On May 3, 2024, over 100,000 students will take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu, a significant increase from its inception in 2017. Students like Affan Shehroz Umer from Tambaram and Gopika from Thousand Lights are among those who have undergone extensive preparation, with coaching costs reaching ₹2 lakh annually. The cut-off for general category students has risen from 400 marks in 2017 to 650 marks in 2024, reflecting the increasing competitiveness of the exam. The introduction of a 7.5% reservation for government school students in 2020 has helped some gain admission to medical courses, a notable shift from the previous dominance of students from private residential schools. However, many students are now taking gap years to prepare for NEET, with around 70% of candidates re-attempting the exam, a stark contrast to the less than 1% before NEET was implemented. The ongoing political debate surrounding NEET continues, with the Tamil Nadu government seeking exemption from the exam, although these efforts have stalled.