GetMyUni's Verdict on Lady Doak College

Pratiki Patra

“Lady Doak College, indeed, has proved its mettle in providing the best education. It has also held the ground in delivering a holistic campus experience.”

Located in the quaint town of Madurai, Lady Doak College was the first women's college set up in the town in 1948. Since then, there has been no looking back as it spearheaded women's education in the area. The college has become synonymous with high-grade education. One might stereotype Lady Doak College to be very strict as it is a women's college. However, students here do enjoy their time at the college. However, specific strict rules have been implemented to maintain order and discipline inside the campus.

One of the most talked about features of LDC is its professors. While indeed they are highly qualified, students have heartily expressed their deep satisfaction and said that they always walk the extra mile to provide additional knowledge to help build a better understanding of the subjects.

Most of the students' organic reviews on various online forums are positive. However, a few students have also expressed their concerns over the lack of sports opportunities. This is an area that the college needs to work on to advance towards a more holistic approach.

Table of Contents

• Top Quality Education
• Experienced & Helpful Faculties
• Well-Maintained Infrastructure
• Agreeable Hostel Facilities
• Average Placement Record
• Exciting Campus Life
• Is Lady Doak College Worth it?

Top Quality Education

Lady Doak College undoubtedly provides one of the best education systems in the state of Tamil Nadu. What is praiseworthy about the college’s education is the fact that it has maintained such quality for a long time. The college provides undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, certificate, and diploma programs.

These degrees are offered in various fields like Science, Arts, Commerce, Social Work, Technology and many more. The course curriculum is not only updated but also consists of in-depth topics for the concerned subject. The syllabi are regularly reviewed to include the latest topics or remove the outdated ones. 

The semester exams of LDC are, even though not difficult, also not easy to crack. The majority of the students in the class are able to pass the exam. The course curriculum also includes industrial or other planned visits to come face to face with the real world and understand any subject more deeply. Such tours or visits must be made in order to instil curiosity amongst the students.

Expensive Course Fees

Lady Doak College, being set up by the missionaries, should have kept nominal fee structures to ensure that students from various walks of life get a chance to study at the college. However, the course fees for most of the courses are moderately high. For instance, for pursuing an M.Sc, the first-year fee is around INR 43,000, while for an M.Com, it is INR 21,000.

The total costs to complete B.Sc is INR 1,81,000, while for B.Com is 1,48,000. Such steep fees are non-affordable to many students. To counter this, various scholarships are granted by LDC to ease the burden of the students.

Experienced & Helpful Faculties

As mentioned earlier, the faculty members at Lady Doak College are to be credited for keeping the academic standard high. Not only do they hold high qualifications, but they also have several years of teaching experience, whose knowledge seeps into the lectures. They are polite and supportive in helping students achieve their academic goals.

Moreover, for any doubt clarification, they are always ready to resolve them instantly. The professors are known to use teaching methods that make complex subjects easily comprehensible to the students. 

Well-Maintained Infrastructure

Lady Doak College has a unique blend of traditional and modern infrastructure. The college is endowed with majestic trees and lush greeneries all around that lend a serene ambience to the campus. Students, professors, staff, and everyone else tremendously enjoy this environment. Parts of the campus have retained the charming old building, lending a distinct landscape.

LDC has built almost all of the vital infrastructural facilities required for the students. The classrooms are spacious enough to accommodate a large number of pupils comfortably. It is also well-ventilated. The campus has a strong WiFi network to aid the students.

Furthermore, the laboratory facilities also have various equipment and are cared for. However, for a few of the departments, some of the lab instruments are outdated and need to be replaced. Such a percentage of obsolete instruments is, however, very low. The college library has been stocked with various genres of books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, magazines, and many more. Students make the most of the library and are pretty satisfied with the same. 

The campus has a canteen facility which provides various food options. However, with regard to the quality of food, students present a mixed picture. While one group of students enjoy the food and are satisfied with the quality, the other group has a contrasting view. Apart from the facilities mentioned earlier, LDC also has an auditorium for various events.

Of all its creditable facilities, one of the crucial features that the college lacks is its sports facilities. The college has minimal sports opportunities, and only the sports students are allowed to engage in the same. The others are given limited to no access to it, as per various students’ reviews on online platforms.

Agreeable Hostel Facilities

Lady Doak College offers residential facilities for students for one academic year. This can be extended to the student's behaviour and abiding by the rules. The hostel rooms are available on a shared basis, and the basic amenities are for the students' ease. The hostel premises also include a recreational centre, gymnasium, television and other facilities. The hostel has a sound security system, which makes it a safe place for students. 

In total, there are 9 residential halls which can accommodate up to 600 students. Each of these halls is supervised by the Resident Hall Supervisors. Moreover, every month, a meeting is held by the JCAR ( Joint Council for Action in Residence) to address the concerns and interests of the resident students. Apart from this, the hostel management has imposed strict rules and regulations.

While such rules might be a necessity to ensure the safety of the students, often, it can cause displeasure among the students. For instance, the in and out time in the hostel needs to be strictly maintained. Failing to maintain it attracts strict disciplinary action against the student.

The hostel charges, though, are expensive. Students must pay approximately INR 56,000 per year, including mess fees of around INR 30,000. The costs can be paid in 3-4 instalments. Still, it might be unaffordable to many of the students. Anyone who wants to avoid opting for the LDC's hostel facilities can stay at paying guest options available in the town. Although limited, they provide good facilities.

Average Placement Record

Lady Doak College, Madurai, has an average placement rate. More than 60% of the students get placed. Many top companies visit the campus for recruitment. However, the salaries offered are average or below so, depending on the department. Various training sessions are conducted by the placement cell to ensure that the students are recruitment-ready. However, when it comes to internship opportunities, students must find their own opportunities. No substantial help is offered from the college's side.

Exciting Campus Life

Lady Doak College, Madurai, offers many features and facilities to the students that have helped them academically. This also continues when it comes to celebrating various inter-collegiate events, cultural events, etc. Various such events are organised throughout the year, and students are encouraged to participate. Many conferences and seminars are held that are equally fun and educational.

Students can also take part in various student-led club activities to ensure a healthy balance of education and extracurricular activities. The students in the college are mainly from different corners of the state of Tamil Nadu. 

Rules, Regulations and Dress Code

LDC has several rules and regulations that students need to adhere to. Among them, some are strict, while others are lenient. For most parts, such rules are implemented to ensure that students don't have to face any significant hurdles or unwarranted incidents. However, the students have to maintain a 75% attendance record. Lady Doak College does not have any dress code or uniform. However, students are said to wear clean and modest clothes while on campus.

Is Lady Doak College Worth it?

LDC provides one of the best educational and college life experiences in the state. It has made a reputation for itself in doing so. From its experienced and supportive faculties to top-quality courses, the college has delivered commendable results. It has also succeeded in providing an exciting campus life that lets the students enjoy their prime years most. It also builds a robust infrastructure that is taken care of as well.

While most of the facilities are good, more emphasis needs to be put on improving the placement records. Furthermore, its expensive course fees only add to the stress of the students, who might be concerned about paying such high fees both for academics and for hostels. Even with a few drawbacks, overall, college is worth studying in order to accomplish one's academic goals.

Here's a look at the pros and cons of Lady Doak College:

*Source: ladydoakcollege.edu.in & Lady Doak College Facebook