
Hey everyone! Many of you have been reaching out to me with CSS Phase 2 issues. Filling up preferences not working, being marked as ineligible, or not getting verification codes have been the common problems.
But relax, these were probably a website glitch and it should be fixed now. Many of you have already filled out the preferences. For those who haven’t, it’s important to understand How DELHI UNIVERSITY allocates college seats through YOUR preference list
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How College Allocation Works
Delhi University allocates colleges based on your preferences and your marks. Let me explain the process with an example for B.Com (Hons).
When the university receives applications, they make a list of all students who applied for B.Com (Hons). Then they arrange these students in descending order of their marks.
Suppose I scored 800/800. I will be at the top of the list. But there will be many students with the same score.
These students are then arranged in descending order. For example, if 100 students scored 800, all of them will be at the top. If the next highest score is 795, those students will follow and so on.
This forms the course-specific simulated rank list. The student at the top of this list with 800/800 will have their preferences reviewed first. If they have SRCC as their top preference for B.Com (Hons), they will get a seat there. This continues down the list.
Related:
How to Get Admission to DU with a Low CUET Score?

The Importance of Correct Preferences
Now, what if all seats at SRCC get filled?
Let’s say there are 230 seats for B.Com (Hons) at SRCC. The first 230 students who have SRCC as their top preference and high marks will get those seats.
The 231st student, even if they have the same marks but have SRCC as their top preference, will not get a seat there as it’s full. Instead, the system will move to their second preference.
If they have Hansraj College as their second preference and seats are available, they will get a seat there.
Some students think that just listing a top college as their first preference will get them a seat there but that’s not true. It’s all about the marks.
If a student with 500 marks lists SRCC as their first preference, they won’t get in if their marks don’t meet the cut-off after higher-ranked students have filled all the seats.
Strategy for Preferences
List your preferences wisely. Always list colleges from top to bottom according to your genuine preference. This gives you better chances in subsequent rounds.
For example, if you don’t get your top choice in the first round, you might in the second or third round as the system considers upgrades based on seat availability and your ranking.
Tie-Breaking Rules
If two or more students have the same marks, tie-breaking rules apply. Your Class 12 marks will be used for tie-breaking. This ensures transparent allocation.
Vacant Seats and Further Rounds
If any seat remains vacant after a round (students not accepting or not clearing document verification), those seats will be available in the next round. The university will publish the list of vacant seats, showing the availability of seats in a particular college for a particular course.
For example, if a B.Com (Hons) seat in SRCC becomes vacant, it will be shown in the list. However, seats in top colleges like SRCC rarely remain vacant as students accept them immediately. Still, keep an eye on the lists if you want to upgrade.
Conclusion
I hope this helps you understand how DU preference and allocation works. Remember, the key is to fill your preferences wisely and strategically to get into your desired college.
Good luck with your applications!