Mumbai, June 15: Upneet Pansare speaks to the Common Entrance Test toppers and a candidate who appeared a second time and ranked 3rd
Udit Chitalia
1st, engineering
The Patkar College student’s 200 out of 200 makes him the overall topper. An aspiring astrophysicist, he says, “I see myself working at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after studying computer science at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Matunga, and then doing a PhD.”
Chitalia had also taken the All India Engineering Entrance Exam and Birla Institute of Technology entrance, but didn’t score too well since he had concentrated mainly on the state common entrance test (MHCET). “At times, preparation for CET got stressful, but I was confident, focused and supported by my parents,” says Chitalia, son of a businessman.
Shagun Shah
1st, medical
With 199 out of 200, the Tardeo-based teenager beat over 1.5 lakh students across the state. Studying medicine has been a childhood dream for the Jai Hind College student, who now wants to be a cardiologist after doing her MBBS at King Edward Memorial Hospital.
“Time management is the key to scoring in CET. This worried me but I was able to overcome my fear with guidance from my teachers,” says Shagun, who studied regularly but also recognised the need to take breaks to play — she is a badminton enthusiast — or go to the movies. Her father is a computer engineer and her mother a schoolteacher.
Ashishkumar Tiwari
3rd, medical
Undaunted by a relatively poor result last year, he went on to rank third in the state in the medical test, with 197 out of 200. Thane’s Ashishkumar Tiwari had scored 159 last time and resolved to do much better. “I would not have been able to do MBBS at a good college with those marks. Now, I have fulfilled my dream of studying MBBS at KEM Hospital,” says Ashishkumar, whose father is an RTO agent.
His brother too appeared this year and scored 167 in engineering.
Ashishkumar wants to study cardiology. The student of Royal College, Mira Road, is a cricket enthusiast.
Same entrance, new council for paramedical courses
The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has proposed a Council for Paramedical Courses.
Such courses will train students to become laboratory technicians, nurses and other key staff for hospitals. Admission will be through the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHCET).
Dr WB Tayde, director of medical education and research, said the council would be in operation by next year. “It will offer 22 courses for ECG, CT scan technicians and other paramedical staff. These will be three-year courses.
The first year will have lessons on basic medical knowledge; the second, clinical training; the third; specialised subjects,” Tayde said. Tayde said the popularity of such courses that led to the idea. “Paramedical services may not fetch very good salaries but many students want to get into such occupations .” Besides, most hospitals are short of trained staff.
The council would also offer PhD in nursing to the students.
Tayde said the DMER is pushing for courses in hospital administration. “There will be very good placements for these students as hospitals are in dire need for such people. These days, deans are being forced to look into administration,” Tayde said. If introduced, it will be the state’s first course of its kind. It is likely to involve an MBA in hospital administration.
—–Agencies