College admissions: A checklist

Checking your results is probably the most nerve-wracking part of the whole college admissions process. However, following in a close second is getting your paperwork in order.

Colleges require all kinds of certificates proving every relevant (and irrelevant) detail of your existence -- your age, proof of graduation, family background, place of residence, place of birth, date of birth and so on and so forth.

Now while most of these documents will be furnished by your school with your marksheet, there are others that you might have to scramble around for, various others that you will need attested copies of and still others that you may have to get issued to you by various local authorities.

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So, to help students beat the mad rush to get their documents in well before time, here is a list of the possible documents, certificates or proofs they might need:

College application form: These are distributed at the college along with the college prospectus for a fee of Rs 20 to Rs 50. Most colleges begin distributing forms immediately after the Board results are declared. Make sure you call the college office, visit the college or the college Web site and find out the dates and timings for the distribution of forms. Also find out the dates for submission of forms and declaration of the admission lists.

Marksheet: This will be given to you by your school. As soon as you get your marksheet, check it for all the relevant details (name, age, year of passing and marks) and make sure that any discrepancies are brought to the notice of the school authorities immediately. A printing error here could prove to be costly in the college admissions process.

Once you've checked for errors, make sure you get at least 10 to 15 copies of the marksheet. The next step is attestation. Get each copy signed and stamped by your school office. They may have a limit of attesting only five copies or less. In that case, you can get the rest of your copies attested by any lawyer for a nominal amount per copy.

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You will need to submit an attested copy with every college application form you submit. While accepting the form, the college authorities will check the copy with the original and hand the original back to you. This is the most important document in not only the college application process, but for every professional course you do after your college career, so make sure you are very careful not to lose it.

School leaving and/or Pass certificate: This again is issued by your school. Follow the same process as for the marksheet, after you check that all the details are in order. Colleges require these to verify that you have graduated from the stated school.

Students of the ICSE, CBSE or boards other than the state board, will need to get their original certificates countersigned by their respective Educational Inspector/ Officer. These details may be obtained from the school office.

Deed of undertaking: Some colleges require students to submit a 'Deed of Undertaking' on stamped paper of Rs 20. This is to be signed by the student and their parent or guardian. Do inquire with the colleges you intend to apply to whether they need this document and if so, the prescribed format.

Provisional eligibility certificate: Following admission, students from ICSE, CBSE, foreign boards or boards other than the state education Board, will need to apply for and receive a provisional eligibility certificate from the office of the State board. Application forms will be available at the office of the respective State board and must be duly filled in and submitted.

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Proof of residence: This can be any official document that carries your name and address on it. A copy of your passport or ration card should suffice.

Application pointers: The list covers the documents most colleges ask for, but some colleges might ask for additional documents. Make sure you check the college notice board and the application form very carefully for any documents you may require.

You will need to carry the all the original documents with you along with the attested copies when you visit the college to submit the form. However, the college authorities will only check the authenticity of the copies and return the originals. Be sure to collect your original certificates before you leave the campus. Applying for a duplicate certificate can be a difficult and time-consuming process.

You might need to attach a passport size photograph of yourself on the application form. Make sure to carry a few spare photographs just in case the attached photograph comes loose before you reach the campus.

If you are unsure of any field mentioned on the form or have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the college authorities for clarification. Around admission time, most colleges are drowning in queries from students and might be a little low on patience. But brave the short tempers, because any mistake or unanswered field might mean you have to submit a whole new form all over again.

Handle the admission form with care and fill it in neatly. College authorities have been known to reject applications that are untidy, torn or dirty.