Featured First-Person Story
My NEET Journey: From a Small Village to Government Medical College
My name is Pradip Raju Jaybhaye. I come from a small rural village in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. In 2024, I cleared NEET with 619 marks, JEE Mains with 96.02 percentile, and MHT-CET with 97.23 percentile. Here is my complete, unedited story of struggle, failure, legal battle, and ultimate success.
Verified student results
Pradip Raju Jaybhaye
2nd-year MBBS, GMC Washim · Originally from Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra
“Never give up too early in life. You may fail, you may score less than expected, you may face financial difficulties or make mistakes. But as long as you are willing to fight, the story is not over.”
My NEET Progression
490 → 507 → 619
JEE Mains 2024
96.02 Percentile
MHTCET 2024
97.23 Percentile
Exams Cleared
3 National Exams
Final Allotment
GMC Washim (MBBS)
Stories
How I reached GMC Washim
How I reached GMC Washim
Chapter 01: How My NEET Journey Started in Pune
My journey started after my 10th standard result in 2020 when COVID-19 had just entered India. I scored 96.6% in 10th standard. During summer vacation, relatives came to our village, and I noticed one of their children attending online foundation classes. I took Bankar Sir's contact number in Pune and called him. I told him I was confused about career paths. He guided me on medicine, NEET, and the entire admission process. That was my first time ever visiting Pune. I joined Bankar Classes to begin my medical dream.
Chapter 02: Cooking Alone During COVID Lockdown in Pune
Everything went well until COVID lockdown stopped offline classes in 11th standard. Despite severe lockdown waves, I decided to stay in Pune alone and prepare. I cooked my own food every day, managed my studies, and survived isolation. During 11th, I had a Physics teacher named Deshpande Sir who left Bankar Classes at the end of the year. I somehow completed 12th standard while managing on my own.
Chapter 03: First Attempt: 490 Marks and Decision to Drop
I appeared for my first NEET attempt and scored 490 marks. While decent, it was not enough for a Government Medical College seat. I discussed my situation with Bankar Sir, and we decided I should take a drop year and prepare with full focus.
Chapter 04: Second Attempt: 507 Marks and 'No More Drops'
During my first drop, I studied mostly on my own in my room and at the classes. I worked hard and appeared for NEET a second time, scoring 507 marks, an improvement of just 17 marks. I could only qualify for semi-government seats, which my family could not afford. My parents were heartbroken and firmly told me: 'No more drops.' I felt extremely unhappy and defeated.
Chapter 05: The Call from Deshpande Sir That Changed Everything
One day, I received a call from my 11th Physics teacher, Deshpande Sir. He asked for my marks and was deeply disappointed because he knew what I was capable of. When I told him my family's financial situation, he said words I will never forget: 'Convince your parents and come to Pune. You don't have to pay for anything.' He gave me free access to Deshpande Academy and his library. Deshpande Sir's family and Lole Sir's family even provided two home-cooked meals every day at their home. Deshpande Sir taught Physics, guided my strategy, and stayed with us late into the night before the exam.
Chapter 06: Third Attempt: 619 Marks Across Three Exams
I appeared for my third NEET attempt and scored 619 marks! In the same year 2024, I also appeared for JEE Mains (96.02 percentile) and MHT-CET (97.23 percentile), clearing all three. I thought I would get a good Government Medical College. But when NEET rank results came out, my rank was around 56,000 due to rank inflation. I was shocked, but decided to continue with the counselling process.
Chapter 07: The Heartbreaking Counselling Mistake
In Round 1, I got no college. In Round 2, I got semi-government Chiplun and took admission. Wanting to upgrade to a GMC, I filled preferences for Round 3 using my phone. When results came, I saw I was allotted GDC Nagpur for BDS! I started crying. It was one of the worst moments of my life. I had mistakenly selected GDC Nagpur (Dental) instead of GMC Nagpur (Medical). I had to sign the cancellation form for my admission, losing my seat. College seniors supported me while I called Deshpande Sir. He said: 'Come to Pune. We will figure something out.'
Chapter 08: Refusal at CET Cell Mumbai and Deep Despair
Deshpande Sir and Lole Sir accompanied me to the CET Cell office in Mumbai. We explained the situation, but officials told us it was student error and rules barred fourth round participation after third round allotment. We returned to Pune. I decided to restart NEET preparation for a 4th attempt. My family was devastated. It was the hardest phase of my life.
Chapter 09: The 8 PM Phone Call and Bombay High Court Petition
For 15 days, I stayed at BKL Walawalkar College with roommate Dhairya Veerkar. Dhairya's mother learned about my situation. That evening around 8 PM, she called me and suggested legal action. I rushed to Mumbai to Dhairya's home. We decided to approach the Bombay High Court. Dhairya's father stood beside me inside and outside the courtroom like my own father, and Advocate Pooja Madam filed our petition.
Chapter 10: High Court Ruling and 4 AM Allotment: GMC Washim!
The Bombay High Court directed the CET Cell to accept my preference list, recognizing that a student holding 619 marks should not lose an academic year over a clerical error. Following the court order, CET Cell entered my preferences during Diwali. At 4 AM, I checked the portal and saw GMC Washim (MBBS)! For a few seconds I could not believe my eyes. After all the failures, two drops, seat loss, and legal battles, I had secured a Government MBBS seat! I called Deshpande Sir and then my crying parents.
Chapter 11: 2nd Year MBBS, GMC Washim: 'Never Give Up'
Today I am thriving in my 2nd year of MBBS at GMC Washim. My journey taught me that success is about the people who stand beside you when you lose hope. I joined Rank Catalyst as a mentor to pass on this support to every struggling aspirant.
“This journey was never just about marks.”
It was about the teachers, mentors, and families who stood beside me when I had almost lost hope. Today, whatever I am, I owe a huge part of it to my family, Deshpande family, Lole family, Veerkar family, my teachers, mentors, seniors, Advocate Pooja Madam, and every person who supported me.
Pradip Raju Jaybhaye · 2nd-Year MBBS, GMC Washim
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