Dear Sir,
My daughter is in the final year of PUC and is preparing for her Board exam and CET. She is keen on pursuing her career in Bio Tech (BT). I seek your advice on (i) what is the scope of employment in this field, (ii) is BSc & MSc (BT) or BE (BT) more job oriented. (iii) If she takes BSc (BT), in what subjects can she take MSc (iv) Can she join MSc after BE (BT) (v) Are there facilities to acquire MTech in BT in India, especially in Bangalore and (vi) and what are the qualifications required for making a career in the Bio -Tech field.
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
Biotechnology as a career has been hyped up far beyond its current ability to absorb graduates. More and more young people are getting enamoured by its lure.  There are innumerable colleges offering both B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biotechnology (and its related subjects like Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, etc.), and the industry is not growing fast enough to absorb them.  BE in Biotechnology offers slightly better job opportunities at present. Your daughter should enter this field only if she is sure that she not only has a fascination for it, but also the aptitude and necessary skills.  She should also check whether she is oriented towards teaching, research, quality control etc., and whether she is willing to go abroad to get into the global market. 

Dear Sir,
I am a 10th Std student who is in a dilemma whether to choose PCMB or PCME next year. I would like to do engineering but I have not made up my mind. My peers say that if I choose PCMB I will have more options. My teachers say that it is better to specialise in Electronics from PUC itself.
XYZ

Dear XYZ,
It is true that studying Biology will give you more options, particularly since you have not made up your mind to do engineering. But since you have been studying Biology for many years, ask yourself whether you enjoy the subject and are likely to take up a career related to life sciences (e.g. medicine, agriculture, paramedical sciences, environment, pharmacy, microbiology, nutrition, forestry etc.).  If you are not likely to do so, then you may opt for Electronics – which is a basic subject useful in any area of technology.

Dear Sir,
I am into my 2nd year of engineering and I am interested in doing MBA. As I want to start my preparation from now itself, are there any correspondence courses which can prepare me for CAT?
Vinay                                                                                       

Dear Vinay,
It is good that you intend to start preparing in advance for MBA admission. The students who crack the CAT are inevitably those who studied early and systematically. Correspondence as well as contact classes for coaching for CAT and MAT exams, are available in all major cities, and you will see their advertisements regularly in the newspapers.

Dear Sir,
I am doing MSc Biotechnology from Punjab Technical University. After MSc I wish to do M.Phil or PhD. Which institutions offer these? I have an Advanced Diploma in Genetic Engineering. I have joined NIIT to learn Java and Oracle to explore the field of Bioinformatics.
Megha Kulkarni

Dear Megha,
Do set your goals as to what you will be doing after completing your M Phil or PhD.  If you wish to go into research, then it is better to seek admission in prestigious institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), NIAS, CFTRI Mysore, CCMB Hyderabad, etc. which are world-class research institutions. If you wish to take up teaching, you can start off with a job after your M.Sc and then continue with your M.Phil through distance mode from any recognised university. On the other hand, if you wish to go into the industry, it may be better for you to try for an entry level job, get the feel of the corporate world, and then decide whether you would like to study further, and in what area of specialisation. Be aware that corporate jobs in biotechnology are very limited at present.

Dear Sir,
I am an MBBS graduate keen on pursuing a management course from IIM due to utmost hardships involved in the PG courses in the field of medicine. I am not very passionate about practising medicine. What kind of job opportunities will I have if I crack the CAT exam? What are the opportunities in the Health field with a management degree? Where would an MBBS degree be most relevant?
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
Whether your decision to move into management after MBBS is a good one, depends entirely on your aptitude and interest. If you feel that you are oriented towards leadership, finance and the corporate world, then certainly MBBS+MBA is a good combination. You will be able to carve a career in corporate hospitals, lifestyle management, health products and services companies, medical insurance firms, pharmaceuticals, or in IT companies making medical software/hardware etc. Any combination of two specialisations always gives you an edge over others and makes you a super-specialist. But don’t take up MBA only because you are afraid of facing the hardships of getting admission in PG courses in medicine.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in BBM first year and wish to continue my course through correspondence. Is it valid to get a good job?   
Aishwarya

Dear Aishwarya,
You have two more years to complete BBM and take a decision on your further studies. Many people are opting to get industry experience after graduation, so that they have a clearer picture of what specific field of management they would like to pursue.  A year’s work in any good organisation with a variety of responsibilities will broaden your horizons.  You could also take up a job and continue higher studies through correspondence. An employer would prefer a person who has qualified through regular college, but if your work experience during the time of your study is valuable, it will overcome the fact that your degree is through distance learning.

Sir, I am 24 year young. I have flunked my IInd PUC but I want to continue my studies, but I cannot give interests in My studies now days. I am very weak in Kannada to write & read the subject. I am worry nowday. I went to tutions no use for me. Just waste of money. I understand my problem my self. If informed to My parents and friend their see ?? and illated what to do Sir. Please help me solve these problem Sir. I want your help for my studies.
Y Naveen Kumar,

It is good that you wish to continue your studies and are not put off due to the failure.  You can either appear for the 12th standard of National Institute of Open Schooling (see website www.nios.ac.in ) or contact their exam centres at Al-Ameen College, opp. Lalbagh, Bangalore, or Asha Kiran School (Ph: 80-25258159 ashakiran@vsnl.net).  In this scheme you can drop all languages, and choose any five subjects you are good at.  You can also appear for the papers at your convenience once in six months.  The other alternative is for you to look for technical courses that do not have languages or too much of theory.  Identify your strengths and pursue a career related to that.  Try and take up  job in the field you wish to make your career, and you will gain valuable experience.