Hyderabad: City colleges are raking in the cash. The lucrative admission season is here and the sale of lakhs of applications add to the college coffers. The price of forms has rapidly increased over the last five years, making it difficult for students who intend to apply for two or more courses.

Going by current rates, students would have to end up spending between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 if they want to purchase applications for more than two courses. Around five years ago, the combined cost of a college application, prospectus and additional registration ranged between Rs 100 and Rs 150. But, now, the same thing costs anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 650, with college authorities putting the blame on rise in printing costs.

For instance, at Loyola Degree College, students are forced to shell out `600 per form, including prospectus and registration fees, for all courses. Badruka College of Commerce and Arts charges around Rs 400 for the entire kit.

Degree colleges like St. Joseph’s-Abids, St Francis-Begumpet, St. Ann’s-Mehdipatnam and Bhavan's Viveka-nanda College are charging more than Rs 300 per form while Nizam College charges around Rs 350 a form. Meanwhile, almost all colleges are making it compulsory to purchase a separate form for each course.

Vijay Reddy, a student, said, “I have already spent Rs 1,200 buying two separate course forms of the Loyola Academy. If I decide to opt for St. Joseph’s College, I would have to shell out another Rs 1,000. No discount or concession is given if we purchase two forms from one college.”

M. Sameer, a parent, said: “We want our children to apply for various courses and not just stick to one. Although we never compromise on buying the forms, it does pinch the pocket!”

Source : DC