When filling out the JAMB admission form, students are allowed to make four different choices of institutions and courses.
The first choice of institution is always a Federal university, the second choice is a state university, and the third choice is a Polytechnic or College of Education. In contrast, the final choice is a Monotechnic.
When of the things that remains confusing to student is whether they can be offered admission into their second choice, which is usually a state university, in case their first choice, which is a Federal University, fails to give them admission. We are going to address this question because it is very crucial to aspirants, as many aspirants have missed out on admission, not because they failed to score the required mark, but because they were not informed how the admission process in Nigeria works.

In all four choices of institutions, you are at liberty to choose any course to study in each of the schools, but the problem remains: will the school offer you admission since you didn’t make them your first choice of institution?
In this blog post, we are going to address the big question that is in the heart of many aspirants in Nigeria, which is “ Does JAMB Give Admission to Second Choice”?
Does JAMB Give Admission To the Second Choice
In answering this question, it is good to point out that JAMB is not the one responsible for giving students admission, but JAMB is just a medium that allows schools to give admission to students. What this means is that, before you are offered admission on JAMB CAPS, firstly, your choice of institution will shortlist your name for admission, and the school will then send the shortlisted names to JAMB, after which JAMB will start giving admission to the shortlisted students.
Having seen that it is the school that gives admission, let us now address the main topic of this blog post: Does JAMB give Admission To the Second Choice? The answer is NO, JAMB doesn’t give admission to the second choice because before you can be considered for admission into any tertiary institution in Nigeria, you must make the school your first choice of institution. So JAMB will not give admission to a second choice because, as a second choice candidate, you cannot purchase the post-UTME exams of the school, and not to mention admission.
How To Print JAMB Admission Letter On JAMB Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Which schools accept second choice candidates?
No school or tertiary institution in Nigeria accepts a second-choice candidate for admission. You must make the school your first choice before you can be considered for admission.
Can I change my second choice to the first choice?
Yes! You can use the JAMB Change of Institution option on the JAMB portal. This allows you to make your second choice school your first choice if you want to increase your admission chances.
How do I change my second choice to first choice on JAMB?
Kindly visit any accredited CBT centre in your location to carry out the change of institution. It is only at the CBT centres that these types of changes can be made.
Can I gain admission with my second choice if my first choice doesn’t admit me?
No, you cannot. Schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria only consider candidate who made them their first choice of institution in JAMB for admission.
Does Polytechnic accept a second choice on JAMB?
No, Polytechnic and College of Education don’t accept a second choice for admission. If you want to study in a Polytechnic, you will have to change your first choice to the polytechnic before you can be considered for admission.
Can private universities admit me as a second choice candidate?
Private institutions are the same as public institutions, and their policies are the same. This means that you cannot be admitted to any private institution in Nigeria if you make them your second choice.
Can I write the post-UTME for my second choice school?
Most schools only allow first choice candidates to participate in their post-UTME screening. If your second choice school doesn’t permit this, you’ll need to change it to your first choice before applying for post-UTME.
Does choosing a school as a second choice reduce my admission chances?
Yes. Schools give priority to first choice applicants, so choosing a school as a second choice can lower your admission chances unless the school specifically accepts second choice candidates.
What should I do if I choose a school that doesn’t accept my second choice?
You should quickly perform a Change of Institution on the JAMB portal to make that school your first choice before its post-UTME screening begins.
Conclusion
JAMB does not give admission to the second choice. If you want to study in your second choice of institution, you should make the school your first choice on JAMB before you can be considered for admission.