I wish to do a course in fashion studies in the US. Could you suggest some reputed and affordable institutes?
Reena Mascarenhas, Panjim
The New York-based Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Parsons are the most well-known fashion schools. FIT is a state-funded institution and hence levies affordable tuition charges. To qualify for admis-sion, you need to write the SAT and TOEFL exams and submit a portfolio of your work.
After completing Plus Two (science) next year, would it be advisable to do B.Tech (IT) or the five-year integrated MS (software engineering) degree programme offered by Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)?
Rajan Iyer, Chennai
A B.Tech degree from any reputed engineering college is sufficient to land a job in an IT company. But if your interest is in research or teaching, then the five-year programme is the better option. Also, if you have plans to study or work abroad, the five-year postgrad programme will be more helpful. VIT is a deemed university and its certification is highly respected worldwide.
Please suggest institutions offering part-time courses in supply chain management.
Deepak Rane, Mumbai
Logistics and supply chain management revolves around the movement of raw materials to manufac-turers and finished products to consumers. Among the accredited universities offering postgrad progra-mmes in logistics and supply chain management via distance learning are IGNOU, Yashwantrao Chavan Maha-rashtra Open University, IMT Distance and Open Learning Institute, Sikkim Manipal University, University of Mumbai, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open and Annamalai universities.
I’m a class XI (commerce) student interested in a career in law. After class XII, should I enroll in an integrated five-year BA LLB course or the three-year LLB programme after completing my bachelor’s degree?
Neela D’Souza, Bangalore
Signing up for the BA LLB programme after Plus Two is advisable if you are sure your interests and abilities are suitable for a career in law. On completion of the five-year degree, most graduates of well-reputed law colleges are campus-recruited by top law firms. However, if you are unsure about your commitment to a legal career, it would be advisable to opt for the three-year LLB option.
I’m a class XII (science) student preparing to write AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination). After clearing the exam, will I become eligible for admission into T.S. Chanakya or other colleges offering B.Sc (nautical science) or marine engineering degree programmes?
Dilip Mukherjee, Kolkata
Passing AIEEE makes you eligible for admission into bachelor’s degree programmes in engineering, pharmacy and architecture of Central universities, deemed universities, National Institutes of Technology and other institutions not covered by the IIT-Joint Entrance Examination or state-level entrance exams. However for admission into the three-year B.Sc (nautical science) programme of the T.S. Chanakya, Navi Mumbai and the four-year marine engineering degree programme of Marine Engineering and Research Institute, Kolkata you have to write IIT-JEE.
Will I become eligible for admission into MBA programmes after compl-eting my B.Sc (zoology-biotech) in 2014? Is hospital management an alternative? Please advise.
Shobha Patel, Ahmedabad
You can apply to any b-school as the basic requirement for entry into all MBA programmes is any bachelor’s degree. If you are interested in a corporate career, MBA is the right choice. It’s immaterial whether you read zoology at the undergrad level because your placement will be on the basis of your MBA degree/diploma. You could also consider a career in the pharma-ceutical industry or work as an insurance advisor, join a call centre or medical transcription company. Hospital man-agement is a specialised programme which equips you for a career in the healthcare industry. Placements dep-end on the reputation of the institution from which you graduate.
What are the eligibility requirements of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)?
Aditya Chawla, New Delhi
To write GATE, you need a bachelor’s degree in engineering/technology/architecture/pharmacy or a Masters degree in any branch of scie-nce/mathematics/statistics/computer applications or equivalent. Those in the final or pre-final year of such programmes can also write GATE. Candidates with qualifications obtained through exams conducted by professional societies recognised by UPSC/AICTE are also qualified to write this exam.
I’m a B.Sc (life sciences) graduate of IGNOU, Delhi. I’m interested in signing up for an undergraduate degree programme in clinical trials and research. Please advise.
Rajan Nair, Trivandrum
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, there’s no point aspiring for another undergraduate programme. You should sign up for a postgraduate deg-ree. The Institute of Clinical Research India offers a host of such programmes. You can contact ICRI, C-9, Central Road No.22 MIDC, Industrial Area, Andheri, Mumbai; Tel: 28230518, 28222034.
I’m a final year B.Com student concurrently enroled in a chartered accountancy (CA) course. Will CA be of any use if I want to pursue a career in the Indian Administrative Service?
Shalini Kelkar, Pune
You are eligible to write the IAS examination only if you are above 21 years of age and a graduate. If you complete your B.Com and CA, you will have acquired a professional qualifi-cation to give you an occupation while you pursue your goal of becoming an IAS officer. The selection process for the IAS is through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The first stage is a preliminary examination. Those who clear it qualify to write the main exam and also have to perform well in a personal interview. Please visit www.upsc.gov.in for further details.