Ravenshaw pips BJB in science cutoff

BHUBANESWAR: Ravenshaw Junior College replaced BJB Junior College as the institution with highest cutoff marks for admission in Plus II science, breaking a trend of years. The second cutoff list was published on Tuesday.
For the second round of admission, science aspirants for Ravenshaw needs 90 per cent marks compared to 89.33 for BJB. In the first selection, the minimum marks needed for Plus II science in BJB was 91.83 per cent compared to Ravenshaw's 90.67%.
BJB was emerging as the college with the highest cutoffs for science during all rounds of admission for the past many years. The first cutoff was 92.5 per cent marks in 2013, which was lowered to 91.20 during the last round. There was no second selection list in 2012 as the colleges went for spot admission after the first selection. The last cutoff in spot admission at BJB was 89.33 per cent then, which was the highest among junior colleges. Last year, Ravenshaw's first cutoff was 91.67 per cent which was lowered to 90.67 per cent (same as this year's) during the second round.
In commerce, BJB continues to top the list with minimum threshold marks for admission of 77.83 per cent followed by Saraswati (Junior) Vidya Mandir, Neelakantha Nagar, at the Number Two slot (75.5 per cent). Ravenshaw comes third with a second cutoff of 74.83 per cent.
In arts, neither BJB nor Ravenshaw are among the top seven colleges. Krushna Chandra Pipili (Junior) College, Jagai under Baliapal block of Balasore district, tops the arts list with a cut-off of 72.67 per cent.
BJB authorities tried to downplay the college's displacement to second slot. "There is a marginal difference between Ravenshaw and BJB. Moreover, the spot selection round is still there, which would reveal the exact last cutoff," said BJB Junior College principal G C Pradhan.
Good hostel facilities in Ravenshaw was a possible reason for toppers' preference for the college, said R N Panda, a former principal of BJB.
A total of 42,623 students were selected for admission in the second list against 1,03,880 vacant seats in 1,431 colleges. The selected aspirants can take admission between July 18 and July 21.