Bengaluru, DHNS: Students, parents throng DH-PV?education expo on concluding day. Is it possible to rearrange the priorities on colleges and courses for the second time in the online options entry? What are the post-exam procedures, availability of seats, counselling process, and reservation details? Can I appear for CET exams again in the next year if I get a lower rank this year? What happens to the seats that go vacant after some selected candidates switch over from CET to NEET results..?

These were a few of the hundreds of questions that were showered by students and their parents at the city’s premier education expo - ‘Eduverse’, the eighth edition of ‘Jnana Degula’ which was hosted by Deccan Herald and Prajavani on Sunday.

Speaking at the two-hour long session on pre-counselling for CET to a jam-packed hall, AS Ravi, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Karnataka Education Authority (KEA), diligently responded to almost all questions.

Ravi underlined the importance of choosing priorities very carefully during the online option entry process. “Make a proper homework and do not wait till June 15. You can choose any number of colleges and courses but it should be based on one principle: The first option should be better than the second”, he stressed.

He also gave examples of candidates who erred at this point while there were students who chose as much as 3,000 options one after another based on their priority. Ravi mentioned that there would be a second chance to re-arrange the priorities but not third.

The official pointed out the differences between ‘options’ and ‘choices’.
“Options were related to prioritising courses and colleges on the entry sheet, while there were four ‘choices’ for students during the seat allotment process”, he said.

Opting Choice one is equal to agreeing to the allotted seat, Choice two means taking a second round along with earlier allotted seats, Choice Three lets you to take the next round but without an option to choose the earlier allotted seats and Choice Four, which is a red button, is synonymous to saying you do not want any CET seats.

On appearing for CET exam for the second time, he said candidates who have got an engineering seat can switch over to medical or other subjects in the next year and not to a different stream in engineering. Regarding the vacant seats of NEET students, Ravi mentioned that the government is yet to take a decision on it. To a question, he noted that the money would be refunded to those who cancel CET seats before the last round of seat selection process.

Besides, he asked the students to come with study certificate of seven years, that is signed by the Block Education Officer, along with SSLC, PU certificate and with required documents and attested copies to the nodal centres.

‘Use app as business tool’

In his speech aimed to promote entrepreneurship among youngsters, Arvind Lodaya (in pic), founder-director, Deccan Centre for Innovation and Design asked them to make use of mobile-based applications as a business tool.

“Start a business at an young age. You don’t have to make a life long career. Even if you fail, you can switch over to something else. Use technology to make value added proposition, which ultimately helps people. Understand the pulse of people”, he told students during the session on career development. He encouraged them to think out of the box ideas and innovation.

There were too many opinions outside on post-exam (CET) procedures. The brochures did give all the information and the speakers cleared all our doubts.
M Nischitha, student, Kendriya Vidyalaya , Kanakapura Road

My son Dhananjay, who wanted to pursue medicine had confusion related to CET and NEET. I recorded the speeches of key speakers for my son as he could not come to the event due to his illness.
Lokesh D S, a parent from Hoskote

I aspire to be a doctor. I wrote CET and wanted more information on NEET. The talk
was informative.
Sinchana C, student,
Vidya Niketana PU College

Every parent seemed to have a lot of doubts and too many questions. We did ask a few on behalf of my daughter and I could not ask more. The speakers were resourceful.

Raghu Purushotham,
a parent from Basavangudi

I wrote CET and ComedK exams. I came to
collect brochures and fee structure of different colleges here and spoke to some college
representatives also.
Chethan L, student,
Vidya Mandir, Yeshwantpur

I came for my daughter who will be appearing for CET exam next year. I gained a lot of knowledge on CET matters. Both the sessions - career development and CET - were
informative.
Vijaya, a parent from Banashankari