Admission callers inundate helplines

MUMBAI: With the anxiety of results behind them, students are now completely focused on admissions. Helpline numbers across the city, in turn, have been gearing up for them. There is a surge in the number of callers who are confused about career choices and various processes involved in junior college admissions.
According to Malini Shah, senior counsellor at AasthaChrysalis, most calls have been from students who have either scored well or are confused about their careers.Parents of those who did not score well also form a sizeable chunk. "We advise students and parents to face the situation together and overcome it. We ask them not to blame children. There are many career courses that students can opt for according to their percentage. It's not the end of the road." Shah added that there were also inquiries about the revaluation procedure. Several others called for help in choosing a career of choice as they had got low marks.
The fact that the Mumbai divisional board's helplines stopped working a day after the SSC results, left many in the lurch. Counsellors such as Dr Nirmala Rao have received frequent calls regarding marks, re-evaluation as well as those seeking career options. "More and more students seem to have lower frustration threshold and an urge for immediate gratification."
Johnson Thomas from Aasra Helpline said, "We received calls from Class XII students and parents who complained about the online procedure and that the dates don't coincide. There were students who wanted to give their papers for revaluation. We try to calm down the callers and try to help them."