The results of the Common Entrance Test (CET) are out but that is only half the battle won. For, the next step is a crucial one where students get to choose the course and college of their choice. This year's batch has it easy or difficult, depending on how prepared the students are, as the counselling process is going online. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has introduced the procedure through which the allotment of seats will be made in the order of merit and preferences of the candidates. The physical counselling centres will be turned into helpline centres.
The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) for admissions to National Institutes of Technology (NIT) among other colleges, and the Joint Entrance Test for admissions to the Indian Institutes of Technology have already implemented online counselling.
Here is how the process works: The first step, beginning June 25, would be the verification of documents. Students will have to visit the helpline centres, where the documents will be verified, originals returned and attested copies will be kept. An acknowledgement card and a verification slip will be given.
While the documents required vary for different categories of students, the basics are SSLC / 10th standard marks card; II PUC / 12th standard marks card; the candidate's study certificate; rural study certificate if the candidate is claiming rural quota: Kannada medium study certificate if claiming Kannada medium quota: caste / income certificate issued by the Tahsildar if claiming reservation benefits. The candidate should produce the computerised caste / category and income certificate obtained not prior to six months from the last date of submission of CET-2012 application form for claiming the reservation benefit.
The candidate will be given secure ID and password, which allows him/her to access the counselling page of the KEA website. The candidate has to enter options of the disciplines he/she is eligible for in the website. The candidate can enter choices (unlimited) from the seats available, entering the codes given for preferred college, category (General, SC/ST, etc.), course (codes for medical, engineering, etc.) and discipline in the course required. Those eligible for both medical and engineering can opt for colleges in both fields. Based only on availability and merit, the student is given his or her most preferred seat within the rank obtained.
Mock allotment
On July 19, a mock session of seat allotment will be conducted to prevent mistakes and to give an opportunity for the candidate to change the selection. As the data used in this will be the current rank list, the seats allotted to the students will be an accurate projection.
The seat allotment will start with medical, followed by ISMH (Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy), engineering and architecture. Once the seat is selected, the candidate is given seven days' time to accept the seat. There will be three rounds of counselling, wherein a student can join the college, seek a better option, or surrender his seat and apply again in the next round. Unallotted or surrendered seats will be pooled in for the next round.
There will be real-time updates of the seat matrix on the KEA website or through bulletins in the helpline centres.
The announcement of the real allotment will be made on July 25. Between July 26 and 29, students will be given time to confirm the allotment, and for payment of fees and receipt of admission order. July 29 is the last date for reporting to college.
