Junior college admissions: High scorers push up arts cut-offs

Over 83% students ---1.84 lakh from 2.22 lakh applicants -- were allotted seats in the first round of admissions. Among them, 47,648 were allotted a college of their first preference.

High scoring students (90% and above) opting for humanities drove up cut-offs by nearly 3% in many colleges when the first the merit list for online admissions to first year junior college (FYJC) was announced on Monday. Commerce climbed up by 2% to 3% but science saw a marginal drop in most colleges. Cut-off indicates the minimum marks at which admission closed at the college.

Parents and FYJC aspirants check the first merit list at HR College, Churchgate on Monday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ HT)

Over 83% students ---1.84 lakh from 2.22 lakh applicants -- were allotted seats in the first round of admissions. Among them, 47,648 were allotted a college of their first preference.

St Xavier’s, Fort, recorded the highest cut-off for humanities at 94.4%, up from 93.8% last year. The minimum marks for admission to science dipped a few points to 91.4% from 91.8%. At St Andrew’s, Bandra, there was a 8.4% increase in their cut-offs for arts seats - to 83.4% from 75% last year. This is the first time that it shot up so much, said Marie Fernandes, principal. “For the last two years, students are realising the importance of the stream and it is not looked down upon anymore,” she said.

Varada Risbud, a student from Thane, who scored 92% in SSC (Class 10), was allotted humanities at KJ Somaiya, Vidyavihar, which was her first preference. “I chose humanities as I want to pursue languages and this is the only college offering two languages in FYJC,” said Risbud.

At Vaze-Kelkar, Mulund, only the cut-offs for humanities increased by 3.4% to 85% from 81.6%, commerce and science dipped by a few points from last year to 89.8% and 92.8%. In humanities, over 28 students scoring above 90% took admission to the humanities stream and the highest score is 96.5%.

“Other streams did not increase like humanities but demand for commerce will sustain and its cut-offs will remain high in the second list too,” said Vidyadhar Joshi, vice-principal, Vaze-Kelkar.

Commerce stream cut-offs rose in the sought-after colleges. Narsee Monjee, Vile Parle closed at 94.5%, up from 93.8% last year. HR College, Churchgate closed at 93.4%. It was 93.17% last year. The highest score is 99.4%-this is also the top score among the applicants in Mumbai to the online admission process.

Science cut-offs fell even in popular colleges such as Sathaye, Vile Parle, which saw a drop from 93.4% to 91.8% this year. “Reputed colleges are losing students to integrated courses offered by some colleges in association with coaching classes to prepare them for entrance exams,” said Kavita Rege, principal of the college.

In contrast, cut-offs were mixed across other colleges. At Ramniwas Ruia, Matunga, science dipped slightly to 93.2% from 93.4% but humanities dipped to 91.8% from 93% last year. Jai Hind science increased slightly to 90.6% from 90.4% last year and commerce (from 91% to 91.8%).

Pace Junior Science College, Andheri, which offers integrated courses, had the highest cut-off for science last year at 95%, this year dipped to 93.2%. The number dipped as they doubled the seats. “We were able to accommodate more students as our seats increased to 720 from 360,” said Kawal Gupta, an official from the college.