Pathway to DU now goes through SOL
Your dream of studying in a regular college at Delhi University (DU) may not have come true, but you may still become a part of the university, reports Mallica Joshi.
Your dream of studying in a regular college at Delhi University (DU) may not have come true, but you may still become a part of the university.
DU's School of Open Learning offers five courses for undergraduate students and all those who secured 40% or above in their class 12 examination are eligible for admission.
The undergraduate courses offered are BA (honours) English, BA (honours) political science, BA programme, B.Com. programme and B.Com. (honours). Out of these the maximum number of applications is received for B.Com programme and B.Com. (honours). All are distance-learning programmes.
The School of Open Learning (SOL) has so far sold more than one lakh forms. The fifth and the last cut-off list of the regular colleges at DU, which was declared on Friday, did not give many options to students. Admission was closed in almost all courses in nearly all colleges. And this is one factor which may result in a rise in the number of applications the SOL will receive.
And contrary to popular perception, SOL is not just for those who didn't score as well as the others. It is also for those students who want to work while they study. Also the lower fee and the flexibility make this school a viable option.
"Though people think that open learning is only for those who don't score well, this is not true. We get students from all profiles. Some high scoring students want to do a lot of things at the same time and that's why they opt for SOL. An example of this is B.Com. (honours) combined with a chartered accountancy course," said HC Pokhriyal, director, SOL.
The medium of instruction for SOL students is primarily through printed course material which is distributed by
mail to all those enrolled. This is also supplemented by a Personal Contact Programme conducted for the benefit of students at various study centres run by the school.
"In the current scenario, where the number of applicants is much higher than the number of seats, a dual system of regular colleges and open learning centres is useful," Pokhriyal added.
The sale of forms for undergraduate courses began on June 1. But it usually picks up speed after the last cut-off list in regular colleges is declared. Last year, around 1.2 lakh students took admission in the school.
The last date for the sale and submission of forms is August 1 without late fee. Those who miss out on this can furnish a late fee of R200 and apply till September 30.
The prospectus for undergraduate courses can be bought at the SOL North Campus and its South Study Centre at old Moti Lal Nehru College Building, South Moti Bagh, Nanak Pura.