Student Stories: How a Jaipur Student with 380 NEET Score Became a Doctor in Russia

Arjun (name changed for privacy) walked into our counselling office in Jaipur in August 2021.

He had scored 380 in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

His father ran a small hardware shop in Mansarovar. His mother had been quietly saving money for years, hoping their son would one day become a doctor.

Arjun wasn’t looking for motivational speeches.

He had already made up his mind: he wanted to become a doctor.

What he needed wasn’t encouragement.

He needed a practical plan.

The Options in Front of Him

The first option was obvious — try to get an MBBS seat in India.

But realistically, that path was already closed.

With a NEET score of 380, he didn’t qualify for government medical seats under the state quota.

Private medical colleges were technically possible, but they came with a major obstacle: cost.

Many private colleges require management quota admissions, where fees can easily cross ₹70 lakh or more for the full MBBS course.

For Arjun’s family, that amount simply wasn’t possible.

The second option was to drop a year and attempt NEET again.

He considered it seriously.

But one thought kept bothering him: there was no guarantee.

Even if he improved his score to 420 or 450 the following year, he could still end up in the same situation — without a government seat and unable to afford private colleges.

That’s when the idea of studying MBBS abroad came up.

Specifically, MBBS in Russia.

Arjun had heard about it before — vaguely through a friend of his cousin.

But like most students, he had a lot of questions.

What Finally Convinced Him

Arjun later told us that three things helped him make the final decision.

1. Official Recognition

The first thing he did was verify whether the university was recognised by the National Medical Commission.

Instead of trusting anyone blindly, he checked the official NMC university list himself.

The university we suggested — Orenburg State Medical University — was clearly listed.

That gave him confidence that the degree would be valid for Indian medical licensing.

2. Speaking to a Senior Student

The second factor was something simple but powerful: a real conversation with a senior student.

We connected Arjun with a third-year MBBS student from Jodhpur who was already studying at Orenburg.

They spoke for almost an hour.

She answered everything honestly — about hostel life, the weather, Indian food availability, academic workload, and life as an Indian student in Russia.

That conversation made the possibility feel real.

3. The Financial Calculation

The final factor was straightforward mathematics.

Arjun’s family had managed to arrange around ₹25 lakh, combining their savings and a small education loan.

The total six-year package at Orenburg, including hostel accommodation, was approximately ₹21 lakh.

For the first time, becoming a doctor felt financially achievable.

His First Year in Russia

Arjun arrived in Orenburg in September 2021.

The first few months were not easy.

The winter cold was something he had never experienced before. The food took time to adjust to. And the Russian language initially felt impossible to understand.

But slowly, things began to improve.

By December, he had discovered an Indian canteen on campus that served familiar meals.

By March, he had built a close group of friends — five Indian students and two students from Nepal.

By the end of his first academic year, he had passed all his exams.

Where Arjun Is Today

Today, Arjun is in his fourth year of MBBS.

He is currently completing clinical rotations in internal medicine at the university hospital.

Every Sunday, he still calls his parents back home in India.

He passed his first-year and second-year university exams on the first attempt.

Last summer, something special happened — his parents travelled to Russia to visit him.

It was their first international trip.

For them, seeing their son studying medicine in another country was an emotional moment.

What Happens After Graduation

Arjun is expected to graduate in 2027.

Like all medical graduates — both from India and abroad — he will need to clear the National Exit Test in order to practise medicine in India.

Once he clears this licensing exam, he will be eligible to register as a doctor and begin his medical career.

He may not have been the highest NEET scorer in his batch.

But he is still on track to become a doctor.

What Arjun’s Story Really Teaches Us

Arjun’s story highlights an important reality about NEET.

A score like 380 does not define your future.

It simply determines which path is most realistic for you.

Arjun did not choose MBBS abroad because he gave up on his dream.

He chose it because he found a path that matched his score, his family’s budget, and his long-term goal.

For him, studying medicine in Russia wasn’t a backup plan.

It was a practical and achievable strategy.

Final Thought for Students

If you are holding a NEET score in a similar range right now, you might be asking yourself a difficult question:

“Can I still become a doctor?”

The answer is yes.

The more important question is this:

Which path makes sense for your score, your finances, and your family’s situation?

Arjun found his answer.

You can find yours too.