DU aspirants look for alternate options post 2nd cut-off

With seats fast filling up, the Delhi University's second cut off list leaves a large number of students disappointed who are now considering to apply to alternate universities as a measure of safety.

While the Delhi University's first cut off list puzzled aspirants with the list opening at 100 percent cut-off for BCom, it had equally sparked protests among the student community who found it largely unfair. However, the second cut off surprisingly comes as a relief to most of them.

By relief, we mean the cut offs have come down to a percentage or two in colleges like Kirori Mal, Sri Venkateswara, Khalsa and Lady Shri Ram for Commerce, and Daulat Ram College for Science.

Leading colleges like Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), which declared a 100 percent cut-off in their first list claimed to have their seats full already, both for BCom and BA (Economics). Correspondingly, students from the OBC category got a further relief of two percentages, leaving a majority of students disappointed.

At this rate, students scoring less than 100% are left at the mercy of opting for colleges like Hans Raj, Lady Shri Ram, Khalsa, Kirori Mal, Sri Venkateswara and Indraprastha, which also claim to have a few seats left, with admissions fast filling up. In other words, the demand for higher percentiles that was once restricted to Science stream now holds true for Commerce aspirants equally.

Since the average pass percentiles have increased, it was evident that the cut offs were aimed at regulating and reducing the number of applicants approaching the topmost colleges.

While it was announced that Delhi University will have five cut off lists against four last year, at this rate, how many of the leading colleges will have open seats to last for the third and fourth cut off is another matter of concern. As a matter of fact, students are also considering options to apply to other universities like Mumbai and Pune, including universities abroad as a measure of safety, in case they do not make it to the list.

Meanwhile, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has clearly termed it as 'irrational' and 'unfortunate' and suggested contemplating a revised method of admissions by dissolving all other existing entrance exams including AIEEE, IIT JEE and instead having a national level aptitude test that acts as an umbrella entrance exam that will be formally recognized and followed by universities all across the country. Needless to say, the nation is divided on this suggestion.

As for students who cleared the second cut off today, they can seek admission any time between June 22-25. The admission process will essentially continue till July 13 and the academic year will resume July 15 onwards.

Do you know what the college cut-offs are in your city?

What is the cut-off for the first list in Chennai's best science college? Or the arts cut-off in Bangalore's top colleges?

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