Top 5 Backup Plans for CUET Aspirants [CUET Exam 2024]

Are you afraid of scoring low marks in the CUET exam and confused about the options available beyond CUET?  Every student has the ambition of studying at the top central universities in India. CUET acts as a medium for the studnts to fulfill their desire of getting into top central universities with their favorite courses. With the limited number of seats and higher application, it becomes highly competitive to secure a seat in the top universities. Students must calculate their chances and prepare for options if they score low marks in CUET. 

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is an entrance test organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA)  to determine the eligibility of students for admission to the top Central, State, and Deemed Universities. As of now, a total of 45 central universities, 37 state universities, and 32 deemed universities come under CUET.

Students have to participate in the entrance test conducted by CUET every year to get admission into these universities. The allotment of universities and courses depends on the performance of the students in the test.

CUET received more than 14 lakh applications in 2024 for a total intake of around 3 lakh students. Out of these 3 lakh, only a few thousand seats are available in top universities. This shrinks the probability and aspiration of the students to get into their desired university and desired courses.

Should a student take a gap year and prepare for next year for this reason? Is CUET's only option to get admission to top universities and colleges with preferred courses.

The answer to these questions is a big NO. There are other options through which students can enroll in esteemed and highly accredited universities with the subjects and courses of their choice. These options act as the backup plan for students who do not get their preferred college through CUET.

Backup Plans 

Scoring low in the CUET and failing to secure a seat in top central universities is not the end of the world. There are numerous options that can be considered by the students as their backup to fulfill their dream of obtaining a degree from top universities with top courses.

They can opt for these options to acquire superlative learning which will help them in reshaping their career. Here we will discuss some of the best backup options if the student is scoring low in the CUET and unable to qualify for top universities through CUET. 

1)  Online Universities

Online Universities are one of the best options as a backup plan for CUET aspirants who want to obtain a degree from a prestigious university in India. Students can select from the most prestigious online universities that focus on imparting quality education to the students.

These universities are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) which is a statuary body governing universities in India to offer courses in online mode.

These online universities are highly accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and ranked by the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) which demonstrates their dominance in offering standardized education. 

Learning in online universities is offered through the highly sophisticated Learning Management System of the university. Students can attend live lectures while sitting at their homes that are conducted by highly experienced professors of these prestigious universities.

The live classes are recorded and uploaded on the LMS of the university. The students who are unable to attend live classes can attend the lecture as per their availability.

All the study materials and notes are shared on the LMS of the university and students can easily access it. Classes are interactive and students can communicate their doubts with professors and get the instant solution. 

The curriculum of online courses is designed and structured by some of the best academicians and industry leaders. The curriculum provides the latest and updated syllabus that offers industry-specific knowledge and expertise. 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) considers a degree obtained in Online Mode equivalent to the degree obtained in Regular mode. There is no difference between the online and regular degree.

Here are some of the features that the students can avail of if they consider Online Universities as a CUET backup plan : 

• Flexibility- Pursuing a degree from an Online University is highly flexible. Students can attend the lectures remotely from their homes as per their availability. There is no fixed schedule to attend the classes. This helps them to manage their time significantly for other commitments and obligations.

• Affordable- Pursuing an online degree is much more affordable and pocket-friendly as compared to the regular mode. Students can obtain a degree from a distinguished university with an affordable fee structure. Online Universities phase out the traveling and re-location expenses bringing down the cost remarkably.

• Interactive Learning- Online Universities offer interactive learning to the students. Apart from live classes, they organize webinars, interactions with industry leaders, and other activities that enhance the learning experience.

• Easy EMI and Loan Option- Online Universities offer easy EMI and Loan options to the students to reduce the burden of fee payment. With the help of these options, students can easily pay their course fees very easily.

• Networking Opportunities- Students can build networks and connections with peers and industry leaders through access to the alumni section of the online university. These networking opportunities may help in job and placement opportunities.

• No Entrance Exam- Online Universities do not conduct entrance exams for admission. Students fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria can enroll themselves in online courses.

• On-demand exams- Online Universities offer On-Demand examinations. Students can book their slots in advance as per their availability. The examinations are conducted through sophisticated E-Proctored software of the Online University.  

Top Online Universities 

Here is the list of top online universities that can be considered as the backup plan for the CUET  -

S.No	Online Universities
1.	Chandigarh University Online
2.	Manipal University Online
3.	Amity University Online
4.	LPU Online
5.	UPES Online
6.	Amrita University Online
7.	Jain University Online
8.	DY Patil University Online
9.	GLA University Online
10.	Shoolini University

2) Private Universities 

Students scoring low marks in CUET can consider highly esteemed universities as their plan B. These private universities are recognized by the University Grants Commission to offer courses in regular mode.

Students looking for world-class education can enroll in these universities. These universities are globally recognized with the accreditation and ranking from top bodies. 

With a well-developed infrastructure, these universities offer excellence in learning. The learning is upheld by some of the best faculty who have exceptional experience in teaching. Students can participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities that are very important for personality development.

Some of the private universities offer superior pedagogy than top central universities.  Some of the top private universities are Manipal University 

Top Private Universities 

Some of the most popular Private Universities that students consider as a Plan B for CUET - 

S.No	Top Private University
1.	Amity University
2.	Chandigarh University
3.	Manipal University
4.	Amrita University
5.	Shardha University

3) State University 

Studnts can opt for numerous state universities that do not follow CUET for admission. These online universities conduct their entrance exams for admissions. Students should utilize their CUET preparation for the entrance test to secure admission to these State Universities. 

State Universities are regulated by the University Grants Commission with the support government. The fee structure of a state university is much lower than that of a private university. It offers dedicated learning for the overall development of the university.   

There are State universities that do not fully rely on CUET for admission. They Only offer a few courses through CUET and admission in most cases is entrained through their entrance tests. Students should keep checking their application forms for admission.

Top State University 

Most Popular State Universities  that are partially and fully free from CUET and can be considered as backup plans are -

S.No	State Universities
1.	Allahabad University
2.	Banglore University
3.	Osmania University
4.	University of Calcutta
5.	University of Mumbai

4) Diploma Courses

Students scoring low in their CUET exams can opt for diploma courses. They can enroll into UG or PG Diploma courses instead of taking GAP year. These diploma courses offer various industry oriented specilizations that are very beneficial for career progression. Diplomas in subjects like Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Data Science, Supply Chain Management, etc are some of the highly demand in the industry.

These diploma courses are available online as well as in regular mode. Most of the universities and colleges do not conduct entrance exams and students can directly get admissions.

5) Professional Courses 

Students can prepare and apply for professional courses. The minimum eligibility criteria for these professional courses are 10+2 students from any discipline can apply for these exams. 

Some of the most popular and highly demanded professional courses that students can pursue after 10+2 are mentioned below -

Professional Courses	Eligibility
Chartered Accountant (CA)	10+2
Cost and Management Accountant(CMA)	10+2
Company Secretary	10+2
Hotel Management	10+2

Conclusion

Getting admission to a dream university through CUET is a very difficult and challenging task due to the limited seats. Only students with the highest percentiles get admission to the top universities. Students should always be prepared with a backup plan if their CUET percentile is not enough for admission to top universities. The backup plan mentioned above could help save students from taking a gap year. These options will help students in navigating their careers in the right direction. This will help you overcome the fear of scoring low in CUET. If you have any other doubt you can connect with us anytime on 18004205757.