Open House is Your Last (and Riskiest) Chance
Look, I know the feeling. It’s a heaviness in your chest that won’t go away.
You’ve spent the last two years buried in “Objective Physics” and “GRB Biology,” skipping Dashain parties, ignoring Tihar lights, and avoiding those annoying relatives who keep asking, “Babu, Doctor banne haina ta?” (Son, aren’t you becoming a doctor?).
The MECEE-BL 2026 results are out. The first and second matching lists have been published on the MEC website. You scrolled through the PDF with shaking hands, but your name wasn’t there. Or maybe it was, but it’s for a college in a corner of Nepal you’ve never visited, and you are terrified.
The panic is setting in. You’re sitting at a café in Bagbazar, staring at your rank, sipping cold coffee, and wondering if you should just give up and apply for a B.Sc in something generic.
Stop.
Before you pack your bags for a random degree or hand over your passport to a shady agent, let’s talk about the “Open House” reality. This isn’t over yet.
The Answer Box:
Is there still a chance for MBBS admission after the second matching?
The short answer is: Yes, but you need to be aggressive.
The MECEE-BL 2026 Open House Matching is the final “battleground” where vacant seats are distributed. These seats open up when top-rankers leave for the US/Australia or drop out due to high fees. In 2026, success depends on tracking the real-time seat matrix and being physically present with your documents. It is risky, but it is where the magic happens for ranks between 3000 and 5000.
The “Open House” Reality: What Happens When the Music Stops?
Here’s the thing that the brochures don’t tell you: The admission process is leaky.
Every year, hundreds of students get selected for MBBS or BDS but simply don’t show up for admission. Why?
- Some get full-ride scholarships to US universities.
- Some realize their parents actually can’t afford the Rs. 60 Lakhs package.
- Some decide that Engineering (IOE) was their true calling after all.
These “leftover” seats are what we call the Open House pool. It is not a reject pile; it is a goldmine if you know how to mine it.
1. Real-Time Matching (The Stock Market Vibe)
Unlike the first rounds where you click a button online and wait for days, the Open House is fast. It’s brutal. You are often in a physical or virtual hall. They call out ranks.
“Rank 3502? Are you here?”
If you aren’t ready, or if your internet lags, the seat goes to Rank 3503. You have seconds to decide your destiny.
2. The “Foreign” Factor
This is the secret sauce. Many private medical colleges have seats reserved for foreign students (Indians, Sri Lankans). If those seats aren’t filled by the deadline, MEC converts them to the Nepali General Paying category.
This is where the “magic” happens. Suddenly, a college that seemed full might have 5 new seats open up for Nepali students.
3. Document Readiness
If you don’t have your original +2 Transcript, Migration Certificate, and Citizenship ready, don’t even bother showing up. MEC doesn’t wait for “Sir, I left it at home, I’ll bring it tomorrow.” You need to be ready to enroll on the spot.
The Hidden Reality: Private MBBS Costs in 2026
Let’s be real about the money. It’s the elephant in the room.
If you aren’t on the scholarship list, a private MBBS in Nepal is a massive financial commitment. We’re talking about the kind of money that makes your parents look at their land papers with a heavy heart. Inflation in 2026 has hit hard, and colleges have hiked their “service charges.”
Here is the estimated breakdown for the 2025-26 Session:
| College Type | Tuition Fees (MEC Ceiling) | Hostel & Mess (5.5 Years) | Est. Hidden Fees (Exams/Library) | Total Estimated Cost |
| Government (Paying) | Rs. 40 – 45 Lakhs | Rs. 5 – 8 Lakhs | Rs. 2 – 3 Lakhs | Rs. 47L – 56L |
| Private (Inside Valley) | Rs. 50 – 60 Lakhs | Rs. 10 – 12 Lakhs | Rs. 4 – 6 Lakhs | Rs. 64L – 78L |
| Private (Outside Valley) | Rs. 45 – 55 Lakhs | Rs. 7 – 10 Lakhs | Rs. 3 – 5 Lakhs | Rs. 55L – 70L |
The “Hidden” Truth:
The MEC sets the tuition fee. But they don’t control the “Internship Fee,” the “Development Charge,” the “Sports Fee,” or the “Wi-Fi Fee.”
Many colleges will ask for Rs. 2 Lakhs extra just to let you sit for your final exams. Always ask the seniors at the specific college before you transfer that first installment via eSewa or Nabil Bank.
Nepal vs. Bangladesh vs. Egypt: The 2026 Dilemma
If the Rs. 70 Lakhs price tag in Kathmandu is too much, you’re probably looking at the “Consultancy Special” abroad. In 2026, the landscape has shifted. Egypt has emerged as a massive competitor to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh: The “Safe” Bet?
It’s still the favorite because the curriculum, diseases, and even the textbooks are almost identical to Nepal.
- The Good: High clinical exposure.
- The Bad: Strict discipline (almost like a boarding school).
- The Cost: Rs. 35L – 45L.
Egypt: The New “Hotspot”
Consultancies are pushing Egypt hard this year.
- The Good: High-quality hospitals, global recognition, and often cheaper than Bangladesh.
- The Bad: The Language Barrier. You need to learn Arabic to talk to patients in your clinical years. If you can’t speak, you can’t learn.
- The Cost: Rs. 30L – 40L.
The Risk: Remember, if you study abroad, you MUST pass the NMC Licensing Exam (NMCLE) when you return. The failure rate for foreign-trained doctors is currently hovering around 70%. Think about that statistic before you chase a “cheap” degree.
Why BDS is the “Smarter” Move for Many
Look, I know everyone wants the “MBBS” tag. It’s about ego. It’s about what the neighbors think.
But let’s look at the facts.
A BDS (Dentistry) degree in 2026 costs half as much as MBBS. The course is a year shorter. And most importantly, you can start your own clinic much faster.
In a world where everyone is struggling to find a “Medical Officer” post in a government hospital for Rs. 40,000, a skilled Dentist in a place like Butwal, Itahari, or even suburban Kathmandu is making double that.
If your rank is good enough for a BDS Scholarship but you are forcing your parents to pay for MBBS Private, take a step back. Take the scholarship. Don’t let “ego” drain your family’s retirement savings.
The “Bond” Reality: Is 2 Years of Your Life Worth a Free Degree?
For those of you lucky enough to get a Ministry of Education (MOE) scholarship, here’s the “Dai” advice:
The 2-year government bond is not a “punishment.” It is not a jail sentence.
It is the best clinical experience you will ever get.
While your private-paying friends are struggling to find jobs in city hospitals, competing with hundreds of others, you will be the “Doctor Saab” in a rural health post. You will handle everything from deliveries to fractures to emergencies.
However, be prepared. “Rural” means rural. You might be posted in Darchula or Jumla. No high-speed internet for your Netflix, no fancy cafés, just you and your stethoscope. If you can’t handle that isolation, don’t take the scholarship seat from someone who can.
User Intent FAQs (The Blunt Truth)
Q: Can I change my college after the Open House matching?
A: NO. Once you accept a seat in the Open House and the system locks it, that’s it. You are locked in. If you withdraw later, you forfeit your money and might be barred from the entrance exam for the next year. Choose wisely.
Q: Is it true that MEC will increase seats this year?
A: There are rumors every year. Unless it’s a PDF on the official mec.gov.np website, it’s just “guff” from consultancies trying to keep you hopeful so you don’t go elsewhere. Trust the official notice only.
Q: What if I get a seat but can’t pay the first installment immediately?
A: MEC rules are strict. You usually have a very short window (often 3-5 days) to deposit the first 1/3rd of the fee into the University/MEC account. Have your education loan sanctioned or cash ready before the matching starts.
Q: Should I take a “Drop Year” if I don’t get my dream college?
A: If this was your first attempt and you were close (within 5 marks), maybe. If this was your second or third attempt? Move on. Medicine is a long journey (10+ years with PG). Don’t waste your 20s just trying to get into the “perfect” college. A doctor from KMC and a doctor from Janaki Medical College take the same license exam.
Q: Are there any scholarships for private colleges?
A: Yes, 10% of seats in every private college are reserved for scholarship students selected by MEC. However, there are no “direct” scholarships given by the colleges themselves. If an agent says “I can get you a scholarship discount,” he is lying.
Final Advice: Your Rank Doesn’t Define Your Career
Look, whether you study at IOM Maharajgunj, a private college in Bhairahawa, or a university in Cairo, the books you read are the same. Guyton for Physiology, Robbins for Pathology, and Bailey & Love for Surgery do not change across borders.
What matters is your grit.
Don’t let the “Panic Phase” make you a victim of a greedy agent in Putalisadak. Stay informed, keep your documents ready for the Open House, and be brutally honest with your family about the costs.
So, what’s the plan? Are you waiting for the Open House, or are you already looking at the Bangladesh/Egypt forms?
Drop a comment below with your rank, and I’ll tell you if you have a shot at the Open House
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