Securing a seat in Delhi University is a common aspiration of a large number of high school pass outs, and they also face a common dilemma – whether to take up a course of their choice from a lesser – known college or to settle for a course in which they might have little or no interest in from a more popular college.
This dilemma intensifies further for the students scoring an average result of say, 91-94%. Yes, this is an average score according to the cut-off trends of the past few years. These students constitute the unlucky lot that missed out on the 95% mark, despite having been bright in school, and also their shot at the more reputed colleges of the University.
There are of course students who have the intelligence and luck to score 96% and above. They are the privileged ones who get the opportunity to obtain the college and course they desire. This is in stark contrast to the ones scoring 80% or below who neither get their desired course, nor college, or end up having to make a heart-breaking between the two.
Commerce and Economic courses usually have the highest cut-offs. Students from commerce background especially tend to be inclined towards these subjects. The first cut off list of 2013 saw popular colleges like Hindu College and Lady Shri Ram College for Women keep the benchmark for at approximately 97-98% while the comparatively lesser known ones like Motilal Nehru College kept the same at about 93-95%. According to the admission coverage by Times Of India for 2014, English however is way ahead of these “hot” subjects according to online applications received till June 15.
According to experts, one should choose a course of their own choice over a good college as, in that scenario, they will by default work hard and ultimately performance matters. If one compromises on the course they might land up being dissatisfied in their professional lives too. Prof, J.M Khurana, Dean of Students’ Welfare, DU says “The college name does not matter. A good college may have good facilities, faculty and a good academic environment allowing healthier competition, but it is up to the student how he/she makes the best of what he/she has.”
When applying for Master’s, admissions are based on entrance exams rather than the college from which a student pursued his/ her undergraduate studies. For non-professional courses, a focused student should choose course over college as these are niche areas where much higher level of study is required in future. There is always a chance to shift to a better college at postgraduate level.
For professional courses like engineering and law, a good college opens up job avenues. There is no point choosing a college where campus recruitments are rare or none. Apart from guaranteed placements, a “good” college also provides major facilities like a well-equipped library, easy internet access or state of the art laboratory. It organizes academic and non-academic programs which enhances the knowledge of students in diverse fields and makes them better equipped to face the world. Since good colleges only take the best of students, the crowd itself is enriching to the newbies and proves advantageous to their overall personality development.
Hence, there isn’t one definite solution to the course v/s college dilemma and it is for the student to decide what matters to them – course or college and which should be given preference over the other.
Ishani Rajkhowa for DU Beat.
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