I’m interested in a career in automobile design, after completing class XII (science) in 2012. Please advise.
Shailesh Rane, Pune
You should do well enough in your Plus Two exam to qualify for admission into the bachelor of product design programme offered by NID, Ahmedabad (www.nid.edu) or Symbiosis Institute of Design (www.symbiosis design.ac.in) or MAEER’s Institute of Design, Pune (www.mitidiedu.in). Alternatively you could acquire an engineering degree and then enrol in a postgraduate programme in auto-mobile design at NID or IIT-Bombay.
I’m currently reading for an M.Tech degree programme in spatial infor-mation technology after completing my MCA in 2009. Will the M.Tech qualification better my career prospects?
Siddharth Raghavan, Chennai
Spatial technologies include any form of technology that refers to place, space and location. Specifically, they are technologies that organise and collect data by referencing the information collected to a point on the earth’s surface using latitude and longitude calculations. Spatial techn-ologists develop software and systems to enhance the ability of individuals, business, government and industry to utilise location and mobile systems better in their daily tasks, manage land information systems, produce maps and digital databases.
Your earlier MCA degree and the current programme will position you well for placement. You could find employ-ment within the IT software industry. Enquire from the placement office of your college/ university what former students are doing, and network with them and your professors to explore openings and emerging opportunities.
Please suggest reputed institutes abroad offering courses in fashion marketing.
Arundhati Sen, Kolkata
The top schools in the US for fashion marketing programmes are the New York-based Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons Institute. American universities give you the flexibility to do this course while pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree. Therefore if you are keen and have the funds to finance a four-year degree programme in the US, you can specialise in fashion marketing in your final year. Alternatively, complete your bachelor’s degree programme in India and opt for a Master’s programme in fashion marketing abroad.
I’m in class XII (science) and want to qualify as an actuary. Do I need to do an MBA to qualify as an actuary?
Deepak Rao, Bangalore
Not at all. but it might be a good idea to enrol for a bachelor’s degree in statistics and simultaneously sign up for an actuarial course with the Institute of Actuaries of India (www. actuariesindia.org). A few universities offer B.Sc programmes in actuarial science. You certainly don’t need to do an MBA to become an actuary.
Which universities offer the integrated five-year MBA in biotechnology degree programme?
Dilip Chatterjee, Kolkata
A five-year integrated M.Sc (biotechnology) programme is offered by several universities including University of Pune. As regards an integrated five-year MBA in biotech-nology, I don’t believe there’s any such study programme. Ideally, you could do a B.Sc in biotechnology or any biological science followed by an MBA (biotechnology).
After completing my bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, I want to do a postgraduate programme (other than Master’s in physiotherapy) in a subject allied to the healthcare industry. Please advise.
Shalini Fonseca, Mumbai
You could enrol in an MBA (hospital administration) or MBA (health management) or an equivalent two-year postgrad programme. Among the reputed institutions offering these programmes are the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (www.tiss.edu); Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad (www.asci.org.in); Deccan School of Management (www.dishm.co.in); Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Pune (www.sihspune.org); Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur (www.iihmr.org); Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration (http://www.apolloiha.ac.in/admissions.html); Madurai Kamraj University, Madurai (www.mkuniversity.org) and Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai (www.srmc.edu).
I’m a third year BA student confused about my future career path. I’m interested in fashion design but also want to do an MBA.
Nalini Rajan, Bangalore
You should sign up for an MBA or postgrad programme in fashion management, both of which will help you join the fashion industry. If you have the talent for design, consider applying for admission into the National Institute of Fashion Technology (www.niftindia.com).
I want to write the IAS exam after my graduation in 2012. What’s the selection process?
Rishi Arora, Chandigarh
Clearance of the civil services Examination is the prerequisite of recruitment into the Indian Adminis-trative Service and various other all-India services such as Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service etc. The entire selection procedure takes a full calendar year to completion. You need to apply in November-December to write the preliminary examination usually held in May. If you clear the prelims, you will become eligible to write the main exam in October-November. Those who qualify in the main exam are shortlisted for personal interview in April-May.
Graduates between 21 and 30 years are eligible to write the Civil Services Examination. However, the selection procedure is very rigorous and demands high-level academic knowledge which is perhaps why so many applicants are postgraduates. Since a general category candidate may sign up for this examination up to four times, motivated candidates make concerted plans to prepare for the selection process over two to three years. Success depends upon selecting the right subjects and preparation strategy in addition to sustained hard work.