Securing a seat in the premier government colleges of the state, particularly in the science stream, will be tougher this year with students securing higher marks on average in the HSC exam.
“There will be stiff competition this time since the average marks secured is much higher than last year. Besides, the consistent success rate of our college has attracted large number of high-scorers leading to high cut-off marks. So the cut-off for science has increased,” said N C Mohanty, a teacher in BJB Junior College. The demand for science stream has increased this year, while that of commerce courses has remained unchanged. Interest of students towards arts stream has shown a sliding trend, he added.
The minimum marks required for admission into science stream in BJB Junior College was 92.33 per cent last year, while the cut-off marks for Arts students in general category was 58.17 per cent. In commerce the desired percentage was 75.83 percent for general students.
“BJB College students have been scoring good marks in science stream, but with a large number of self-financing schools coming up and doing well in Plus-II, I am a bit confused where to send my son. While there is tough competition for science stream, students have very little interest in studying arts, and there is hardly any difference between studying humanities in BJB College and some other college, they feel,” said Duryodhan Panda, whose son has secured 89 per cent in Class X.
Similarly, cut-off marks in Ravenshaw Junior College for science, commerce and arts streams were 91.26, 75.67 and 56 per cent respectively last year. While RD Women’s Junior College had fixed cut-offs for science, commerce and arts at 85, 64.5 and 48.83 per cent respectively, the science cut-off at Basic Science College was 88.67 per cent. In Rajdhani College, last year’s cut offs for science, arts and commerce were 83.33, 48 and 60.47 respectively. In Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack, the cut offs for science and commerce were 84 and 56.33 while in SCS College, Puri, students with minimum 80.5 percent marks got admission in science, 66.5 in commerce and 60.67 in arts. In Khallikote College, Berhampur, the cut offs were science 84.67, commerce 67.33 and arts 46.83. In G M College, Sambalpur, it was 78.17 for science, 58.9 for commerce and 42.67 for arts.
Sources said there are around 3, 07,000 seats in 1,315 junior colleges in the state. Online application is going on and the last date for it is July 15. Each student can apply for six colleges on priority basis.
