RD and SH National College and SWA Science College B.Com Review By Nikhil Bhai Vasava

National College is located near the linking road in Bandra. It is a shopping paradise and you will see the area around college buzzing with crowd. I used to stay in Andheri and chose this college though I could have easily got admission in some colleges of Andheri. The reason why I chose this college is that it was nearby Bandra Railway Station and as a kid, Bandra was supposed to be our hotspot. The college is known for academic excellence and from what I heard from various people who have attended this college is that college emphasizes on secular, open-minded and liberal education. The caste system is something which has always been a question for students like us as they believe we don’t get anything on merit. The National college is known for intolerance towards any such things and I didn’t even think twice before choosing a college for myself.

I studies B.Com from this college which is under Mumbai University. The course is a 3-year full time course and is among the easiest courses offered by the University of Mumbai. The college is strict but not that as it is mentioned at the notice board that student below 80% attendance won't be allowed for exams but the actual figure is 50%. If your attendance is below that than you are in trouble. The college has adopted unique ways of studies and more than the study books the college made us realize the creative skills of ours and work towards that. The college told us that they will provide platform where we can enhance our employability skills but that was all just for the sake of saying.

I know the professors play a huge role and therefore no disrespect in this regard as the serious students were not just cheered by the faculty members too were vocal about them. Most of the B. Com students were also pursuing C.A. at the same time and the professors were than happy to solve those doubts as well. Thus, they were helpful as they helped us in whatever way we asked them to. They always stood with the truth and even fought with the management for us if we were not wrong. I don’t think one can find such supportive professors ever and thereby would rate the faculty of National College 10 on 10.

N/A is an option on some application forms likewise they should have chosen N/A option here as well. Even BMS students don’t get on campus placement at National College, how we can even imagine. That’s the reality and therefore I never even bothered about the same as I knew this is just the beginning and will have to continue studying if I were to find a good job.

The college doesn't have its own hostel. Not many outsiders are a part of this college like if you compare that with other colleges of Mumbai. The college is rated highly but has failed to grab the attention of outsiders. One reason may be that it is located in Bandra and it is quite expensive to find an accommodation nearby the college. There’s one Rajshri Sahu Maharaj Boys Hostel in Bandra East where the college has some 15-20 seats reserved and if somebody applies there are chances that they might get accommodation there. Other than that though, one will have to search around for some PGs and flats in nearby area.

The college is quite old and protecting the heritage building seems like a trend in Mumbai. The building is demanding renovations and making it beautiful inside won’t make any difference. The college interior is awesome but from exterior looks like an old heritage building. The college is one of few that have a playground of its own. The college always encouraged students in sports participation and therefore the college has built a sports centre that is full of recreation and fitness machines like cycle, yoga mats, weights, and table tennis tables among others. The best part of the college is world class fully air-auditorium that can fit nearly 800 students. The college also has a nice canteen on the ground floor and the students with college ID are only allowed to eat in the canteen. Outsiders are not allowed. Outside the college there are many hawkers and one of them is Jai Sandwich Wala. He is more famous than the college for sure. Besides all these the college has 2 conference rooms and some well-equipped labs and library.

The life at the college was great. The college hours were 11am to 5pm and therefore I never had to rush. Used to catch the local around 10.30 and by 11 I was at the college. I kept my attendance in check and was never warned for having lower attendance. The college is in news during its cultural fest that is attended by celebrities of various walks of life. The college is indeed one of the most happening places in Mumbai and the rich crowd of Bandra is a proof of that.