In another few weeks, Delhi University will declare its first cut-off list for the academic year 2016-17. That day will be a fateful one, deciding the future of the millions of prospective freshers who aspire to join DU. So while DU hopefuls across India wait with baited breath, as a soon-to-be third year student of DU, I have just one word of advice (and caution) to offer: for your sense of sanity and happiness, dare to look beyond DU!

There is a dangerous trend that abounds in the Indian academia: every year, the marks secured  keep increasing, leading to soaring percentages and subsequently, sky-high and unrealistic cut-offs. Chances of getting admission to what we believe are the premier colleges of the country just keep getting slimmer. But you see, that is where the problem lies. Our beliefs become our limitations, and in this way, we ourselves bring misery, grief and unhappiness to our lives.

Each student works hard in their final year of school, driven by the sole aim of getting into a good college and pursuing a degree of one’s choice. But in spite of our best efforts, sometimes things don’t go as planned. So, let’s say you didn’t qualify for admission to the college of your choice. You can always apply to another college and still get the course of your choice. There are so many colleges in DU, it’s hard to name all of them in one go! Even in the worst case scenario, if you failed to get admission to any DU college, look outside this particular University, for God’s sake! There are so many universities in India, with so many colleges! DU isn’t the end of life. The only reason we think it is, is because that’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe. That’s what we’ve been brainwashed to accept. But as the master of your mind, you can easily break that mindset and look out of the box.

I know it’s easier said than done. When I was applying to college, I too was bitten by the DU bug. So much so that I didn’t even sit for any of the entrances for other colleges. For me, it was DU or nothing. But after two years in this University, I’ve realised that all the hue and cry is absolutely unjustified. Yes, I love my college and my course. But other colleges and other courses across universities in the country are in no way inferior. At the end of your graduation degree, you’re pretty much at par with the others from other colleges and universities. When you begin to work, it will be your vocational skill that will take you forward; and if you choose to study further, it will be the knowledge that you’ve acquired that will help you. The bottom line being that your college name and university can take you only so far, before they fade away and become inconsequential.

This summer, I started on an internship down South. I am working in the Finance Department of a five star hotel in Visakhapatnam. On my first day, during the induction, I was asked to introduce myself. I quite proudly mentioned the name of my college and university, almost certain that everybody would know about them. But I was in for a shock when almost all the other interns, students from Andhra University, had no clue what I was talking about. Even my mentors couldn’t care less. And that is what gave me food for thought, the result of which is this article.

So freshers, brace yourself for the worst. You know, as well as I do, that you’re going to have to deal with insane cut-offs and tedious college procedures as you apply to DU. But, take the entire process with a pinch of salt. Look beyond this particular university, trust your abilities and keep reminding yourself that you’ll succeed no matter where you land up. After all, in the history of mankind, we see that students are known not by their college; rather it’s the college which is known by its students. Do wonders wherever you go, and your life is sorted!

Kriti Sharma
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