I’m a class X student interested in a career in psychiatry. Please advise.
Nalini Subramaniam, Bangalore
Psychiatry is best studied as a postgraduate degree after comple-tion of an undergrad medical study programme (MBBS). In Plus Two, you will need to opt for the science stream and then write the entrance test for admission into medical colleges.
However, if you are not too keen on studying medicine, you can choose psychology as a subject in your BA degree programme followed by a Masters in clinical psychology. Talk to people working in the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology to understand the difference in scope and opportunities.
After completing my B.Tech degree in 2013, I want to enroll in an MS programme offered by an American university. How do I prepare for GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Sridhar Rao, Chennai
Academic records of each semester are the primary basis of admission; hence you must work hard to get good grades. To prepare for GRE, you can read the Official Guide for GRE, together with guides published by Princeton, Kaplan and Baronds. Admi-ssion applications to US universities must be completed a few months ahead of the beginning of term. Most reputed universities require two-three letters of recommendation, a convincing statement of purpose explaining the conn-ection between your study programme and future career goals, highlights of your strengths and achievements, quality and quantity of relevant work experience (if any), together with TOEFL/IELTS and of course, GRE scores.
I’ll complete my Plus Two (science) next year. Apart from medicine and engineering, what other career options in science are available? As regards archaeology, what are the qualifications required and career pospects?
Deepak Sule, Pune
Options in careers other than medicine and engineering are in agriculture, horticulture, fishery, pharmaceutical science, dairy techn-ology, prosthetics and orthotics, radiography, nautical science, aviation, science, architecture and interior design.
Admission into the five-year integrated Master of science programme offered by the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research at Kolkata and Pune is through the IIT-JEE. You could also enroll in B.Stat/B.Math or B.Sc (home science) or B.Sc (life science/biotechnology/botany/zoology etc) degree programmes and follow up with a Masters and Ph D for careers in research and teaching.
Vis-a-vis archaeology, the depart-ments of history, culture and archae-ology of several universities in India offer Masters degrees with speciali-sation in archaeology or alternatively, archaeology as a subject. A bachelor’s degree in history is the prerequisite of admission into a postgraduate progra-mme in archaeology. After acquiring your Masters, you can also opt for a postgrad diploma in archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, Archaeo-logical Survey of India, Delhi.
Duly qualified professionals are readily accepted by the Archaeological Survey of India, state departments of archaeology, ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology departments of various universities, and museums. They could also be involved in devel-oping cultural centres and archaeol-ogical sites and monuments, while growing interest in heritage preservation has generated ample scope in journalism and publishing.
I will complete Plus Two (science) in 2012 and want to explore a career in the merchant navy. Please advise.
Ashish Patel, Mumbai
Professional training for entry into the merchant navy is mainly in the form of the three-year B.Sc (nautical science) and four-year marine engin-eering degree programmes. The B.Sc nautical science programme is offered by T.S. Chanakya, Navi Mumbai; the four-year marine engineering degree by the Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata and the three-year polyvalent B.Sc maritime sciences degree by MERI, Mumbai (http://iims.dgshipping.com). Admission into these study programmes is based on performance in IIT-JEE.
Stringent physical fitness norms are prescribed for all applicants. Normal vision of 6/6 is essential for each eye, and spectacles are allowed up to plus or minus 2.5. Colour blindness is a disqualification for all courses. A mechanical engineering graduate may join as trainee marine engineer through a pre-sea training course with a shipping company.
I have a diploma in civil engineering and want to know about distance education degree courses which will add value to my diploma.
Amrita Singh, New Delhi
Check out correspondence courses offered by IGNOU (www.ignouviap. org) and YCMOU. Alternatively, you can pursue a degree through AIME (www.ieindia.org) and Institution of Civil Engineers (India), New Delhi (http://www.iceindia.org/index.html).
I want a career in the music industry after completing my diploma in industrial electronics next year. Is it possible to earn a living while pursuing my passion for music?
Siddharth Chatterjee, Kolkata
After completing your degree in electronics, search for jobs in sound recording/engineering and design in the music industry. Alter-nately, you could get a job in the music industry based on your training or proven talent through formal musical performances.
After completing my BA degree next year, I’m keen on starting my own ad agency. Would you advise me to work in an ad agency or enroll for a postgrad diploma in advertising?
Reena Shah, Ahmedabad
You can begin work right away or sign up for a postgraduate diploma in advertising and marketing, or adver-tising and public relations. Working in an ad agency will give you the exposure and experience required to do your own thing. There isn’t any specialised formal programme for setting up an ad agency as such, but you could enroll in a PG diploma in entrepren-eurship. Look before you leap, as it’s not that easy to survive in an industry in which big advertising agencies with foreign collaborations and big money have entered.