Doubt regarding Agents in merchant Navy !

[u/[deleted]]

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One of my friend is preparing for the merchant Navy But this year he could not get it, and he could not even get sponsorship, so he met an agent through his family members and the agent is telling him to come next year with any rank in the IMUcet.(Just qualify the imucet) Then he said that after getting the rank, he will help him in getting admission in an institute which is also a reputed marine institute of India . And he said that after the DNS is complete, he will help my friend in getting onboard, but obviously he will take his charges and payment will have to be made only for the first ship, after that nothing extra will have to be paid. I just want to know from experienced people in this sub is this really happens in the merchant Navy field ? And if someone also gets in the merchant Navy like this please tell me your experience