My qualifications: 12th pass. This is my third drop and this year will be my fourth attempt. My NEET scores have always been good but not enough for a GMC seat, and I can't afford a private medical college. Last year I scored 420 and missed a government seat by 10-20 marks. I'm from a low-cutoff state.
So my question: I'm hardworking, can study consistently, and I don't see myself doing anything other than MBBS because I've already wasted 3-4 years, so I'm not considering other options. To my fellow medicos, if I fall short again, what should I do? Should I enroll in an abroad MBBS course? I've done some research and found it will take 8 years, so I'll be 30 by then. Completing PG will take another 3-4 years, making me 33-34. Is it worth it? Can I work hard enough for MD/MS at 33, or is that too old? I'm open to advice and would like to hear medicos' opinions. I don't know what's right for me now. I'm open to moving abroad, not necessarily USA, UK or AUS as they're tough and time-consuming. Right now I've heard about Germany—what should I do? Sorry for any grammatical mistakes. What should I do?
If you're truly passionate about medicine, it might be better to take another year here rather than spend 2-3 years abroad. Your marks are already decent, and you can consider other courses. MBBS isn't worth it if you lack passion, especially when you can get a good government college without paying fees. With decreasing job security for doctors and increasing automation by AI, becoming a doctor may no longer be the guaranteed golden ticket.
You should post this on the medical school subreddit for India.
By the way, you can aim for a management seat or a semi-government seat this year if you miss the GMC. Age doesn't matter in MBBS; many people clear it later in life and start earning in their 30s, so don't worry. Nobody asks your age once you start MBBS. I don't support MBBS abroad because of the many regulations the government has introduced for FMGs in recent years.