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Gurman Bhatia

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Lady Shri Ram College for Women, one of the leading college of arts in the country has declared the first cut-off for this academic year.

As expected, the cut-offs are extremely high and almost all courses have increased the bar in a significant manner. Courses such as English and Journalism (Now Journalism and Mass Communication) that had admissions previously through entrance examinations namely CATE and CJET respectively, see cut-offs that might be somewhat unexpected. While LSR’s English cut-off is the highest for the subject as of now (except for Miranda’s cut-off for Commerce students), for Journalism LSR’s is one of the first announcements to come.

Commerce goes even higher than SRCC at a 97.75 for the course. The cut-off for economics at LSR is at par with SRCC with 97.75. Hence, it is expected that a second list should come out atleast for these two courses. The same pattern followed last year, with college declaring a high first cut-off that didn’t find many takers. Perhaps, we might see a more realistic second cut-off.

Other subjects such as History and Political Science have also risen considerably from 90.25 and 93.5 respectively last year, to 95.75 this year for both the courses. Psychology, which happens to be a B.Tech course this year sees a somewhat similar cut-off to last year’s 96.

Here is the college cut-off for various courses:

English: 97%
Commerce: 97.75-98.75
Psychology: 96.75
Economics: 97.75
History: 95.75
Political Science: 95.75
Sanskrit: 55
Sociology: 96.5
Statistics: 96
Journalism and Mass Communication: 97.5 – 98.5

Shri Ram College of Commerce, popularly known as SRCC has declared its first cut-off. The college will offer two courses- FYUP in Economics and FYUP in Commerce.

FYUP in Economics

General: 97.5%
OBC: 95.75%
SC: 95.25%
ST: 94.25%
PWD (VH) : 95.25%
PWD (HH): 97%
PWD (OH): 97%

The cut-off has been declared the same for all streams. Hence, humanities, commerce and science students will compete with the same cut-off. As a rider, students in the general category need to have a minimum of 70% marks in mathematics. With such high cut-offs, a 70+ in Maths should certainly be a given.

FYUP in Commerce

The most prized course in Delhi University does not come at 100% this time. The cut-off starting at 97% for Commerce students and going up till 99% for students without a Commerce background, comes somewhat expected from SRCC’s track record of high cut-offs. When compared to Kirori Mal College’s 99.75%, SRCC’s 99% is certainly justified better.

Eligibility Categories
A: 12th with all four papers of Accounts, Business Studies, Economics, Maths
B: 12th with any three papers from Accounts, Business Studies, Economics, Maths
C: 12th with any two papers from Accounts, Business Studies, Economics, Maths
D: 12th with any one paper from Accounts, Business Studies, Economics, Maths
E: Others

srcc-1

All the best candidates!

For cut-offs of other colleges, please refer here.

Amidst the hype around the newly introduced four year undergraduate programme, we have been discussing what could be right and what could seriously go wrong. With that wave of discussion as well as confusion, majority of us (except the VC of course) have criticized the FYUP. Here is a flip side of the coin. A few pointers on why the FYUP might not be that bad an idea:

  • Practical Knowledge: Foundation Courses covering an array of subjects from Arts, Science, Social Sciences and Commerce backgrounds, will equip students with appropriate communication skills, mathematical ability and other such skills that are required to face real life challenges. Students are also expected to study Application papers, to encourage application-based knowledge. In the final year, students shall be expected to pursue two Research based papers/ Innovation projects, something which does not exist under the current framework for majority of the courses. Hence, the FYUP might encourage the assimilation of knowledge, and not just learning for an upcoming examination.
  • The professional ‘tag’: Supporters of the FYUP are selling the idea stating that it is a more professional course and will create employable youngsters. If we stick to social myths, a B.Tech has been the way to go. If you want to earn money, you do not do a B.Sc./B.A but rather a professional course such as B.Tech. Even with general ‘academic’ courses being awarded with a professional tag, it might actually create more employable students.
  • Integration of Sports and ECA to the curriculum: Until now, sports and ECA have not been an active part of the curriculum. With the FYUP, students have the option to gain course credit from these activities. Hence, students who often contemplate about leaving passion in these fields due to academics can actually stay on and pursue them and gain credits from the same. Heads up for encouraging extra-curricular activities!
  • Better opportunities for higher education: For students wishing to go abroad for their masters, countries such as America have had limited options. The reason being majority of reputed colleges such as the Ivy League institutions require four years of undergraduate study. People who want pursue education at these places, opt to spend a year in other interim courses to bridge the requirement. With the FYUP in place, you would be eligible for applying fresh out of college.
  • Multiple degree options: While most people have been debating that the multiple degree option in the FYUP is meant to create disparity, the fact that the course gives a ‘choice’ is one to be appreciated. For example, if my economic condition does not allow me to finish my education and I leave after two years to get job, I have a diploma and have the option of turning it into an honours degree in the future. It’s about choices.
  • Digital awareness: Not everyone grows up amidst internet access and the FYUP acknowledges that. Creating foundational courses that work on to giving basic IT understanding to everyone is a positive step. Access to laptops might work in the right direction as well. With such approach the idea is to bring everyone on the same level before the real education in their major begins.
  • A step towards an International model: Adopting the credit system leaves room for studying a certain course at your pace. We can also assume that soon like the international system, community work and internships will also contribute to your credit score. If one rather wants to concentrate on training on field, you can work on that. If someone wants to get the fundamentals right, they can work on that bit. Again, it’s about giving the student a choice of how they wish to approach their under graduation.

These are a few things that strike right about Delhi University’s four year programme. By stating these we don’t wish to contemplate that everything about the FYUP is great, but rather stress on the fact that apart from the negative debates, there exists positivity on the subject as well.

(Also See: Apprehensions about the Four Year Undergraduate Programme)

After a range of concerns surfacing amidst students, the School of Open Learning, popularly known as SOL might be getting the FYUP next academic year onwards.

SOL or School of Open Learning is Delhi University’s solution for students who prefer distance learning. The correspondence courses from the institute are a popular preference for students who want to immediately work after school while they also earn a degree. It is also an option for those who do not have a very high percentage that might be sufficient for them to earn admission in their choice of course in a regular college. However, the best part about SOL has been the fact that despite the fact that you are doing a correspondence course, the degree is the same as other colleges and is awarded by the Delhi University.

When the rest of the colleges in the Delhi University went ahead with the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) this year, it was announced that SOL would continue with the previous existing three year programme. The decision has raised a slew of apprehensions among applicants who are now looking at a three year correspondence course vis-à-vis a four year regular one. Not only does it create a disparity between the degrees awarded, it also raises questions whether the ones under the FYUP will actually be more ‘employable’.

The reason for SOL not adopting FYUP this year is the fact that the methodology of SOL courses is heavily dependent on the course material. And it is apparent that developing course material for the hurriedly formulated FYUP will certainly take time. However, SOL authorities believe that they should be able to work on the same and the FYUP should come to SOL in the coming year. At present the centre offers five undergraduate courses namely, B.A. Programme, B.Com (Pass), B.Com (Hons.), B.A. (Hons.) Political Science and B.A (Hons.) English literature. One needs to note that three of these don’t exist with the FYUP. While B.A. Programme is scrapped, B.Com has been replaced with a Baccalaureate in Commerce degree. Hence, what would happen to SOL next year with its limited set of courses is a matter of concern as well.

With drastic changes coming to the rest of the university, the changes that are in store for SOL might have been delayed, but are surely still expected.

(For entire Admissions 2013 coverage click here)