More than 70,000 apply for online admission to FYJC in Mumbai

The state’s education department had invited applications for unfilled seats and allowed already admitted students to change their seats

More than 70,000 students applied in the special round for online admissions to first-year junior college (FYJC) by Tuesday night. Those who missed out can try again on August 18.

The state’s education department had invited applications for unfilled seats and allowed already admitted students to change their seats. Form filling was on August 8 and 9.

There are more than 1.04 lakh vacant seats — 60,000 aspirants did not claim seats allotted to them previously because they were not in their preferred colleges.

“Students are unhappy with their allotted seats and so we expected large numbers in this round,” said BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region.

But 33,146 seats did not find any takers because they are in smaller, lesser-known colleges. Students are pinning their hopes on the few seats vacant in coveted colleges.

“I applied for a seat in Hinduja College, Charni Road, this time. They have around 139 vacancies, I really hope I get in,” said Zoya Merchant, an FYJC aspirant, who was allotted Elphinstone College, which she did not prefer, in the third round, even though its cut off (80%) was higher than her score of 79.8%.

Hindustan Times reported on August 9 that the beginning of the ongoing round was chaotic; students had trouble logging onto the admissions portal owing to unclear instructions from the department. Snaking queues formed outside guidance centres in Mumbai.

But the department is unwilling to extend the application deadline for this round. Instead the second phase of the special round will begin from August 18 for admission to leftover seats. “We reviewed the situation on Tuesday and the centres reported that it is under control, they didn’t get any major complaints after the first day,” said Chavan.

He added that leftover seats after the first phase will be filled in the second phase. A third phase might be held if seats remain unfilled. “The exact number of unfilled seats available in the second phase will be clear after students confirm admissions in the ongoing first phase,” said Chavan.