After completing a 24-hour long journey via train from Nagpur to Delhi, Gopal Krishna Dhundle directly reached North Campus, bags, baggage and children in tow. Though visibly exhausted, there was a reason why Dhundle had to take so much trouble.

His son Chetan has cleared the first cut-off in Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and the father was here to help his son, fill up the form for admission in DU’s top college for Commerce. With 94.75 percent in top four subjects, both father and son were confident that they will make it before they began their journey.

“Considering last year’s cut-off I had a hunch that it would be increased by one percent. On the basis of that assumption I decided to come to Delhi and directly to SRCC to take admission in the college that I have always dreamt to be a part of,” says Chetan, who has got the admission on the basis of separate cut-off for Schedule Caste (SC) category. This academic session sees six separate cut-off lists for SC, ST, OBC, general and physically disabled students and many students are reaping the benefit of it.

Another candidate Akshay Goel from Rajasthan, was able to clear the cut-off in the general category. He has scored 97.5 percent a mere 0.5 percent above the cut off. “I reached SRCC before 9 am and completed the entire admission procedure in half-an-hour. Everything was done smoothly,” says Akshay. 

Meanwhile other students interested in B.Com (Hons) and Economics (Hons) were seeing making a beeline for Hindu, Hansraj, Ramjas, Kirorimal and SGTB Khalsa College. As the subject is very popular, Pulkit Malik, who has scored 96 percent says, “I am applying in Khalsa because I failed to make it in the first cut-off (96.75-99.75) of Hindu College.” Pulkit’s father, Keshav Raj Malik though is waiting for the second cut-off list as it will give his son an entry in Hindu or Hansraj. “My son is taking admission in Khalsa to confirm a seat. In case there are not too many seats left in Hindu by the second cut-off, atleast my child will have something in hand,” says
Keshav.

 Similarly, Eeshat Tiwari from Doon School got 95 percent but had very few options in the selection of college. “I don’t want to take admission in Ramjas but I have no option,” says Eeshat. “I hope I get a seat in Hindu or Hansraj by the second cut-off,” he says.

Like Eeshat, many students had to compromise with their aim. Nilofar Anjum Siddiqui from Fatehpur is one amongst them. Metrolife saw her father RA Siddiqui waiting for Nilofar, outside Daulat Ram College (DRC). “My daughter hasn’t got admission in Political Science (Hons) in either Hindu or Hansraj, so she has opted for History (Hons) in DRC. Since she was able to clear the cut-off in DRC, I suggested that she take admission here so that she gets an opportunity to live her life in North Campus.”

Some specially challenged students were seeking admission in Hindi (Hons). Two visually impaired friends Vivek Kumar Patel and Aakash Kumar Gupta, reached Hindu early morning for their admission. “The Hindi faculty is very good in Hindu. Above all its North Campus, so who does not want to be a part of it,” asked Aakash with a grin.

The other top courses where students were eagerly seeking admission included Sociology (Hons), Mathematics (Hons) and Statistics (Hons) besides English and Journalism.