SMCSI- A complete review from a budding doctor

I chose to attend this college mainly because of the faculty available. The professors are well educated and very involved in the learning process. Regular examinations conducted to give the incentive to learn thoroughly. Learning material and notes are prepared from the best textbooks. I researched about my college in collegedunia.com, careers360.com, and collegedekho.com. I also had a few relatives who had attended the same institution. The admission process was relatively simple. I was allotted to the college by CEE based on my NEET marks. I had to go to the college and submit documents such as NEET score sheet, nativity certificate, birth certificate, and board results. SMCSI is a good college for any student focused on education. However, it is situated in a rural area, hence entertainment options are limited. Also, hostel timings make it difficult to go on an outing especially for girls. Seniors in the college are helpful, bullying is not prevalent. Arts and sports programs are also conducted.

The faculty offered in the college are well educated. All HODs are doctors with master degrees. The assistant professors in biochemistry are of MSc degree, faculty from other departments are doctors. The study material provided is from university recommended books. There is approximately a 20:1 student-faculty ratio in all departments. For dissection, three male cadavers are available. Exams are regularly conducted. The biochemistry department conducts tutorials of 10 marks weekly. Short exams of 50 marks are conducted in physiology after the completion of every topic. Anatomy regularly conducts seminars and viva for topics, as well as short exams. There are three sessional exams. They are of intermediate level difficulty. The questions asked are simple, but the evaluation is strict. The faculty encourages students to study and offered special classes for students who fell behind in the sessionals.

Placements are not available in the college. After mandatory HS, we are free to find jobs. Many passed out students remain in the college as tutors while preparing for their PG entrances. Some also teach nursing and/or paramedical students. As an MBBS degree is not enough to get a job, everyone plans on joining for PG courses. MBBS degree will only get us as far as a casualty doctor or medical officer in a PMC.

The basic fee for tuition is 6.16 lakhs per annum, for general and minority seats. For NRI seats, it is 25 lakhs. But, additional fees for hostel, mess and equipment included were over 7 lakhs. The price of record books and other materials are expensive. The college also demands money from students for conducting any arts or cultural programs. The scholarship is available for students belonging to the SC category. Campus jobs are not available. Student postings are not paid.

Annual fest, CONFLUENZ, is conducted every year. They are huge, with celebrity performances, debate shows, band music, etc. The chaplaincy department also conducts an annual three-day program, MAHANAIM, which focuses on spirituality. Members from the chaplaincy and gospel speakers from around the state, attend the meeting. Celebrations are conducted for every major holiday prevalent in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Christmas, Onam, Pongal, etc are all celebrated in grand events. Cine fests and sports meets are also conducted. The college has four houses for competing in the programs. Members of each house are chosen by seniors after many rounds of analyzing skills of each and every student. Inter batch competitions also give healthy completion and friendship with seniors. The libraries are well stocked. Thousands of books are available for each subject. Libraries remain open from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm. Computers with wifi connected, printing are available. Classrooms have projectors and mikes.

Hostel life is mediocre. Rooms provided are of three or two-person capacity. They are clean and ventilated. There are fans and lights in every room. Shelves, 3 tables, chairs, and beds are also provided. However, the bathroom facilities are poor. Common toilets are available on each floor. Students do their own laundry with stone and soap in space allowed behind the bathrooms. With higher hostel fees and seniority, rooms are available in the mess block. They have balconies and attached bathrooms. Mess food is good. Chicken or fish dishes are available every day. Breakfast is available from 7 am lunch from 12 pm, snacks at 4 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Snacks serve are cutlets, samosas, banana fries, tapioca, bread and jam, and puffs. The hostel closes at 6 pm for girls and 9 pm for boys. Girls need passes to go outside the college campus from the Warden.