Kasturba Medical College - [KMC], Manipal

You must be feeling this way because of societal pressure. But KMC Manipal is an amazing college, and you’ll really like it here.

Some of my classmates left their AIIMS seats (not AIIMS Delhi though) to study at KMC Manipal. I agree that in comparison to government colleges, the fee at KMC Manipal is quite high (if you don’t get a scholarship). However, you’ll get all the top facilities in exchange for that. I know of successful medicos who graduated from this place. 

AIIMS Delhi and KMC increase your chances of qualifying USMLE drastically. KMC Manipal has a favorable reputation in foreign universities. The faculty over here is quite good. The library, sports, and other facilities are all top-notch. Another good thing is the complete absence of reservations.

So you shouldn’t be disheartened because of all that you couldn’t get. Instead, make the most out of the opportunities available to you. 

Even though I couldn’t get into KMC Manipal, it is my dream college.

It doesn’t offer a state quota for admissions. You have to apply through AIQ. The course fee is quite high. However, you’ll get a scholarship if your AIR is less than 2000. 

The infrastructure of KMC Manipal is quite good. Karnataka is a peaceful state, so the location is good as well. It is a top private medical college in India, after CMC Vellore. The college library is huge and filled with all the facilities. The hostels and classrooms are in good condition, and your fee will be totally worth it. 

You should definitely consider KMC Manipal for your MBBS. 

Trust me there are no issues at all for a North Indian to study at KMC Manipal. Almost 60–70 % of students are North Indians. Almost everyone you have to interact with knows Hindi. However, you might face issues with clinical postings because most patients have only a basic understanding of Hindi. You will have to learn basic Kannada for which classes are taken in college in the second year.

The food is not a big issue at all because breakfast is South Indian comprising dishes like mini dosas, idlis, vadas. Bread, butter, and jam are served daily. Students are given rajma rice, Chole Bhature, and paneer once a week each. The roti served is very good and you will get Dal and rice daily. 

Additionally, there are many that sell delicious food around the campus. There is also a mall within a 10-minute walking distance so you can visit Pizza Hut, Domino's, and CCD anytime.

Government colleges offer excellent patient loads with minimal fees. Everything including hospital equipment, the salary of professors, and all the other expenses are covered by the government. In the case of private hospitals, all such expenses are paid by the students so the fees are high. KMC Manipal enjoys a good reputation because of the clinical exposure and quality of education it offers. In fact, its patient exposure is comparable to that of Government colleges. Being associated with 3 Government hospitals gives you a spectrum of cases and a huge workload for interns and PGs. Here are a few perks of choosing KMC over Government colleges

• KMC gives you an edge over USMLE
• It has an excellent research culture as it helps you to get into ICMR, a short-term studentship. In case you are presenting a paper they even sponsor you to go to a conference.
• The extracurricular culture is also great here. It organized Utsav, its intercollegiate fest, and also allowed students to attend other fests like PULSE (AIIMS), Spandan (JIPMER), etc.

Eventually, the decision depends on your financial status.

Although there isn’t a fixed dress code at KMC Manipal, there are certain expectations the college has in terms of dress code

Girls are expected to wear Indian formals, basically kurtas and leggings or Patialas. You are not expected to wear short kurtas and jeans. No further restrictions regarding dressing have been issued so far.

Boys are expected to wear Western formals. Bring some decent shirts, formal pants, a belt, and formal shoes. You should especially be well-dressed during labs and clinic sessions. 

Manipal experiences only rainy and non-rainy weather so you don’t have to worry about winter clothes. Here are a few things you should consider bringing to KMC Manipal

• 2 pillows, bedsheets, and a single blanket. You can buy these things at Manipal at Bombay Dyeing, Big Bazaar Udupi, or Fab India.
• Bucket, mug, plastic racks, baskets to store your things, clothes hangers, laundry bags, plastic shoe racks, bathroom stools, and water bottles. You can buy these from Big Bazaar at Udupi or the local Bombay Stores.
• A pair of slippers or rainy sandals and a sports shoe which will help in jogging and in the gym.

Pack lightly and have a good time here!

Clearing USMLE requires going through 3 steps. While most students clear the first step only a few are able to clear the second. Eventually, only 5–6 people every year from KMC are able to clear the final step and pursue the course. Students are given clear instructions regarding the approach they should adopt while answering the questions. Video conferences are held by lecturers who specialize in USMLE to train the students. Moreover, KMC is giving coaching modules and some questions to help them prepare for the same.

You can also seek help from your alumni for 3 years of residency in America. Under this, you will look after your 1-year expenditure given that once you complete your study in America, you will also look after the 1-year expense of any KMC student. 

So, approximately 5-6 students from KMC Manipal qualify for the USMLE every year.