First Year degree admissions: 2nd merit list gives relief to students as cut-offs dip

Colleges are of the opinion that the third merit list may provide more relief to students. Representation pic

After the high cut-offs in the first merit list for First Year Degree admissions did not leave much room for average scorers, the second merit list seems to have come as a relief for them. However, while the cut-offs of some colleges haven't seen much of a dip, some others have definitely provided the much-needed relief to students. The second merit list for degree admissions in city colleges has received mixed reactions, and while a few colleges have made room for average scorers, students are expected to get more options with the subsequent merit lists.

After the first merit list, which had high cut-offs, was out, concerns were raised over the difficulties average scorers would face in getting admissions. Speaking to mid-day, Dr. Shobna Vasudevan, principal of R A Podar College, whose second merit list has come out with a dip in the cut-offs, said, "The actual cut-offs are definitely higher than the previous year's, but that is because of the high marks scored by students this time. The trend looks the same. The third merit list may provide further relief to students." Elaborating further, she said, "Students' outlook has changed as well. There is no longer high dependency on a few popular courses. A lot of different courses are being offered and students are choosing from them."

Also read: First list out; high demand for professional courses

Talking about the degree admission scenario this year, Dr. Anna Pratima Nikalje, principal of Wilson College, said, "Some students have applied to multiple courses of their choice. Now with the second merit list out, they are most likely to finalise on their admission, which may provide some more relief to non-scorers in the third merit list." Nikalje also shared how Science was gaining its lost importance while Arts continued to be among the popular choices.