Mumbai’s SSC exam toppers keep college, dreams near

Why join a popular college or when studying in relatively small college near your home can give you more time to eventually get into a reputable professional institute?

Why join a popular college or when studying in relatively small college near your home can give you more time to eventually get into a reputable professional institute? This seems to be the mantra of most top scorers of the state secondary certificate board (SSC) this year.

Top scorer Shrutika Mahajan opted for the RV Nerurkar Junior College near her home in Dombivli. (HT Photo)

Experts say the decision is a result of professional institutes considering the scores of national-level entrance exams like NEET for medicine, NATA for architecture and JEE for engineering courses in IITs.

Test of choice

Here’s the call taken by this year’s three 100% scorers. While Shrutika Mahajan has opted for RV Nerurkar Junior College (which closed its third merit list at 83.6%) near her home in Dombivli, Bhavik Bharambe chose MH Junior College in Thane that closed its third merit list at 90.4%. The third top scorer, Riddhi Karkare, got enrolled in Ruia College because she wishes to pursue arts.

“When I got to know my marks, I started to look at top colleges in Mumbai. I later realised that the time I would spend in travelling, could actually be used for preparation for JEE,” said Bhavik, whose college is only 30 minutes away from home.

Shrutika’s mother, too, had a similar explanation. “She wants to pursue architecture. She needs more time to prepare,” said Archana Mahajan.

Sanika Gaikwad, a Dombivli resident who scored 99.8% and wants to appear for JEE, will join PACE Junior College in Thane. “With a ban on integrated colleges, the best solution is a college which is not too far. This junior college is founded by the IIT coaching institute in the same name. With the same institute’s coaching class, lectures are usually in sync and one can attend both easily,” she said.

Living in Borivli, Khushi Vora, who scored 99.60%, will join the Rustomjee Junior College in Dahisar. “Studying science for two years and preparing for a national level competitive exam like NEET need a rigorous study routine which is easier to manage with a nearby college,” she said.

The result

The trend has pushed up the cut-offs. Lily Bhushan, principal, KES Shroff college in Malad, said, “Our last merit list closed at 89%. Nowadays, many high-scorers prefer local colleges over those in south Mumbai.”

Subhash Joshi, trustee, Science Parivar, said, “Those keen on taking up arts or commerce should get enrolled in a good degree college, even if that means a bit of a travelling.”