CHENNAI: Private publications doling out information on engineering counselling are the season’s best-sellers, according to book vendors outside Anna University.
Around 200 copies of Guide to crack counselling were sold in the first week of May, they said.
“It was mostly parents who picked up the books.
Students were just about four or five,” said Hameed, a bookseller.
“The book offers information on all engineering colleges affiliated to the university and the course ratings. I bought the book, as it had information on rare courses offered by the university,” said Ramya K, who had come from Tiruvallur to buy an application form.
No wonder Nakul, an Erode-based publisher, saw an opportunity to publish a book on engineering counselling for students when he saw the demand for information, especially among parents.
“So, in the book published by us, we have data on all engineering courses, the top engineering colleges in the country, deemed universities in the State and the new trends in engineering education,” he said.
The costs of the books range between Rs 50 and Rs 100 and most vendors had run out of stock.
Officials at Anna University, are however, not amused.
“All information required such as the number of colleges participating in the counselling and the courses on offer, among other things, are available in ‘Instructions to Candidates’ booklet given along with the application form. So, there is no need for students or their parents to go in for unauthorised information,” said Rhymend Uthariraj, director, TNEA.
Information such as last year’s cut-off marks and the ranks of various colleges are available on the university’s website.