Last year not a single student from Tamil Nadu was able to find a place in the top 25 NEET ranks, this year, however, Chennai-based K Keerthana was able to get the 12th rank. The overall percentage of pass percentage was also only one percent (39.55%) more this year in comparison to last year, but Keerthana's top rank seems to be the one saving grace this year.
Keerthana who studied at the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School said that she had expected a rank in the top 100 but getting the 12th rank was a complete surprise,"A teacher of mine called me and told me about it, that's how I got to know. I was very happy obviously but my teachers seem to be more thrilled than I am," she said.
Keerthana's parents are both doctors and are also pleasantly pleased by her marks. The controversies surrounding NEET did not affect her preparations for the exam, the young girl said. "From 10th grade itself, I was preparing for AIPMT exam so I was also planning on attempting NEET anyway," she said.
When asked if there is particular field of medicine that she was particularly interested in pursuing it would be ophthalmology, "I have always been interested in it so I think that I might choose that but I also have a strong feeling that I might not feel the same way once I finish my MBBS," she added.
