Mistakes Students Make During Online Counseling — And How to Avoid Them

With most college admissions shifting to online counseling processes in 2025, students often make small mistakes that cost them their preferred seats or entire admission. Here are the top mistakes students make during online counseling and how you can avoid them this admission season.

1. Missing Deadlines & Schedule Updates

Many students:

Forget to check updated counseling schedules

Miss registration deadlines or choice filling dates

Solution:
Set reminders for each counseling round
Regularly check official websites and your registered email/SMS

2. Incorrect Choice Filling & Preference Order

Students often:

Choose colleges randomly without research

Put lower preference colleges above better options

Solution:
Research colleges thoroughly (placements, faculty, location)
Fill choices in a realistic yet ambitious order

3. Not Keeping Documents Ready

At verification or seat acceptance, students miss out because:

Documents are not scanned in required size or format

Originals are misplaced or missing

Solution:
Scan all documents as per official guidelines
Keep originals organised in a folder for quick access

4. Ignoring Counseling Fee Payments

Many forget to:

Pay the counseling registration or seat acceptance fees on time

Download and save payment receipts

Solution:
Double check payment status after transaction
Save receipts for future reference

5. Not Attending Online Reporting or Verification

Skipping online reporting or document verification sessions leads to cancellation of allotted seats.

Solution:
Attend reporting sessions on the scheduled date
Test internet, camera, and documents beforehand for smooth process

6. Lack of Backup Options

Students focus only on dream colleges and don’t keep backups, leading to wasted years if top options aren’t allotted.

Solution:
Always have backup courses and colleges in your choice list
Consider realistic options based on your rank/score

7. Overlooking Reservation & Category Details

Errors in:

Choosing correct category/reservation quota

Uploading valid caste/income certificates

Can lead to rejection or seat cancellation later.

Solution:
Carefully fill category details
Upload valid, updated certificates only

Conclusion

Online counseling requires alertness, preparation, and clarity. Avoiding these common mistakes ensures you get the best possible college seat as per your merit.