Bangalore:
It is 100 per cent trauma. The suicide of a young girl in the city, who scored 85 per cent is a sad example. The girl took the extreme step as she could not get into a college of her choice.
The young generation is finding it extremely tough to cope with the pressure of expectations.
"Even when our percentages are as good as 90 per cent we still don't get the college we want, only because the cut-off is irrational and high. We are really very disappointed and the peer pressure is so much, that we cannot stand not getting what we want," said Suraksha, a student.
All over the country the cut-offs are spiralling, more so in the prestigious colleges.
In Delhi, the presitigious Sri Ram College of Commerce announced a cut-off of 100 per cent for non-commerce students wishing to apply to its B Com (Honours) course.
For students, it's almost as if the process is about elimination and not admission.
"Parents also expect a lot from their children and when a parent has a friend whose daughter has done really well they expect their daughter or son to do the same. Then watching their own friends score really well, getting into the colleges of their choices is a big part," said Priyadarshini, student.
But it's perhaps the fear of over admissions, that has universities inflate cut offs.
"There are students who have got 86 and still not finding even the third list of the college. Third list of the college is actually 88%," said Vaishnavi, student.
"In Arts stream it is not possible to get anything above 95% and getting 100% is like highly impossible," said Pooja, student.
Where does it end? The pressure on students is not just on clearing exams - which is pressure enough - but even on getting into the right college. Ridiculously high cut off marks just add to the difficulty of the whole experience.
"Getting into a desired college is just a part of life, it is not life in itself, it is not the end of life - so students should have a positive, optimistic approach towards life and they should not think not getting into a desired college is the end of life, they cannot be successful and stuff," said Suraksha, student.