Employment / Strengths and Options
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Note: All questions and the name of the colleges in the questions are hypothetical. They give a better understanding of the admission procedure)
Q. Do all the colleges accept OMR/ ICR forms?
Ans. Officially yes, unless specified, But some colleges refuse. (St. Stephen’s college and JMC). Students opting for sports/ECA quota will have to fill individual college forms. Courses involving entrance exams too require college forms.
Q. Is there a website where I can get cut-off lists of all colleges for the current academic session?
A. www.du.ac.in
Q. I am yet to get my class XII results. How do I apply to
A. If your results are declared while admissions are on, then you can approach colleges with your mark sheet. However, getting a seat will depend on the cut off percentage and that you are able to apply by the last date of submission of the forms.
Q. What is the last date of submission of the preliminary application forms for non-collegiate education for women? I passed out of school 10 years ago from the first batch of vocational subjects. Will this be a problem?
Ans. June 19 is the last date of submission of forms for the non-collegiate education for women. Student of vocational subject are allowed to apply and that is not a problem.
Q. I am a two year gap case; if I am shortlisted for
A. Colleges ask for an affidavit that you used the years academically. If you gave an entrance exam, show the admit card. If you were in a private university, show the counselling Identity card.
Q. Please help me, I am terribly confused. Should I opt for a prestigious college regardless of what course I get? Is this the right approach?
Ans. The very first step is to priorities the courses you want rather than worry about which college to join. The course of your choice in a college that is not on the top of your list is any day preferable to plodding through an uninteresting or dead-end course in a great college. Most faculty members also agree that when facing such a dilemma it is best to give precedence to the course. Ultimately it is the course that will determine your career prospects and future options.
Q. I passed out from the ISC Board this year. Will University cut marks?
Ans. It is common perception amongst students is that colleges in
Q. I have done my class X and XII from MP Board. Can I take admission in B.Sc.Life Science course of
Q. I have done my class XII from
Ans. You will not get admission in regular college but you can join correspondence course. Both the courses (regular and correspondence) have same value.
Q. Is there provisional admission in
Ans. Students whose marks don’t fall within the percentage asked by the cut – off list and who have sent their papers for re-evaluation, can get provisional admission in colleges – pending result, provided there are seats left after the admission process is over. It is entirely up to the college’s discretion whether it takes in such students based on their class X and class XI marks. Students, who sit for the supplementary examination of the CBSE, in order to improve their existing result, are also given admission on provisional basis. However, this is again on the discretionary judgement of the individual college.
Q. Although I have secured a decent overall aggregate, I have got a compartment in one subject in the CBSE boards. Is there no way I can get admission to
Ans. Even if you have fared somewhat poorly, don’t lose heart for all is not lost.
Q. I am underage right now and will turn 17 only next February. CBSE however didn’t stop me from taking my exams. Can I apply to the colleges or will there be a problem?
Ans. As per the University rules, a student has to be 17 years of age on or before October 1. However, there is no harm in applying to the colleges. The principals of the colleges can provide you with temporary admission and will have to refer your case to the vice-Chancellor who has the authority to condone up to one year of underage.
Q. Does a college keep the cut – off high just to uphold the standing, of the institution?
Ans. While that may be one of the considerations, it is by no means an arbitrary decision. The cut-off percentage for each list is arrived at by carefully computing the number of applicants and their marks.
Attached to this is the university’s stipulation that all students who come within the cut-off percentage and approach the college within the stipulated time, have to be accommodated. In effect, this means that any student with a score higher than the cut-off percentages announced by the college and applying within the prescribed period has to be admitted by the college irrespective of whether the college has any seats left.
Naturally therefore, the college plays it safe by keeping the cut-off somewhat high in the initial list. Then, depending on the gap between the demand and supply it can always drop the percentage a couple of points in the subsequent list.
Q. I am a ST student from Manipur. If I want to apply under the reserved category, where should I register?
Ans. All students in the SC/ST category should register at one of the following centres: Office of the Dean Students Welfare, main campus; Office of the Joint Dean, students welfare, South Campus;
You will have to show your SC/ST certificate at all the time of registration. The special cell of the university will process all applications and seats will be allotted on the basis of merit and performance. Students who have registered will be issued admission slips indicating the name of the colleges where they will be admitted.
Q. I am a physically challenged student, how can I apply for
A. You can register at the office of Dean Students’ Welfare (Main Campus), New Examination Hall, near the University Gate. The application form will be available at the Registration Desk. The dates and timings for the availability for submission of forms will be same as general category students.
Q. I play badminton regularly at my club. Will this make me eligible for the sports quota in
Ans. Except for courses which require an entrance test and those for which centralised admission is conducted, a maximum of 5 percent seats are reserved for the sports category in Hons. and Pass courses separately. The applications of those applying under sports category will be finalised by the sports committee of the respective college after conducting trials and interviews. Only those who have achieved a high level of competency are considered. You should have secured a position or participated in events at the state, national or international level to qualify. Be sure to fill up relevant forms to apply for these quotas.
Q. I have played at the Zonal level from my school. If I apply for B.Com. (Pass) through the sports quota, can I include my marks in Physical education? How many marks/percentage will I get from the colleges for playing at the Zonal level?
Ans. To apply for B.Com. (Pass) you can include Physical Education, as it is one of the elective subjects that have been listed by the CBSE. Each college has its own committee and once you apply to the college you are called for the trials accordingly. In the sports quota, a 15 point weightage is demarcated wherein the highest points are accorded to students who have played at the international/Olympic level, then nationals, Zonal and so on.
Q. On the basis of which subjects in the Board exams is the minimum percentage of marks for eligibility to arts and commerce courses in
Ans. Minimum percentage of marks for eligibility to Arts and commerce course is determined on the basis of three elective subjects and one language. Some colleges specify the language criterion to mean only English since the medium of instruction in these colleges is English. For B.Com. (Hons.) Maths must be counted as one of the three electives.
Over and above the basic minimum percentage of marks, every college announces its own cut-off level on the basis of which it draws up the admission list. In practice then it is the cut off percentage and not the minimum eligibility that decides your fate.
Q. I have passed class XII with 85 percent marks in the science stream. Now I wish to opt for B. Com. Can I apply to colleges whose cut-off percentage is 83 percent and above?
Ans. Not necessarily. You have to factor in the phenomenon called weightage, which adds its own weight to the confusion. What it actually means is that marks may be deducted (around 5 percent in some cases) if you are from a science background and wish to seek admission in commerce. The weightage given to subjects related to the course in which admission is sought, is again entirely at the discretion of the college. Colleges retain the right to grant weightage to various subjects based on their relevance to the course offered.
Q. Why there is such a disparity in cut-offs of B.A. Math (Hons.), if the difference between the courses is the supplementary papers. Also, why do certain college consider best of four for B.Sc. Math whereas others consider PCM. Specify colleges that require PCM?
Ans. The B.Sc. course has higher marks and the cut-offs are correspondingly higher. For B.Sc. Math (Hons.), all colleges will consider PCM while it is for B.A. Math (Hons.) that they consider the best of four.
Q. Is maths required to apply for economics honours?
Ans. Different colleges have different criteria. Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), for example, does not require maths but does insist on special maths classes in the first year of college.
Q. I had Physical Education in class XII, will it be counted in best of four subjects?
A. Physical Education is usually considered only for select courses. However, colleges don’t have a uniform policy.
Q. My best of four including PCM and English is 87.5%. I want BA Eco (Hons.). Do science students get extra weightage?
A. You may not get admission to the course in many colleges, as you have not studied Economics in school. Consult individual colleges.
Q. Can Business Maths, offered by ICSE, substitute for regular mathematics while applying for Economics (Hons) and B.Com. (Hons.)?
Ans. No. Business mathematics is a vocational course. It cannot substitute for regular maths Again it depends from college to college and the course applied.
Q. Is it true that over and above the percentage required to make it to a B.A. (Hons.) in English in
Ans. Although this does not hold for admission to all colleges in
Wherever the test is held, at least 30 percent weight age is given to the previous qualifying exam. Not more then 15 percent weight age is given for the interview (if any). St. Stephens Colleges University Enclave, admits students on the basis of an interview.
Q. I have 89.9 in PCM.
Ans. According to the
Q. I had Hindi Elective in Class XII along with English. Can I take both the languages in best of four?
A. Yes, most of the
Q. If I get through the first cut – off list of a college, but wait for the list of another college and don’t get through. Will I be eligible for admission to first college, even though seats are over?
Ans. No. You should apply for first college after first cut off list itself. You can always leave it later and join another college.
Q. What are the options available for the applicants who have not made it to the second cut-off list?
Ans. Students should check whether they have got through the cut-offs for courses of their choice in any college and gain admission. In case the student does not want to exercise this option, he or she can consider enrolling for courses offered by
Q. I have cleared the cut-off requirements of a few colleges but I have my interviews in St. Stephen’s college for Economics (Hons.) on June 29, after the admissions for the first list are over. The problem is that even if I take admission in one of the other colleges, St Stephen’s is demanding original certificates for the interview. Can I take attested photocopies instead as there is no guarantee that I will get admission there and I don’t want to lose a seat in the other colleges as well?
Ans. You can take admission in any college and bring attested photocopies of your original certificates for the interview. There isn’t any problem with that as in case you do get through you can easily submit your original certificates later.
Q. I have taken admission in
Ans. Yes, but keep the following points in mind a) Do not cancel your admission in a college unless you have already taken admission in a second one – just clearing the cut off list does not guarantee admission at any stage, b) To procure the original documents, write an application to the convenor admission in the first college, c) If you are left with no option but to cancel admission in the first one, insist on a written undertaking from the convenor admissions of the second college, d) You could also request the second college to admit you provisionally against a written undertaking that the original documents will be submitted within a specified number of days, e) Keep the roll number allotted to you by the first college handy because you might need it when applying to the second college for provisional admission f) The whole process may take some running around, so do not loose patience.
Q. If I take admission in a particular college or course but later decide to withdraw, will the fee be refunded?
Ans. The fee is refunded if the candidate applies for it within the stipulated time period. Usually, a certain amount-not more than Rs. 5 – is deducted from the fees if the student withdraws admission by mid – July. Thereafter, the college deducts Rs. 60 of the amount is claimed by August.
Q. My first choice is medicine and I am awaiting my results. In the mean time, I need to take admission in a regular college as a back up. Will get my original certificates back if I take admission in a college, but want to withdraw later?
Ans. You can get them back. How long the procedure takes depends upon the different colleges – they could take two minutes or two days.
Q. I have got through Chemistry (Hons.) in
Ans. Yes this can be done. But you must take the college authorities into confidence. Speak to the teacher who took your form.
Q. Do colleges fill up all their seats from the cut off list taken out in June - July?
Ans. No, they don’t. There are seats that fall vacant once some students leave to get admission in medical and engineering colleges. These are filled up with students who might have not fallen within the cut – off percentage taken out in July. Such seats are open till the month of October.
Q. I want to know whether admission guarantees a hostel seat or whether I have to apply separately for it.
Ans. You have to apply separately for it.
Q. Can I get into a better college on the basis of my first year marks in college?
Ans. Yes it is possible but not in all the colleges. Certain colleges allow students to migrate in the second year but it varies from college to college. First, this requires high scores like a first division in Humanities subjects and over 50 percent marks in the subsidiary subjects. Second, there should be a vacancy in the desired college. Third, your college should be willing to let you go.
Q. I have given my final year exams of Economics (Hons.). If I fail in any of the papers can I get a degree in the Pass course this year?
Ans. You can ask for the Pass course if you fail in a subject. Usually, students failing in a subsidiary subject ask for the Pass course. The same can be allowed even if you fail one paper in the Honours course. This means that you won’t have to repeat a year but then you have to be satisfied with a pass degree instead of honours.
Q. I passed out of school from Andhra Pradesh in 2000. Can I do a course through correspondence now? How do they teach - will I have to attend any classes or submit assignments? And how do I clarify any doubts that I may have while studying?
Ans. There is no problem in applying for a course now. There is flexibility in the distant education mode that isn’t present in the regular college. If a student wants to study on a regular basis, he can send in response sheets accordingly. If he prefers to do his work towards the end of the session he can even do that - there is no rule that a specific number of assignments need to be done. The prospectus lists all the teachers according to their subject specialty and students can either write to them or go and meet to clarify any problems doubts.
Q. Which is a better course B. Com (Hons) or Eco (Hons)?
Ans. The choice of course depends on a student’s aptitude. Both courses have good career options. Interest in subject should be the deciding factor.
Q. What kind of career opportunities is available after pursuing BA program?
Ans. It is inter-disciplinary and according to the subjects opted for, students can specialise in a particular
field. Vocational subjects help in developing job-related skills.
Q. I am Honours student of a
Ans. Yes you can apply for these short term courses after colleges open form July 15. But check if they accept students from other colleges.
Q. I will be joining engineering college soon. Can I join a part – time foreign language course in
Ans. Most colleges do admit students from outside