With top scorers on rise, high cut-offs a case of concern

With the top scorers on a steady rise every year in Class 12 CBSE boards, it is getting crowded at the top. Close to 90,000 candidates scored 90 per cent and above, while more than 14,000 students scored 95 per cent and above this year.

As the Class 12 CBSE results of toppers inch closer to 100 per cent with each passing year, the cut-offs are keeping pace with courses like B.Com. Honours and BA English Honours in colleges like SRCC, Ramjas, Hansraj, etc. This has made life tough for students who scored in the 90 per cent bracket to secure a seat out of 54,000 seats that Delhi University offers. Every decimal point matters and may play a decisive factor in gaining admission in dream course and college.

Ramjas College declared the highest cut-off with 99.25 per cent for B.Com. Honours in the first list, while Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), which is considered country’s top commerce college, declared 98 per cent for the same.

While many students, who score 90 per cent, are forced to seek admission in some private university or other universities in the country, most of the students prefer to go for foreign universities. UK, US and New Zealand have emerged as the most favourite destination for high quality education and better exposure.

Vedika Chauhan, who has applied for BBA at Warwick University in London, said that contrary to laying more emphasis on theoretical education in India, a greater stress is on the practical part of the course in universities abroad. “Despite scoring 94.2 per cent in board exams, I am sure I will not secure admission in SRCC, which is the most sought after college for commerce students, because of the high cut-offs. So I thought of seeking admission in a foreign university where exposure is much more with high quality education,” she said.

Sidharth Vohra, who scored 92.7 per cent in his boards and intends to pursue Computer Science said, “After seeing such high-cut off I did not even wait further for the other cut offs and immediately applied to DeVry University in the United States. And I do not wish to go for unpopular colleges in DU.” The highest cut-off declared for Computer Science this year is 98 per cent.

“Steep increase in the cut-offs is a major reason for Class 12 students seeking other options. These students opt for courses from foreign universities at the undergraduate level as several provisions like education loans are available,” said Moushami Mukherjee, a counsellor at a career-counselling firm.

Even though much cynicism has been generated about private universities mushrooming, particularly in the NCR, some of the most preferred options among students coming from Arts and Commerce streams are Indraprastha University, Ambedkar University, Sharda University and Noida’s Amity University.

Rohan Sethi, who scored 95.3 per cent in his 12th board and wishes to pursue B.Com. Honors from Ramjas College feels it is better for him to pursue the same in Bangalore as he has less chances of getting into DU. “After seeing my result, I had decided to pursue my B.Com. from Ramjas College only, but after seeing the first cut-off it seems impossible. In today’s time the competition is between all the 90 per centres. I have decided I would better apply in IIM Bangalore instead of waiting for other cut-offs.”

“I scored 93 per cent in my 12th and I wanted to go to St. Stephen’s for English Honours, but since the cut-off has gone so high, I have decided to pursue the same from Amity University. I know my parents have to shell out a lot of money as compared to DU but if even after getting marks in 90s, one has to struggle to get into DU, then you need to go for an alternative option,” said Niharika Khanna who came all the way from Jharkhand.

Graduation through Open schooling or pursuing vocational courses remain the last and perhaps the most undesirable option, but lakhs of students end up pursuing just that. “Unfortunately, a student who has scored even in 90s finds himself in a confused situation after seeing the sky-rocketing cut-offs. Either they prefer to opt for correspondence to pursue some further vocational course or move out of the city,” said the principal of a private school on the condition of anonymity.

“I wish she gets through a college in North campus but in case she doesn’t, we will look out for a better college in South campus. The last option will be Ambed-kar University,” said Sriti’s mother, Pooja Roy.