Admission Process

Anxiety, aspiration, expectation, apprehension, elation, exhilaration – some of the emotions felt by a fresher while filling application forms in various colleges. The time has come for you to choose your career. The university offers more than 5000 seats in professional courses and about 50000 seats in regular courses. Besides, there are about 70000 seats in non-formal stream, including those in the School of Open Learning courses. Delhi University sets up various information centres all around Delhi for disseminating information on admission and for the sale of centralised forms. Last year they had set up 11 admission information centres at various colleges across the campus. The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) had put up nearly 20 centres. Political parties had set up their own information centres. These information centres provide information regarding condition of eligibility, availability of courses, cut off percentages of last year and other relevant matters.

Admissions will be merit based and most colleges bring out at least three admission lists (one after the other) or till the seats in a particular course are filled up. Each phase lasts for three days during which you pay your fees.

It is imperative that both parents and students check out the previous year’s cut-off lists of different colleges before applying for admission. One can certainly estimate the current cut-off list on the basis of the previous one - Give or take 5 percent.

Students should not at all get carried in the initial rush for admissions but apply to only those colleges where your percentages match. Never apply in a college where the cut-off is 85% while, you have only 70%. Study the cut-off list carefully; there are instances where colleges hike up their first cut-off percentages to match the most sought-after ones. Do not get depressed, as it is inflated, carefully list the colleges according to your cut-off and your preference. The cut off percentage comes down considerably till the final list.

Many colleges give relaxation in cut – off for women students. Therefore it is important to check up with the college if any concession is available in particular course. The concession can range from 1 - 5% of the cut off.

If your name comes in the first cut-off then apply for it, don’t wait for the second or third cut - off, you might end up with nothing in your hand. Remember, a bird in hand is worth two in bush. Besides, if you get a better offer you can cancel your admission. All your original mark sheets will be returned, as also the fees. It might entail a little more running around but this is definitely worth it, if risks are to be eliminated. Also remember that a college has a right to deny you admission if you have marks above the cut-off in the list announced, but fail to take admission before the next list is out.

Do not get misled by information that there is going to be a shortage of forms, the university has ample forms for every body. Do not buy forms from outsiders, in black. Every college accepts the ICR forms, but you may miss finer points like combination of subjects acceptable for a particular course. Fill your forms very patiently and carefully. Students often fail to fill forms properly and in the end mess up their admission chances.

Students seeking hostel accommodation should first find out when and where the hostel applications forms are available, and where are they to be submitted. In some cases both the forms are to be submitted together, so students should be careful, and should check all this beforehand from the college concerned. Once the forms are duly filled and submitted, it is important to keep the counterfoil carefully, as it is the only proof of your submission of the form and can be readily used in case of any lapses by the authorities.

Admission in professional course, including courses in English Journalism and Hindi Journalism, is based on the achievement of the candidate in the entrance test and interview. All the information regarding entrance tests in any course will be given in the prospectus of that college.  

Due to the tug of war for the limited seats, the challenge is of matching expectations with the options available, changing streams where the expectations do not match, redefining success and above all, keeping one’s head above the water despite the pull of the choppy waters.

Delhi University had sold more than 1 lakh forms last year. Almost four candidates are vying for every single seat.

There is no short-cut method of admission so do not get carried away by people who offer admission in exchange of money. Admissions promised by student leaders and touts are chancy affairs. They have little say in the actual admission process. Sometimes, these touts and student leader exhort money too. Beware of them. They are out to swindle you. As are some of the newly sprung institutes offering professional degrees in collaboration with foreign universities of dubious distinction. Don’t fall prey to their tall claims sales talk. For a degree to be valid it must be recognised either by UGC or AICTE.

Finally, if you don’t get admission into a regular course, don’t give up. You may have lost a battle but not the campaign for a bright future. Enrol for any course of your interest as an evening, correspondence, non-collegiate or external student. Work your guts out and aim to excel in your first-year exams. An outstanding result could get you into the college of your choice one-year down the line. Best of Luck!

OMR/ ICR forms

Students can deposit a OMR/ ICR form also known as ‘Pre Admission form’ at one centre for all courses they opt for. All they have to do is fill in one common form – marking their preferences of colleges and courses – and drop it at one counter. Students can mark any number of choices – both of courses and colleges – in one form.

The form will ask only for details such as name, gender, exam taken, marks and the courses and colleges that the student wishes to opt for. They can opt for all 49 courses in the 60 odd colleges and see their names on every list depending upon cut off. In a single OMR/ ICR form, an applicant can apply to as many colleges and for as many courses as they wish.

Steps

·         Students will have to buy one form from any of the designated centres. He should also his hand on college prospectus for more details.

·         Student fills up common form. They will have to highlight the courses and colleges of their choices. Can indicate as many choices in as many colleges as he chooses. Submits it at one centre.

The pre admission form will consist of:

·   OMR/ ICR form along with the carbonless copy. The copy must be stamped and returned to the student after submission of the form as proof of form submission.

·   A specimen copy of the form to allow the student to practise before filling the actual form.

·   Information about courses available in D.U. colleges.

·   Information on filling the form.

·   Codes for filling the OMR/ ICR forms. On the reverse side of the form, subject combinations for different categories of courses would be given.

Points in filling in the ICR form:

·   Don’t fill the form in anxiety. Before filling up the form, read the information bulletin carefully. Act according to the instructions given in the form.

·   Don’t bother to list colleges in order of preference. Data will go to all colleges you list, irrespective of order. You don’t know where cut – offs will stop, so name a clutch of colleges to be very safe.

·   Place it on a hard surface else their won’t be any impression on the carbon – less copy beneath. Don’t write on your lap. Weak impressions are difficult to scan.

·   Do not start to fill it while it is still folded, the second part will be spoilt due to the carbon – less copy

·   Fill the specimen copy before going to the actual form.

·   Darken the circle fields till they are solidly filled. Do not put tick marks or dots in these circles.

·   Use the subject codes given in the sheet.

·   Do not apply for courses for which you are not eligible.

·   Ensure that the course for which you apply is available in the colleges of your choice.

·   OMR/ ICR form is to be filled by ball point (preferably black/ blue) pen only. Do not use gel/ ink pens or pencil.

·   Many students do not mark on some columns thinking that information is not important. Mark each and every information asked. Mark each and every piece of information asked, otherwise your form could be rejected.

·   Leave one blank box each after first, middle and last name of applicant.

·   Remember to specify the gender.

·   State the year of passing your class XII.

·   Start writing from the first box while stating the roll number and don’t leave any blank boxes in the beginning.

·   Do not write out signs the dots, hyphens, slashes or any alphabet in the boxes given for stating your roll number. Write only the digits of the roll number.

·   Do not write board subject codes in the OMR from. The information bulletin of the university has provided specific subject codes for all papers the students had appeared for in the Class XII exams.

·   Guys watch out for the ‘W’ in parentheses after the name of the college. it stands for women’s college.

·   Go through college-specific additional information on eligibility in the prospectus before filling in your options.

·   St Stephen’s and Jesus and Mary do not accept common pre-admission forms.

·   Be careful whole circling your options, use the sample form if necessary.

·   For courses with an entrance test, or for admission through the sports and ECA quotas, fill in the individual college forms.

·   Be patient. Volunteers/ counsellors too have been dealing with too many queries.

·   Carry your original class XII certificate, marksheet and SC/ST certificate along with sufficient copies of each, a pen and plenty of passport sized photographs.

·   Read the fine print before filling up forms. Read the prospectus carefully and important points.

·   Memorise the class XII and best of four percentages. Better than calculating it.

·   Speak to friends who are already in the varsity.

·   If a car is an option, organise a pool with friends to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion on the campus.

·   At north campus, rickshaws are a good way to go college-hopping. But if you want to get a feel of the campus, simply take a walk.

·   Wear light cotton clothes and comfortable walking shoes.

·   Avoid gorging on Banta, Pakoras and burgers. You don’t want to fall ill during the admission season.

·   PCR vans are posted at strategic points inside the campus. Ask for help if in trouble.

·   Generally students need to apply to individual colleges through their own forms for courses with entrance examinations, ECA and sports quota. Check with the college.

Students should not be too choosy. They should not keep their options limited to only a handful of courses and colleges. They should utilise the unlimited options available in the OMR forms fully and even opt for courses, which they didn’t prioritise initially.