Big queue for application forms at Anna University

Chennai:The increase in pass percentage in this year's Plus Two examination has triggered an unprecedented rush for application forms for admission to engineering courses at Anna University.Close to 45,000 forms have been sold out all over the State in just three days, university officials said.

A total of 75,000 forms were printed, but the huge demand has forced the authorities to print 25,000 more forms. The university will also make arrangements for online application, if required.Anywhere between 70,000 and 75,000 seats are expected to be available for counselling under the government quota this year. With many students scoring impressively in the science group in the board examination, more students are likely to turn up in the days to come. "We will take stock of the situation as and when required and ensure that all students are given application forms," the officials said.At the Directorate of Government Examinations, 80,000 students have applied for photocopies of answer sheets, officials said.Of these, 15,000 applications have been received from Chennai students alone. Only those who have applied for photocopies can apply for re-totalling or revaluation. Submission of applications ended on Friday.

"The abolition of the Common Entrance Test has pushed up the need to score more in the board examinations. Despite my good show in school examinations, I fell just seven marks short of the required cut-off in the Physics paper. Revaluation is now my only hope," said S. Abdul Sayeed of Madipakkam.The photocopies will be sent to students by post, the officials said.