A score of 149 in NEET may not guarantee entry into a government dental college, not to say a first-grade one. You still stand chances with private dental colleges.

What do you do?

The Cutoff Trends: Look at the last year cut off score for NEET for private dental colleges in your state or region. This would tell you how likely your chances are of getting admission.

State Quota Seats: If you are domicile of any state, you can check the cut-off for government and private dental college specific to that state. The cutoff scores for State Quota seats are generally low compared to All India Quota.

Private Colleges: Most private dental colleges admit candidates with lower NEET scores. However, the fees in private colleges are generally higher.

Explore Other Options: If the seat in dentistry does not work out, then you could consider other healthcare-related courses like B. Sc Nursing, B. Pharm, or B. Sc. Microbiology.

Remember: NEET cut-offs change every year based on one or several factors such as applicant's strength, levels of difficulty in examination and availability of seats.

It is always wise to update oneself on the latest information and seek advice from academic counselors or other experts before settling for a final decision.