Hey! With 290 marks in NEET 2025, there are still a few decent options available if you don’t want to take a drop year.

Since this score is below the usual cutoff for government MBBS and BDS seats in most states (especially for the General category), getting into a government medical college is quite unlikely. But you can still explore private medical colleges where the cutoff is lower, especially if you are open to higher fees.

You can also look into BAMS (Ayurveda), BHMS (Homeopathy), BPT (Physiotherapy), BSc Nursing, or BSc Paramedical courses. These are all healthcare-related fields and don’t require very high NEET scores. Many colleges accept students in the 200 to 300 range for these programs.

Another option is applying to deemed universities or management quota seats in private medical colleges, where admission is possible with your current score, but again, the fee will be much higher.

If you're sure about staying in the medical field but want to avoid another year of prep, these alternative courses can still lead to fulfilling and stable careers in healthcare. All the best!