How DU's 95 per cent cut-off almost shattered my dreams

Last week probably had me the most worried I've ever been in my life. It witnessed the crossing of a landmark, securing admission to a college. The first one on the Indian list of "milestones you must cross to be classfied as a successful human being". Others being getting a job worth boasting, a marriage attracting envy, and kids who do you proud. Oh and throw in earning a bucketload of green bucks.

The admission process began with the announcement of the first list of cut-offs by many colleges of the Delhi University (DU) on the evening of June 24. The figures started trickling in around 7pm. My father and I began scanning the lists for the cut-offs for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English.

The percentages left us shocked. While we had braced ourselves for an increase in the cut-offs, nothing could have prepared us for this. Even those in the low-ranked colleges had suddenly shot up to 95 per cent. An atmosphere of nervousness sprang up in the house. Surely the higher-ranked colleges would declare even higher figures. How could I hope to make it into any of them? Would I get stuck with a course I had no interest in, just because it had an attainable percentage?

While my father and I sat with expressions worthy of funeral services, more cut-offs were announced, making it no easier on us. The declaration of percentages halted around midnight. My father quietly headed to sleep while I sat there feeling defeated.

I woke up to my parents discussing the cut-offs of other colleges released that morning. Highly-ranked colleges had released grossly high percentages, proving my worst fear right. I cursed the rule for not considering Media Studies as an academic subject for the nth time. My best of four aggregate had come down by two per cent, by having to count Psychology, in which I had scored less.

However, relief flooded in on hearing the cut-off of Maitreyi College, one of the colleges I'd been hoping to be admitted to. Now I hoped to get through with a 94.5 per cent which incidentally was also the cut-off. It felt like the choking hold of skyrocketing percentages had been released and I could finally breathe normally again.

We hurried through the preparatory activities and then rushed to the college. June 25 would witness the fighting of the second half of the battle: going through the physical procedure of getting admitted.

My father hoped to reach there early enough so as to not get stuck in endless queues. He got his wish. I was the first one in the line of people who were waiting, having reached the college at eight in the morning. The only downside was that parents weren't allowed inside the college premises. The realisation that I was going to have to do this alone didn't help with the nerves. The process began at 9.30am. The volunteers helped guide the applicants accommodatingly and even dealt with the huffy and argumentative parents outside the gates good-naturedly.

After filling out a few forms and depositing a reasonable fee, I was on my way out. When I greeted my parents outside, they were impressed at my having carried out the procedure independently. I usually don't last a day on my own. But truth be told, it was the efficient procedures and smooth functioning that helped me come out victorious.

However, the process can further be simplified by adopting an online admission procedure, with the exception of deposition of original certificates.

The rest of the week went by mostly uneventful. Well, except for me having to rush back to Maitreyi the next day. I was informed that I had accidently deposited extra money at the fee counter (in my excitement). So much for coming out victorious!