KOLKATA: High marks? Check. Choice of colleges? Think again. This has been the story of a large section of the school-leaving batch of 2021. Many of them with good scores in Class XII boards — even in the high 90s — have discovered that getting a seat in a subject of their choosing in a college of their choice is next to impossible, thanks to the fierce competition in a pandemic-scarred year, where several hundred students have scored as much, or even higher.
Whereas in other years, these students’ high scores would have opened most doors, this year’s stratospheric marks have forced them to wait for the first round of admissions to be over to know whether a second list would be issued, and whether they still stand a chance.
With the board examinations cancelled this year and results calculated on the basis of formulae worked out by each examination board, the record number of students who have scored over 90% and 95% had carried an indication that cut-offs would be 1.5% to 2% higher in most colleges this year. With each board also keen that students do not suffer in a pandemic year, more students figured in the top bracket this year than they have ever done prior to the pandemic.
The high-marks-for-more approach has, expectedly, made the entry process that much tougher.
A student who secured 97% in ISC is yet to secure admission. His mother is in shock. “Had the exams been held, there’d have been a fair assessment of students and the results more realistic. My son was preparing for the exam. Instead, he received 97% according to the formula but that score does not seem to be enough now,” she said.
‘The picture will be clearer in a few days’
The father of another aspirant said his daughter was spending sleepless nights worrying about whether she would get to study in a college of her choice despite securing 94% in ISC and applying for admission in 10 colleges. “This is a crazy situation. And it isn’t just my daughter. There must be so many students and their parents who are faced with this situation,” he said. Stuti Banerjee, who secured 97% in ISC, and has applied for physics honours at only Bethune, Lady Brabourne and Jadavpur University is scared. “The colleges have called the first 24-30 students for online reporting; my name does not figure. I now have a feeling that I should have applied to more colleges just to be safe,” she said.
Sharanya Mallick, who has got 90% in HS, has submitted forms for sociology and geography. Her name is still on the waiting list. “I wanted to study geography but my rank in sociology is better. So, I think I will opt for the later rather than lose the opportunity altogether by trying for the subject of my choice,” she said. Anusuya Samaddar from Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission Barrackpore also got over 90% marks and applied for geology, physics and economics in 20 colleges. But almost everywhere, her rank is below 400. “I’ve got a chance for online reporting in Ashutosh College as my rank is 323 and they have called up to 330. But, for the first round, only 40-41 have been called. So I have a long wait ahead,” she said.
College principals requested students and parents to be patient. “This year, the cut-off percentage is very high. Students who have gotten very high marks have applied to nearly all good colleges. They will figure on the first list in multiple institutions. So, those who have missed out will have to wait to see how many seats remain vacant to get an opportunity,” explained Lady Brabourne principal Siuli Sarkar. Her counterpart in Scottish Church College, Madhumanjari Mandal Choubey, concurred. “Too many students have got very high marks this year. Many will initially be disappointed. But a clearer picture will emerge after a few days,” she said.
Students who are eyeing Presidency University, Jadavpur University, Lady Brabourne College, Maulana Azad College and Asutosh College are worried about the limited seats at these institutions, which may get filled up before their turns come. For now though, there is little they can do but keep their fingers crossed.
