St. Xavier's College Review

Xavier's is recommended as the most disciplined college in Kolkata. Which is quite true. There is no political disturbance or influence overall in college campus. There are however a few student lobbies that manages the Xavotsav and exercise some amount of power over college societies and fests. But if one wants to maintain distance from it and focus on academics there is no pressure. We also have secured and peaceful library. It may take a few days for a beginner to get accustomed with the security, book issuing and reading formalities but once habituated the library staff treats you well and are quite friendly (except for a few egoistic members, who shall never smile at you and you can easily identify them with their depressed faces and rude behaviors).

We have 2 semester exam every year held in the months of November and April and 1 mid-sem exam that occurs in the month of September and February. In my department we have for each semester the marks is distributed as: 60 marks of practical exam + 20 marks of written exam + 20 marks comes from (mid-sem performance + assignment submissions + attendance). In third year we have to select two professors as our mentors or guides for Dissertation and a Individual project respectively, where you have to have frequent 1-1 interaction and meetings and maintain a progress report for the work. The topic / field for the dissertation and the project depends upon you. Ultimately you have to show the work and your efforts behind it at the end of the semester. And there you will be marked on its basis.

There is a Placement cell, I can't say about other departments but for our department, there is not much option of placement. But if you have a strong portfolio, you may secure a moderate job easily to start with. Doing at least 6 months of internship is mandatory in our course especially if you are aiming for masters. But the department usually stays non-cooperative in the process. Graphic Design and Animation Internships are easily available on internshala, where they ask to see your previous works or selects you on the basis of any assignment.

The greatest feast that Xavier's hosts every year is its very own Xavotsav. This is a 3-day long college fest that occurs around 23-25 January every year. In addition to that, there are various departmental fests, my department hosts a fests every 2 years its called, Elan. Apart from that we have SIGMA, hosted by Computer Department.

The fee structure for my course particularly is the highest, and Mass Communication it is second highest. Our College has quarterly fee payment system, i.e. the fees need to be payed 4 times in a year. And for my course, for one quarter the fees is around INR 25,000. For other departments it is less.

St. Xavier's College provides scholarships to students only who require. But there is too many formalities where you need letter from your parents, their financial details signed and attested, and then there is a specific time period to apply for it where you will have to wait for the Vice Principals approval on the documents, then there is verification and other formalities. So, ultimately the process is so hard and frustrating at times that even if you have some issues with the fees you will feel to give up the idea of availing financial aid. There are few of my friends who have taken educational loan where the bank have an understanding with the college office but still there is a challan or receipt that you need to show to the college office that the fees is paid by the bank.

Xavier's offers a friendly campus life, I cant state the gender ratio exactly but I think it is around 3:2. Majority of the students are based in Kolkata or its outskirts so they usually travel from their home. There are quite a few North eastern students who usually stay in hostel and they form their own comfort group together. Other than that there are a few christian minorities seats reserved in every department. But overall there is a healthy environment throughout. Every college fests have some sought of competitions associated with it, Xavier's hosts other colleges as well in those events. And we have a whole range of co-curricular events during Xavotsav. Also there are various societies like XTS (Xaverian Theatrical Society), XADAM (Xaverian Academy of Dance And Music) etc. These societies have their own fests once a year, XTS hosts, "Theaxav" around February / March, XADAM hosts "Goonj" around December. These specific societies have members and an individual governing body selected as far seniority every year. Also departments of Chemistry, Biotech, Microbio have their separate labs. Sports day is held once a year in February, where students participate in events such a long jump. 100 m race. 400 m race. relay race etc. Apart from that we have departmental football tournament where football teams from each department play against the other. In fact there is a football team of all the professors, one alumni football team and also a non-teaching staff football team.

No, Xavier's hostel is quite strict, where you are not allowed to enter after 8 pm. Also it has several other rules and regulations. But as far as I have herd, the facilities are great and it is quite affordable. Another disadvantage of the hostel is that you are not allowed to stay during vacations.

Xavier's have a very strong and proud alumni base. There is a head of the Alumni department who have some amount of power over every society and the college management. The Alumni hosts its 1-day event just after Xavotsav every year, where they hire some top level artist for performance.

St. Xavier's College mostly conducts merit based entrance there is no entrance test for most of the departments, except for Mass Communication and Multimedia. In any case there is an Online Application form that needs to be filled with application fees. Usually the online application form is available in the college website at around the mid of May every year. This year due to pandemic the form is released on 15th July. For entrance in my department, I had to give a 3-hrs long entrance test if qualified, you will be called for a short interview and documents verification, followed by admission formalities and fees -payment on the very same day.

I can't say about other departments but for my course we have quite satisfactory faculty. They are quite supporting and are easily approachable. The professors usually supports you with doubts and questions during and even after class. Often they are quite friendly and encouraging. We have a sports day every year where every student walks in a procession representing their department. The Multimedia is a department of artists and creative minds we have a 2-3 days long workshop held in our department every year just before sports day, students are divided into teams making various theme based head gears, installations and we finally walk with those in the rally. There professors help and support our work in every step.