CUET-UG delay leaves students in admission dilemma, many opting for backup colleges

Indore: Uncertainty over admissions has grown among Class 12 pass-outs as delay in the ongoing CUET-UG process continue to affect admissions to key courses at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. With CUET-UG still ongoing, counselling for DAVV’s teaching departments is expected only by July-end or August, many students are taking provisional admissions in other govt and private colleges to avoid losing an academic year.

The higher education department has already started the admission process in more than 1,400 colleges across Madhya Pradesh, with registration and document verification underway. In contrast, the National Testing Agency is still conducting CUET-UG, which will conclude on May 31. Admissions to 28 major courses at DAVV departments, including IIPS, IMS, School of Law and School of Commerce, will be conducted through CUET scores.

Students say the mismatch in timelines between regular college admissions and the CUET counselling schedule has created confusion and anxiety. Since the result declaration and first phase of counselling may take nearly two months after the examination concludes, many are unwilling to wait without securing a backup option.

“I want admission in IIPS, but if I wait only for CUET counselling and do not get selected, other good colleges may already be full by then. That is why I have taken provisional admission in another college as a safety measure,” said Rashi Chauhan, a student who recently completed Class 12.

Another student preparing for admission to DAVV’s School of Commerce said many aspirants are feeling pressured because of the uncertainty surrounding the schedule. “The exam is still going on and nobody knows exactly when counselling will begin. We cannot sit idle for two months and risk our entire academic year,” Darshan Sharma said.

Educationists believe the delay is also affecting competition levels in DAVV admissions. Since the university shifted admissions to the national-level CUET process, students have increasingly started keeping alternative options open instead of waiting exclusively for university counselling.

An educationist from the city Rajeev Kumar Jhalani said that the number of seats available through CUET admissions is limited and not every student will get admission in the desired department or course. “Many CUET aspirants are simultaneously participating in counselling for regular BBA, BCA and other undergraduate programmes offered by colleges under the higher education department,” he added.

The situation may later benefit students who are currently unable to secure admission. Students who eventually get selected in DAVV departments are likely to vacate seats in colleges where they took provisional admission. Those vacant seats are expected to reopen during the college level counselling (CLC) rounds in July, giving students with lower marks another opportunity to enter preferred colleges.

DAVV registrar Prajjwal Khare said the university would prepare the counselling schedule immediately after the CUET-UG process concludes and would try to complete admissions at the earliest so students can secure seats on time.

For postgraduate courses, the situation is comparatively smoother. The CUET-PG concluded in March and registrations for counselling for PG admissions at DAVV has begun.