One of my friends was in a similar dilemma. He considered the following points while making his decision
- Most AIIMS undergraduates settle in the US or pursue higher education in top colleges in India while CMC graduates prefer CMC for their higher education only.
- Students of CMC are required to do bonds in mission hospitals so their higher education gets delayed. But this instills in them a strong sense of community-oriented healthcare. They tend to work in remote places of India without any personal glory. An AIIMS student can hardly be seen doing community service.
- AIIMS graduates publish more when compared to CMC graduates.
- CMC students get better hands-on experience and hence fare better in terms of clinical and Surgical skills. Right from the second year, they start assisting postgraduates in clinical work.
- If you are a non-Christian, it will be difficult to go through the entire training without a mission hospital
Ultimately, make a choice based on your demographics, preferences, and goals in life.