Last-minute applicants throng DU

NEW DELHI: College counters did brisk business on Tuesday with many "late latifs" trooping in to submit their forms. Wednesday is the last date for applying in Delhi University.
There were many who decided to apply in the nick of time. "I am interested in medicine and couldn''t make up my mind in the beginning. But now my parents suggested I should keep a fall back option," said Prakriti, who toured four north campus colleges on Tuesday.
But even as students were caught up in a last minute frenzy, the scene was hotting up in Dayal Singh College.On Tuesday, there was a scuffle between DUSU members and the college principal over hiking of annual fees.
The fees has been hiked to Rs 5,200 from Rs 3,000 for some courses. The college principal could not be contacted.
There were some like Gautam Nair, a student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan who waited so that he could apply peacefully. "I didn''t want to be jostled around. And anyway what was the hurry?" he asked.
This year DU has broken all records when it comes to sale of forms. Over a million forms sold on Day 1 itself and till Tuesday the university had distributed 2.2 million forms to different centres. "We have more stock if required," said deputy dean of students'' welfare P Mohan Raju.
Meanwhile, popular colleges are inundated with applications. Hindu received 25,000 applications for the 350-odd seats it needs to fill till Monday. "Students with low percentages are applying to courses even if they don''t stand a chance. But they are just wasting their time," admission convener Subhash Chowdhary said.