At least 1.108 lakh students, who enrolled for engineering admissions this year, have figured in the merit list released by the Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE), a wing of the Higher Education Department and the nodal agency that conducts counselling. A total of 1.57 lakh engineering seats are available this year. Despite inviting 35,167 candidates during the first two rounds of counselling, only 20,925 have participated, which is about only 59% while remaining 14,242 applicants did not participate.

A senior official from DOTE, seeking anonymity, said that more than 300 private engineering colleges could not fill even 5% admissions as of Thursday with most students preferring colleges in the cities. He said at least 70 self-financed colleges could not get a single admission even after two rounds of counselling. “About 8% (35 institutions) of colleges were able to fill between 5% and 10% of the seats,” he said, adding, “this is also because many students prefer to study computer engineering courses in colleges across the State.” Stating that last year, after two rounds of counselling, 50% of colleges were able to get 20% admissions, the DOTE official said, “this year it is expected to be much less.”

The only institution that could get nearly 100% seats filled is the College of Engineering at Guindy with only one seat each available in Mechanical Engineering (Tamil medium) and Material Science and Engineering, and two vacancies existing in Printing Technology after the second round. “Similarly, other three branch colleges of the Anna University colleges were also able to fill more than 90% of seats after the second round,” he said, adding, “Alagappa Chettiar Government College of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Karaikudi, might be able to get above 80% admissions.”

The official also said only a few private colleges, which have good accreditation rank, could be able to fill about 50% seats.