Put the college you would most like to join at the top of your NEET choice list, and only add seats you would really take. Before ranking anything, remove seats you cannot afford, cannot apply for, or would refuse. Then order what is left by your own preference, not by last year’s cutoff.
This guide follows the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) choice-filling steps for NEET UG 2026. The same planning works for state counselling lists, but each state portal has its own rules.
On this page
- Step 1: Decide what you would accept
- Step 2: Check the fee for your seat pool
- Step 3: Keep preference and past ranks apart
- Step 4: Order your list
- Step 5: Save, check and lock on the MCC portal
- If you already hold a seat
- Final check before you lock
Step 1: Decide what you would accept
Ask three questions about every seat:
- Am I eligible for this seat pool?
- Can my family pay the full cost?
- Would I join if I got this seat?
If the answer to any question is “no” or “not sure”, the seat is not ready for your list yet.
Write down the exact campus, course and quota for each choice. A quota is the seat pool, such as All India Quota, deemed university or NRI. One college can have different fees and rules for each pool.
A backup choice is a seat you would be willing and able to take. It is not a seat you would refuse. Keep that in mind when someone tells you to “just add a few more colleges”.
Decide about BDS before you start. Some students would happily take BDS at a good college. Others want MBBS only. Your list should match your decision, not a friend’s list.
Step 2: Check the fee for your seat pool
The same college can charge very different fees in different pools. Here is a real example.
| Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi (MBBS, 2026–27) | General category | NRI category |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per year | ₹25,00,000 | US$50,000 |
| Other fees (first year) | ₹1,81,250 | ₹1,81,250 |
| Hostel and mess (first year) | ₹94,000 | US$1,600 |
Source: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham MBBS programme page, 2026–27 fee table for the Kochi campus.
So before you add a college, find out which pool you qualify for. Then use that pool’s fee in your budget. The college name alone does not tell you what you will pay.
Always check the latest official notice before acting.
For deemed universities, see our deemed MBBS counselling guide. Our MCC fees and security deposit guide covers what you pay MCC, which is separate from college fees.
Step 3: Keep preference and past ranks apart
Preference means which seat you would choose if you were offered both. A past closing rank shows what happened in an earlier year or round. They answer different questions.
- Use past ranks to find colleges worth researching.
- Use your preference to decide their order.
A simple worksheet helps:
| Choice | Eligible? | Full fee checked? | Would you join? | Your order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus and course A | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Campus and course B | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Campus and course C | Yes | Waiting for fee sheet | Not sure | Research first |
Replace A, B and C with your own campus, course and quota. Keep last year’s closing rank in a separate column, with its year, round and category. A closing rank only helps if it matches your quota, category and rank type.
Step 4: Order your list
Worked example. You prefer college A to college B. Both fit your budget and you are eligible for both. Last year, A closed at a better rank than B.
Ask yourself: “If I had both offers today, which would I pick?” If the answer is A, put A first. If you get A, you are happy. If you do not get A, the system moves to B anyway. Putting B first only because it looks easier means you could get B even when A was possible.
Now suppose college C costs more than your family can pay. Adding it at the bottom “just in case” can leave you with a seat you have to give up. Sort out the money first, or leave C out.
Step 5: Save, check and lock on the MCC portal
The MCC Candidate User Guide for NEET UG 2026 describes these steps:
- Save: “Save and Continue” saves your choices without submitting them. You can still edit the list.
- Review: Check the filled choices summary before locking. Compare every campus, course and quota with your worksheet. Check college codes where names look alike.
- Lock: Click “Choice Locking”, enter your password, and confirm with the OTP sent to your registered mobile or email. Once choices are locked, you cannot change them.
- Confirm: Check that the dashboard shows the locking status as “Locked”.
- Download: Use “Print Locked Choice(s)” to download the locked choice letter. It shows the round number and the date and time of locking.
Warning: MCC allots seats in the order of your locked choices. A wrong course or campus anywhere in the list, even at the bottom, can be allotted to you. Read the full list once more before you lock.
Keep the locked choice letter in a folder for that round. An earlier screenshot of an unlocked list may show a different order.
If you already hold a seat
Write down your current seat and whether you have joined. Read the upgrade rules for your authority and round. Then add only the options you prefer over your present seat.
Think about each move. Is the new campus further from home? Is the fee higher? Have you read its bond? Our counselling rounds guide explains MCC’s freeze, float and joining rules. Our MBBS bond checklist explains exit costs. State rounds can have different rules.
Final check before you lock
- Every row is a campus and course you would accept.
- You are eligible for every seat pool on the list.
- You know the full cost and when it is due.
- You have read the bond and exit terms.
- The order shows your real preference.
- The portal list matches your worksheet.
- You can access your registered phone and email for the OTP.
- You will save the locked choice letter for the correct round.
Take a short break, then read the list once more. Mistakes are easier to spot with fresh eyes.
Common questions
How many choices should I fill?
Fill as many as you need, within the portal’s rules. Every row should be a seat you would accept. More choices only help if each one is a seat you would really join.
Can a college predictor make my list for me?
A predictor can show past results. It cannot know your budget, your eligibility or where you would be happy to study. You still decide the order. Our NEET college predictor uses historical Round 1 data only.
Can I change my choices after locking?
No. The MCC user guide says locked choices cannot be changed. Check everything before you enter the OTP.
How we prepared this: We used the MCC Candidate User Guide for NEET UG 2026 (sections 13 to 16) and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s 2026–27 MBBS fee table for Kochi. Facts were last checked on 17 October 2026. AI tools helped with drafting.
