In a scenario where scoring 90 per cent and above is not a big deal, there are hardly any options in DU for those obtaining lesser marks. Rupinder Kaur and Shrabasti Mallik find out what these students are planning
Actor Vir Das had a special message for those awaiting their Class XII results saying “screw your marks” in order to ease their gut-wrenching anxiety. The funnyman was also kind enough to bring his marksheet along just in case the students weren’t motivated enough. This was followed by actor Pulkit Samrat and many other celebs asking you to look beyond the piece of paper. These were followed by some more motivational sayings being quoted all over the social media. By the end of it we all were convinced. But as the admission season kicks off, we realise that grades do matter.
looking at the cut-off trend, especially since the first list of 2014 touched the 100 per cent mark, it is expected that there will be less or almost nil options in Delhi University for those scoring less than 90 per cent marks. Online admission applications have crossed 1.3 lakh registrations within four days of its opening. The top rankers might have their eyes set on the Ivy league colleges of DU, others have already measured their risk and have a set plan B in mind.
Preet Kaur, a recent pass-out from Guru Tegh Bahadur School, has sealed her own fate with regard to pursuing an under-graduate course from Delhi University. A science student, Preet wants to opt for a much easier-to-get-into course after scoring 70 per cent in class XII. “I know I can get an admission only in a few courses. I would want to try for BSc home science, zoology honours or maybe mass communication since the cut-off percentage for these subjects is usually low,” Preet says.
Though numerous private varsities have cropped in and around the NCR but the moolah factor hinders most students from getting into them. “DU is the most affordable, if not any of these colleges then I’ll have no other option but to opt for a correspondence course from the School of Open learning,” says Preet. Ramsha, a humanities student from Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School also agrees. After scoring 77 per cent, Ramsha wants to go for sociology but is not sure if she’ll get through because of the soaring cut-offs. “If not sociology then my second option is Punjabi honours from Khalsa College which I’m sure of or else I’ll try my luck in IP University.” Career options with language courses are mostly limited. The only choice that students have, after completing their graduate programme in a specific subject, is to go for masters and look for opportunities in academics.
Some are even looking at completing their higher education from varsities outside Delhi as their last resort. Simar Sahni from Sachdeva Public School, Pitampura, who scored 72 per cent in humanities says she wants to pursue French honours. “I’m preparing for the French entrance exam at Daulat Ram College and the subject is also my first preference. If not, then I would apply in Jammu or Gwalior for Junior Basic Training/Diploma in Elementary Teacher Education course because the cut-off for the same subject in DU will be very high,” says Simar.
Vocational training seems to be the most preferred option that administrators are suggesting for students who did not score high. Anju Srivastava, principal, Hindu College, strongly believes that it is most suitable for such students. Vocational attributes are more rewarding. “We have to have some level of vocational expertise in every fundamental subject. They are more rewarding for those students who want to pursue different career options. This is especially beneficial for students who want to earn early. There are many institutions which offer such courses and the best part is that they are also flourishing,” she points out.
Although she feels strongly about vocational courses she is quick to add that neither Hindu college nor any other DU college has any provision for introducing vocational training courses. “There are many other colleges in the periphery of our city which offer such courses. Colleges here can neither accommodate those courses and these students because we are always full,” she says and adds that there are also options of SOl and distance learning institutes like IGNOU.
Jaswinder Singh, principal of SGTB Khalsa College says that DU lacks skill training. In regular counselling sessions, he advises students not to get depressed and encourages them to look for other available options. According to him, vocational training is the need of the hour. While praising College of Vocational Studies he said that the institute has a lot of options to offer to students who could not get an admission in DU. “Today, employment depends on your skills. Every profession requires skill enhancements and many institutes offer such courses. Students can opt for these as well,” he adds.
There are eight polytechnic colleges that the Government has upgraded to engineering institutes. He gives an example of Aryabhatt polytechnic college and says, “Eight colleges have been upgraded. They have now become institutes of engineering technology. Earlier students used to go for diploma courses but now they will be offered certificate, diploma and degree course. They will soon start three-year vocational courses, too. UGC has given them a set of guidelines to follow. Students can pursue a host of vocational courses on tourism, architecture and urban planning, to name a few.”