My experience at St. Xavier's

The course theory helps us gain a solid understanding of the subject matter. Film studies and Mass Communication theory classes has laid down the foundation of the subject- from what is a shot and the kinds of shots and angles, to the beginning of radio in India and essays by CS Pierce and John Berger. The course also includes practical classes in the sound labs, editing labs and we will learn to use a camera, as one of the things we will have to do in this course is make films of our own.

For my course, i am having to pay ?35,000 every 3 months which means i am having to pay ?1,40,000 every year. I am from the general category. I am unfortunately unaware about the fees that my classmates from other categories pay. The course offers me air conditioned classrooms, a fool-proof sound system, a screen to help show movies and labs with cameras, editing tools and sound systems so i would say it is worth it.

St. Xavier's has a booming extra curricular section. There are many clubs and societies like fine arts, dance and music, debate, theatre and many more, so that each student has a group they can fit into. The people in charge are very helpful and friendly. They are eager to include everyone. The green benches are sitting areas meant for students so it is always packed with all kinds of people singing, talking, studying or just doing their own thing.

Mass Communication is one of the only subjects that St. Xavier's offers entrance exams for. The rest are all based on the marks obtained by the student in their 12th grade board examinations. I was rejected by Jadavpur University from the english department because I could not qualify and comparative literature because I did not have 2 different languages in my 12th grade. Presidency College english Department also I failed to qualify in.

We have one professor and 70 students. Our HOD, Dr. Sharmishtha Jha M.A, Ph.D., PG Diploma (SRFTI) is very approachable and very easy to talk to. I was very intimidated by the other professors on the day of the physical verification of documents and she helped me by being humorous and understanding. Dr. Shenjuti Dutta Ph.D, M.Phil and M.A. in Film Studies is the HOD of film studies. She is very passionate about her subject and that reflects in her teaching. Professor Ustav Chatterjee explains the texts in his own words and uses real life examples for the better understanding of students.

The green benches are the ideal space for any student. There are all kinds of people- from someone who wants to quietly sit and do their own work, to groups of people jamming and chatting. There are two cafeterias, one on the top floor and one on the ground floor. The one on the ground floor is bigger and has more variety and it is also packed with students chatting, unwinding or waiting for their next class.