Dental

According to available information, the average package for MDS students at KD Dental College and Hospital is not readily available, but based on reviews and data from similar institutions, it is likely to fall within the range of INR 3-12 Lacs per annum with the possibility of higher earnings depending on the specialisation and individual practice setup, as most MDS graduates from private dental colleges often choose to open their own clinics rather than relying solely on placements with companies

No, you cannot join a College of Dental Sciences for a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme without appearing for and qualifying in the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam in India. NEET is the mandatory entrance exam for all medical and dental programs, including BDS. Since 2016, NEET has been made mandatory for admissions to medical courses like MBBS and BDS. There are no direct admission routes for BDS programs without NEET. 

The cost of an MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) programme at a College of Dental Sciences can vary significantly based on the college type (government or private) and the specific specialization, with fees ranging from approximately INR 5 Lacs to INR 15 Lakh. The average fee for MDS courses in India typically falls between INR 5 Lacs and INR 15 Lakh. 

Your NEET score of 219 and AIR of 897826 make an MBBS seat in a government college impossible. But for a BDS seat, you can try in private dental colleges in the state counseling or management quota. Your category rank of 94626 could give some hope in states having reserved category seats. Think of taking state counseling for states with lower BDS cutoffs such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. If necessary, consider deemed universities or private colleges, as most of them provide BDS seats with comparatively lower cutoffs and higher fees.

Having a NEET score of 136, obtaining a BDS seat at the A.J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, is difficult. In the 2024 Karnataka NEET counseling, the General Merit (GM) category closing rank was 146,036. Considering that a NEET score of 136 usually translates to a rank higher than this cut-off, admission in the GM category is improbable.

Having scored 224 in NEET 2024 and a rank of 1 Lacs in the SC category, you stand a reasonable chance of getting a BDS seat in India, especially in private dental colleges and a few government colleges with lesser cutoffs in states having higher seat availability. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh tend to have lower cutoff ranks for SC candidates in BDS.

You need to attend state counseling (85% seats) and All India Quota (15%) counseling. Monitor deemed universities and stray vacancy rounds, where seats occasionally go unfilled. Monitor official counseling websites for cutoff information.