Students consider third merit list as last resort to secure FYJC admission

Students applying for First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions have all their hopes set on the third merit list that would be officially declared on Saturday at 5 pm. The list would also fill up all the seats in most colleges as the top colleges already have very few vacant seats left.

Over 47,956 students have been allotted a seat in this list. The state education department released data saying that out of this 31,745 students have been allotted a seat in Commerce, 12,285 in Science, 3,516 in Arts and 410 in vocational courses (Minimum Competency based vocational courses MCVC).

Students are of the opinion that this is their last chance to secure admissions in colleges that they desire as after this the fourth list is like the 'left over' round. Also, in the third merit round there are a mix of both top and average colleges as seats are vacant in both. And the top colleges will not have a fourth list.

The students stated that the fourth merit round tries to place students in any college that has seats. Rajesh Sen, a student, said, "The fourth list is something that we always want to avoid. Few students are helpless as they have not secured admissions so they are left with no choice but to admit themselves in any college allotted after the fourth list. Also, these colleges are among those left ones which students have not chosen to secure admissions in."

The colleges stated that they can start their academic year after the third list as seats would be filled completely. Marie Fernandes, Principal of St Andrew's College, said, "The vacant seats would be filled after the third list so some colleges can start their academic year as it is already late."