Test your interest first!

                             
Pilot/ Aeronautical engineer

Dear sir,
I aspire to become an aeronautical engineer. I have gone through few websites regarding aeronautic colleges and I do not know if the colleges I aspire to join are genuine and recognised or not. I wish to join Srinidhi Institute of Engineering, Hyderabad. It is a collaboration with Vaughn Institute of technology, New York. Can you guide me regarding its recognition? Is this degree a valid and genuine certificate? Are there other recognised colleges in south India? 

Ganesh


Dear Ganesh

Aeronautical engineering is a dream of many young people because of the glamour of aviation and space. Firstly, do make sure that you are definitely cut out for hard work in that industry, and are not just getting enamoured by planes. Aero industry employs engineers from the aeronautical, electrical, mechanical, electronics, instrumentation, telecommunication and computer science fields. You can do a BE in any of the above fields, and then specialise at the post-graduation level.  However, if you are very passionate about studying aeronautical engineering at the under-graduate level in India, aim for the IIT’s, NIT’s or the more famous colleges like Madras Engineering College, etc. Three colleges in Karnataka have also started recently a BE in Aeronautics.

Nanotechnology

Dear sir,
I wrote my SSLC board exams this time and I want to take PCMC further. Should I take nano technology or bio technology. Is there scope for nano technology in future and what are the subjects I should study for this course in my PUC and after that . Is India or is abroad best for nano technology and what are the courses I should take up?

Shoaib

Dear Shoaib

It may not be advisable to take up PCMC if you wish to get into biotechnology, since you will lose touch with biology. After your PUC you may decide whether you wish to take up BE in biotechnology (which is much more advisable), or a BSc (which only gives you a theoretical foundation in the subject).
Nano technology (the science of working with materials at their minutest particle size, to replicate in bigger sizes) is not offered at the undergraduate level except in very few colleges all over India. You may take up a basic stream of engineering and then specialise in nano-technology after your graduation, either in India or abroad. In six years, many good courses in the subject will come up in India too.

Civil services

Dear sir,  
I have finished my MBA in 2007 and am willing to go for KAS, but I am in a dilemma whether I am capable for this exams or not. I have heard that for clearing this exam one should be very intelligent in all fields. As an average student can I go for this exam? Kindly give details about this exam.

Pradeep,Gulbarga

Dear Pradeep
It is true that for any competitive exam you need to be not only intelligent, but also very hard working, and you should have prepared much earlier, including brushing up your general knowledge, current affairs, and communication skills. Do not attempt either IAS or KAS in a casual manner without proper preparation or coaching. Since you already have an MBA, you may seek entry level jobs in management and pick up your practical skills and experience.

Dear sir,
I am studying second PUC (PCMB). I want to appear for civil services exam i.e.IPS. Please tell me on how to apply for it, and what is the eligibility. Which course should I opt for in order to claim the eligibility for IPS exam. What should be my aggregate in order to go for that?

Jawahar

Dear Jawahar
Any Indian citizen who has completed his graduation in any stream from a recognised university and is less than 30 years age, can appear for the Civil Services exam held by UPSC every year (maximum 4 attempts). This year the last date for application was 5th January, so you will have to apply before that for the year in which you are completing your graduation.
Regardless of what subjects you have done your graduation in, you can choose any optionals of your choice for the entrance exam. While there is no minimum aggregate marks, you are unlikely to qualify unless you are a topper, and have prepared systematically since many years. Get details on www.upsc.gov.in

Arts/ Journalism

Dear sir,
I am 28 years old and I still want to study for another 2-3 years. I am only an Arts Undergraduate. I want to pursue a suitable professional course in arts stream eligible for arts under graduates. I want to take up a course which is interesting and informative at the same time; something different from the usual type of courses most students take up.
Please suggest such professional courses which are new, interesting and exciting, that which offer a wide range of job opportunities.

Arvind

Dear Arvind
The fields related to arts have expanded very rapidly.  I am happy that you wish to study further for another three years. Firstly you should complete your degree (either by regular study or by correspondence), and then you can continue post-graduation even through distance learning mode.
Some of the interesting possibilities could be computer applications, travel & tourism, social work, design & creativity, library and information science, journalism and mass communication, business management and education management. Your choice should be based on what field interests you most and you are good at.
 
Dear sir,
I have completed my BCom with 51% 3 years ago and iam presently working. I intend to take up journalism in my higher education as I have a keen interest in the field.
Can you please let me know if it is viable to take up journalism course through correspondence? I am getting confused between MA in Journalism and PG Diploma in Journalism? Do these courses offer equal post graduate importance to enhance my career growth? Or are there any differences between these two courses? Please clarify.
Can you also suggest me some reputed institutions offering MA/PG in Journalism through correspondence?

Varun

Dear Varun
Journalism is a very practical field where your talents are given much more importance than your qualification. Many successful journalists do not have a formal qualification in that field. Also, you may combine your commerce background by becoming a journalist in the economic, financial or related fields.
If you feel you are really good, you can straight away start contributing articles to magazines and newspapers as a free-lancer, earn some pocket money, and get a feedback of your abilities.  
Subsequently you may take the plunge and change your job to an entry level journalism position, even if it is not in one of the most reputed publications. Subsequently you can upgrade your qualification by doing your post-graduation through distance learning, which is offered by most open universities all over India – you may select the most convenient one. Obviously a post-graduate degree will be better than a diploma.

Dear sir,
I am student of ESPP (economics, sociology, political science, psychology) and have secured 80% in SSLC and 82% in I PUC. I am trying to find  a career for my self in the field of psychology. Could you suggest some good professions and courses after 2nd PUC and after my degree? What’s the scope of doing a degree in psychology? Please suggest some good professions in psychology.

Zarah Sasha

Dear Zarah
Psychology is rapidly increasing in scope and application. You may take up a degree with psychology as one of your subjects, and then aim for post-graduation in psychology, applied psychology, clinical psychology, human resources management, human development, industrial relations, social work, special education, child development, women’s studies, disaster management, management of NGO’s, or Corporate Social Responsibility.
In the coming four years, by the time you complete your graduation, narrow down which field of psychology interests you most, and accordingly you can make your choice.
 
Part-time course

Dear sir,
My sister wants to do a correspondence BCA course. She is around 32 years old, staying in Bangalore, and currently not working.
I wanted to know if IGNOU’s BCA course is a good choice and is it recognised. Will she have any job opportunities with this degree? Please suggest any other short term courses which can fetch her good job in Bangalore.

Shabana

Dear Shabana
It is good if she takes up a BCA through correspondence, and becomes a graduate in that field in three years. IGNOU is good and is recognised. So are the state open universities such as Karnataka State Open University (KSOU).
While she pursues the degree course, she needs to equip herself with practical skills in computers, and then she can look forward to a good career.
She should choose carefully based on her aptitude and interest, since the choices are very wide e.g. GNIIT, SAP (systems application), CCNA (networking), JAVA, technical writing, software testing, computer graphics, etc.

Dear sir,
I did my first year PU in 2001 but did not continue my studies after that. I am now doing a driver job. I want to complete my education now. I am free for about six to seven hours a day. Please give me some suggestions.

Imran

Dear Imran
Very pleased to know that you wish to utilise your free time and upgrade your qualifications for a better future.
The choice of course of study depends on your interest and what you are good at. You can enroll straight away for a degree course under the open university system, without the need to complete your PUC.  There is an entrance exam that you have to pass, which is not very difficult.
Such courses are offered by many universities including Bangalore, KSOU, Annamalai, Madras, IGNOU, etc. While you are pursuing your degree, you may start learning skills in the field of your choice either by taking up part-time courses, or by getting work experience.

The author is the Chairman of Banjara Academy. ‘Studying in India’ is a tri-weekly column.

To have your queries answered by Dr Ali Khwaja email your queries to
[e-mail] with ‘Studying in India’ as the subject line. Alternatively, you can snail mail your queries to DH Education, Deccan Herald, # 75, MG Road, Bangalore - 560001