Dear Sir,
I am a 2nd PUC student with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. I want to join the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot. For this, I hear, I will have to appear for the CDS exams. What is the eligible criteria, physical standards and education qualification to appear for this exam?
P Tirupati Rao
Dear Tirupati Rao,
To become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, you must have completed 10+2 with Maths and Physics.  When you clear the exam held by the UPSC, you will be given a chance to choose your branch of Army, Air Force etc., and then again depending on your merit ranking, you will be eligible for the flying branch. Further filtering will take you into helicopters, transport planes or fighter planes.  You should have started preparing after your 10th.  There are a few competent ex-service officers who conduct training and guidance, including Wg. Cdr. Athri (Phone: 98441-77824 in Bangalore) Email: apkendra@rediffmail.com
Dear Sir,
I am a 12th Std student and have opted for PCM. I am not a very brilliant student and can score 75 per cent in PCM . Will it be right if I choose engineering and take the CET ? Will I be able to cope, being an average student? What exactly is the BCA? Is there any entrance exam after the 12th required for BCA?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous
Seventy Five per cent marks in Physics, Chemistry and Math is fairly a good indicator of your ability to study engineering.  It is not important if you are not a topper.  If you start preparing well for your CET right now, you may find yourself getting a higher ranking in CET than those who score above you in 12th. Depending on your merit ranking you will be entitled to choose the college and branch. Explore the various branches of Engineering available through CET and see where your interest lies.  With sincere and dedicated work, you can certainly become a capable engineer.
Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three year degree course that teaches you about the way computers and software programmes can be applied to daily life. It is available to anyone who has completed 10+2. Most colleges give admission on the basis of your marks
Dear Sir,
In October 1997, I cleared 12th (HSC) Commerce. I am 29 and have around five years experience in Computer Hardware and Networking.
I want to complete my graduation. Could you please name some Universities in India offering Correspondence BBA course? What is the syllabus / subject in BBA? Can you give me contact details of the universities offering this?
Shreyas
Dear Shreyas,
It is certainly a good move on your part to complete your graduation.  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a three year course through correspondence, open to all. It covers basics of management, marketing, finance, HR and allied subjects.  Most open universities all over the country offer this course, including Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Annamalai University, Madras University, AP State Open University, etc. The best way to communicate with them is to log on to their websites.
Dear Sir,
I have completed my II PU exams this year. Although I have been studying science all these years, I have no interest in these subjects. I feel that I have a natural inclination towards arts. I even scored 98 in Social sciences in 10th Std. Can you suggest all the courses in the arts streams. I am not interested in Engineering. Also I wish to be a teacher for which there is a stringent opposition in my house. They claim the opportunities in the field of arts is very limited and particularly as a teacher.
Shivananda S S
Mysore
Hearty congrats on knowing what you are good at, and having a different goal from others.  This is the stuff that leaders and winners are made of.  Now that you have appeared for the CET, you can sit back and wait for the results. At the same time be aware that Arts offers equally good careers.  To name a few: mass communication, visual communication, marketing, financial management, Human Resources management, teaching and training, computer applications, design and creativity, civil and military service, social work, applied psychology, translation, library and information science, etc. You will be happy to know that with the advent of International Schools and on-line Tutoring the income of teachers has increased ten times in the past few years alone.  And if you become a teacher or trainer in a corporate set-up, you can earn as much as the engineers.