SC,ST students get a second chance

At DU,admissions of SC/ ST category students follow a different pattern. Unlike general category students,who can choose colleges depending on the cut-off marks,these students are allotted colleges by the Dean of Student Welfare (DSW) after screening of their forms.

For example,if a general category student gets 90 per cent marks and if five colleges have invited students with those marks to take admission,the student can choose from them.

But the SC/ ST students have to list about 30 colleges and courses of their choice in their application forms. So,if the top 15 students mark SRCC as their first preference and if the college has just five reserved seats,five students with the maximum percentage will be allotted SRCC. The rest will be allotted colleges based on their second and third preferences.

But this system has been creating problems for years,as these students feel dissatisfied if they don’t get a college from their first five preferences.

Now,they can fill the form afresh after the first list in June. Those unhappy with the colleges allotted to them can contact the DSW office. The Dean of Student Welfare had carried out a similar exercise last year after many students thronged his office.

S K Vij,the Dean of Student Welfare,said every year after the first list is released there are three trends among SC/ ST applicants. First,students happy with the colleges allotted take the admission slips and take admissions. Second,students don’t take their admission slips,and third,they take the slip but don’t take admission.

“Those who have not taken admission despite taking the slip can now come to the DSW office where they will be given fresh forms and a second list will be issued for them,” Vij said.

But event this system may do little to help the students choose. It is advisable,Vij said,to take admission in the first list as 98 per cent of the seats are filled in the first list itself,and a student may not get his desired course and college despite waiting for the second list.

Meanwhile,the DSW will release a booklet for SC/ST students,which will have information regarding admission. “SC/ ST students should start applying for their SC/ ST certificates because while submitting the forms,the certificate has to be in their name and not their parents,” Vij said.