I want to pursue a career in geology. What optional subjects should I choose in my B.Sc degree programme?
Suresh Karmarkar, Pune
Your combination of subjects in B.Sc should be geology, chemistry and physics, or geology, life sciences and chemistry. The former combination would be ideal if you plan to press on for an M.Sc in geology. Your career progression as a geologist will improve if you complete an M.Sc degree programme.
After class XII, I plan to enroll in a BA English (Hons) programme. What are my career prospects?
Sudha Singh, New Delhi
BA (English Hons) isn’t likely to offer any direct employment though you will become eligible for jobs in marketing, advertising, journalism, public relations, etc where English language competence is a prime consideration. If you follow up your bachelor’s degree with B.Ed, you will be fully qualified to work as a secondary school English teacher. BA (English) is also a good base for further study in journalism and mass communication, advertising and public relations, and publishing. You will also be well qualified for further education in law, business management, book publishing, script-writing etc.
After completing my BE programme in 2014, what’s the best further study option — an MBA from a reputed business school in India, a Masters in engineering or a degree from a foreign university?
Nikhil Iyer, Chennai
You should sign up for an ME degree if you’re interested in R&D or teaching but you’ll have to clear GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) to qualify for admission into foreign universities. If you are interested in a corporate job you should sign up for an MBA programme. Start preparing for the CAT/CET or GATE exams right away.
I complete my BBA next year, after which I plan to enroll in an MBA degree programme. How many years of work experience do I need to qualify for admission into a foreign B-school/university?
Nalini Pillai, Trivandrum
Most reputed B-schools abroad require two-three years of work experience post a bachelor’s degree. But to be admitted into an Indian B-school, you don’t need any work experience. Therefore if you want to sign up for an MBA programme straight after your bachelor’s degree, an Indian B-school is the best option. Admissions into Indian B-schools are based on high scores in entrance exams such as CAT, CET, XAT etc, followed by group discussion and personal interview. However, some US universities (Univ-ersity of Massachusetts at Lowell and New Jersey Institute of Technology at Minnesota) admit students without work experience on the basis of GMAT and TOEFL scores. Likewise some univer-sities in the UK including Cardiff University, University of Roehampton, Regent Business School, and Webster University London, admit fresh graduates into their MBA degree programmes.
I’m interested in a career in ayurveda or homeopathic medicine. Besides CET, is there any other entrance exam for BAMS/BHMS courses?
Ajay Shah, Ahmedabad
All states conduct their own entrance tests for admission into ayurvedic/homeopathic colleges/universities. The PAT/PHT joint entrance test conducted by the Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur determines admissions into ayurveda/homeopathic degree programmes run by government/private colleges in Rajasthan. Residents of all states may write this exam for admission into the ayurveda programmes offered by the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur. However, only bona fide residents of Rajasthan may apply for admission into all other ayurved colleges in the state. For details visit www.raujodhpur.org.
I’m a class XII science (physics, chemistry, biology and psychology) student. I’m creative and interested in biology, psychology and foreign languages. Please suggest some career options.
Sudha Narayan, Bangalore
You are well qualified for higher study in medicine, hotel manage-ment, foreign languages, psychology, media and communications, design and art, and teaching. However when you choose your college study programme, you’ll have to determine if your academic capabilities are in line with the demands of your chosen study programme.
I want to know what an M.Sc degree programme in human factors engin-eering entails.
Subodh Das Gupta, Kolkata
Human factors engineering is also known as ergonomics. It is the discipline of applying information about human capabilities and limitations to the design of products, processes, systems and work environments. It can be applied to the design of all systems requiring a human interface, including hardware and software. Its application to system design improves ease of use, system performance and reliability, and user satisfaction, while reducing operational errors, operator stress, training requirements, user fatigue and product liability.
I will complete class X (science) next year. Should I prepare for admission into the IITs while I’m doing Plus Two or should I enroll in a diploma course in engineering and then prepare for IIT/AIEEE entrance exams?
Satish Shinde, Nasik
Preparing for the IIT-JEE together with your Plus Two will be very demanding. Enroling in a diploma course in engineering after class X is a good idea as you qualify for admission into the second year of an engineering degree programme after being awarded your diploma. However, just as getting into a top-ranked engineering college after class XII depends on your average score, entry into the second year of an engineering programme after the diploma is also on the basis of merit and is highly competitive. Therefore it’s difficult to recommend a course of action. You have to figure out which option is more practical for you. However after acquiring a diploma in engineering, you are eligible to write IIT-JEE.