Cut-offs likely to be high as DU colleges prefer to remain in ‘cautious’ mode

At Hindu College,which had a cut-off of 95.5 to 99 per cent in 2011 for B Com (H) last year,cut-offs are likely to rise further for many courses while some may see a dip,said acting principal Dr Pradyumn Kumar.

“Once we decide on a cut-off,we have to admit all those who meet it. Even a difference of .5 will make a large difference. We are being cautious as we do not was over-admissions to happen. Expect cut-offs this year to be a plus or minus .5 per cent of those last year,” he said.

“Fifteen years ago,if we admitted 60 students to a course,15 would stay on. Now the situation has changed and under-graduate courses have become very attractive to students. This is the reason cut-offs have gone up in recent years,” Dr Kumar said.

Sri Venkateswara College

Cut-offs for BCom(H) and Economics (H) courses will see a rise from last year’s highest of 97.75 at Sri Venkateswara College,said Dr V C S Rao,professor of Chemistry and media coordinator of the college.

“Based on the CBSE results this year,cut-offs will rise by at least one per cent in all courses. In Commerce and Economics Honours,which are the most in demand,a hike of more than one per cent from last year may be expected. Even in courses with less demand there will be no reduction in cut-offs in the first list,” Dr Rao said.

Hansraj College

“Every year,the number of applicants to under-graduate courses rise while the number of seats remain the same,so cut-offs will go up,” said Dr V K Kawatra,principal of Hansraj College. On an average,a one percentage point rise can be expected for courses at our college,he said.

At Ramjas College,too,cut-offs are “bound to go up,” said Dr Rajendra Prasad,the college principal. “Along with BCom (H)and Economics (H),cut-offs in all subjects will see a rise of between .5 and 2 percent. Over-admissions,which happened last year — we admitted nearly 200 students in classes meant for 60 — is one of the reasons why we will be cautious this year,” he said.

Zakir Husain Delhi College

Along with Arts and Commerce,the Sciences are also going to get pricier this year. Last year saw a resurgence in demand for Science courses,said Dr M Aslam Parvaiz,principal of Zakir Husain Delhi College.

“For honours courses like B Com,Economics,Psychology and English,which see good demand,cut-offs will go up. Last year,we noticed a surge in demand for Science courses. Students seem to be returning to the Sciences so we will go cautious with Science cut-offs this year,which will be slightly higher than last year,” Dr Parvaiz said.

Choose courses over colleges

Past experience with cut-offs,along with CBSE results and data provided by Delhi University based on pre-admission forms submitted by candidates with their choice of colleges and courses are the main consideration when determining cut-offs,principals said.

Based on the response to first list,cut-offs may come down,said Dr Kumar of Hindu College. “We will bring the cut-offs down if we see the need. There is no need for students to lose hope. I advise them to pick courses over colleges. A course will stay with them through life while the college will not matter once you pass out. Different colleges provide different environments but the quality of teachers is the same everywhere,” Dr Kumar said.

“If seats are vacant after the first cut-off list,the cut-offs will be reduced in subsequent lists by 0.25 to 0.5 per cent,” said Dr Rao of Sri Venkateswara College.

Dr J M Khurana,Dean of Students’ Welfare,said,“We have prepared CDs with separate folders for each course with details like number of students who have applied,how many have marks above a certain percentage,etc. Colleges can use the data while determining cut-offs.”

Outside of the CBSE Board,bulk of Delhi University’s students come from state boards of UP and Haryana and Bihar,said Dr Khurana.