos start earning money in their late twenties. If you opt for 4 drops, you will complete your MBBS in your early thirties. Till then, you will be dependent on your parents for money. You need to consider the financial status of your house before making the decision.
Is your family economically sound? When will the working member retire? How much money do you have to sustain yourself before you start earning? Will you be able to afford education in a private medical college?
The worst realization of all is that you will start your PG preparation in your early thirties, and this brings me to my next point.
The PG Race
You might already know that a career in medicine comes with endless challenges. If you feel like the NEET UG competition is overwhelming just wait until you hear about the NEET PG competition. It is a rat-race. You have to study 19 subjects, each coming with a 2000 page book, written in the smallest font, with no spaces in between. Endless information to memorize.
If competition is not for you, what are your plans about NEET PG? Will you be able to crack a competition so tough in your thirties? This is something you must think about.
On the flip side, MBBS alone pays a good 1lakh/month in even Primary Health Centres. But, earning more than that might take you years of established practice.
Money
See, if we were to romanticize it and talk about our dreams, 4 years is but nothing a price for your passion. But it does not stop there, right? You also pay for classes, for books, for tutors and courses. You pay for the process, it does not come for free. So instead of just delaying your earning phase, you are also spending from your pockets heavily till you get there.
Again, I urge you to consider the financial responsibility you hold towards your family before taking the decision.
Motivation and Drive
All the points I’ve written above can have one answer: ‘Yes, I want to do it, no matter what’ But this answer is very difficult to give, considering how many of us are doing it for the passion of medicine and how many of us are doing it for the money. Medicine is a very very secure job. Yes, you will have a stable income. But, there is a lot of time till you become financially secure.
You will be earning as much as a good engineer. Only a few doctors earn in crores, not all of us are millionaires. So, if you are doing it for the money, you are in the wrong profession. You can only brave through the competition if you are doing it for the passion of medicine, for the love of medicine.
The respect in medicine is unmatched. You will feel like a valuable member of the society, you will feel like you are fulfilling your moral duty as a human. You will also have financial security once you are established. The profession is worthy of all the sacrifices, no doubt.
See, NTA has removed the limit to the number of attempts that you can give for NEET. There is obviously a reason for that, it is a sign from the examination committee that the exam is worth it.
But, I want you to ask yourself a few questions before you take the decision.
Is 4 drops for NEET worth it? Ask yourself:
- Am I becoming too comfortable in this phase?
- Am I scared to face life outside NEET?
- Do I feel scared to decide on an alternate career?
- Am I doing right by my family?
- Am I doing right by myself?
- Do I even want what I’m working for?
- What do I want?
- How much am I willing to sacrifice for what I want?
Conclusion
You have to decide for yourself. I cannot sit here behind my screen and decide your life for you. I do not know your reason for taking 4 drops. Only you know your reasons, and also if they are genuine. I just know one thing, we all have a gut feeling that tells us if we are going to do it. You have to rationalize the decision and listen to your heart.
You know yourself best.
MBBS is worth it, deciding whether 4 drops for MBBS are worth it is up to you. All the best for your decision. Again, I am not trying to scare you, I am just giving you the reality check that the people around you won’t give to you.
All the best for your decision.
