When institutions start giving admission to candidates, they release at least three (3) lists, which include the merit, supplementary, and VC lists, which has been confusing so many students lately.
However, to prevent confusion among many candidates concerning this, I decided to come up with this article that will clear the air by telling you the meaning of merit, supplementary, and VC list.
And I promise you that by the end of this article, after you must have been able to understand the difference between the 3 lists, you won’t have any reason to be confused again. I will start by explaining what a merit list is.
What Is a Merit List?
The merit list is also known as the first batch; it’s usually the first list that is released when an institution starts giving admission. It contains the list of candidates that performed excellently well by scoring way above the cut-off mark for their choice of course.
Regardless of your geographical location, once you have a very good grade in your O’Level, JAMB, and also your post-UTME exam, there is a high chance that you will find your name in the merit list of your choice of institution if only the combination of your grades will beat your aggregate cut-off mark by far.
Now to make things clear, meeting your cut-off mark doesn’t mean your name will be on the merit list (first batch). This simply means that not everyone who meets up with the cut-off mark will find their name on the merit list (first batch) as some might find their name on the second batch (2nd merit list) or more. Why did I say so?
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Book Your Consultation NowWell, here is how it works. Each institution has what we call an “admission quota”; it simply means the maximum number of candidates they can admit for a particular academic year.
For each batch they release, they have the maximum number of candidates they want on that list. So if an institution is about release the first batch merit list, they select candidates who performed well, starting from the highest and then downward. In the process of moving down, if the list has exceeded its maximum number, they will stop there and release that particular list, then continue from there also when compiling the second batch (2nd merit list).
For example, an institution is about to release the merit list (first batch) that should contain a maximum of 150 candidates, and you are the 174th person who scored above the cut-off mark, you will definitely not find your name on that list since you are not part of the top 150 for the merit list (first batch).
Rather, you will need to wait for the second batch (2nd merit list), where you will possibly find your name. So if the first batch (merit list) is released and you can’t find your name whereas you meet up with the cut-off, you will definitely find it in the second batch (2nd merit list) or any list that comes after it.
Now there are some institutions that don’t release their departmental aggregate cut-off marks to the public, and some of you might be wondering how they determine people that will be on their merit list. Well, institutions like this give admission based on general performance. So if you want your name to be on the merit list, make sure you get as high an aggregate as possible.
What Is a Supplementary List?
The supplementary list consists of candidates who were offered admission despite not reaching the aggregate cut-off mark for their particular choice of course. But note that you cannot find your name in the supplementary list if you don’t meet up with the general cut-off mark for your institution.
Candidates might find their name in the supplementary list either when
- They are transferred
Being transferred is the process whereby an institution changes a candidate’s choice of course from the initial one to a less competitive one. This mostly happens when a candidate fails to meet the required cut-off mark for his/her choice of course.
So instead of denying such a candidate admission, he/she will be transferred to a less competitive course or the one with a vacancy that his/her score is qualified for.
Most institutions will notify you if they have transferred you, where you will be given the option to either accept or reject the new course on your JAMB caps, and then after accepting the course and also doing a change of course to the new one you were transferred to, you will be offered admission.
While some institutions will just give you admission directly into the less competitive course or the one with vacancies that you are qualified for, which is left for you to accept or reject the admission.
- When they purchase the institution supplementary form
Most institutions will neither give you a transfer offer nor change your course directly; rather, they will bring out a supplementary form. This form gives opportunity to candidates who didn’t meet the cut-off mark for their initial choice of course to apply for the available course, which is mostly less competitive.
But whatever way it is, any candidate that is considered for admission even when he/she didn’t meet up with the cut-off mark is in the supplementary list.
What Is A V.C. List?
This is usually the last admission list that is being released. It contains candidates that are being selected by the vice chancellor of your choice of institution. The way they get the names that are selected on this list is not publicly known.
But candidates who are selected by the VC don’t need to pass the cut-off mark for their particular choice of course before their names can be added. This list has a very small quota, so only a few people get selected.
Sometimes, institutions give admission slots to people who have greatly contributed to society, like the traditional rulers, lawmakers, VCs, and more. For example, a traditional ruler can be given 3 slots for his good work; this simply means such a traditional ruler can select any 3 people of his choice who want to gain admission into that institution.
Once that person is selected, automatically his/her admission is guaranteed, and such a person doesn’t need to pass any aggregate cut-off mark. This is exactly how admission works in most institutions in Nigeria. So if you have connections to any of these people, then lucky for you.
So in conclusion, the three (3) categories of admission in most institutions in Nigeria are the merit, supplementary, and VC lists, as explained above. And no matter the list you find yourself in, it’s still the same admission as everyone that is being admitted will find themselves on the same campus.