<p>There was a time when admissions to colleges depended entirely on the marks (or the influence) of the candidate. Then came in CET, and those aspiring for engineering and medicine found that they had to slog it out for a competitive exam, regardless of how well they did in their 12th standard or PUC.<br /><br />In the past few years, other vocational colleges have also adopted the methodology of basing their admissions on entrance tests, rather than the marks in qualifying exams.<br /><br />Some institutions like IIMs total the candidate's marks in 10th, 12th, degree and the qualifying CAT exam.<br /><br />Those who complete 10th standard have two decisions to make (1) to select the Board for their +2 years, i.e., make a choice from PUC, ISC, CBSE, IB, or even polytechnic diplomas, and (2) optional subjects to study. <br /><br />Having taken that step, it is not wise to sit back and relax till the next crossroads that appear after 12th. During the 11th year, one has a great deal of time to assess, evaluate, and prepare in advance for admission to a course of one's choice in the best possible institution.<br /><br />Listed here are some of the most popular options. The details, including websites, for getting more information, are given in the box:<br /><br />Those who have taken up science:<br /><br />You can join military service (army, air force or navy) by appearing for NDA (National Defence Academy) exam of UPSC, held twice a year.<br /><br />You can join the premier engineering institutions of India, the IITs, by appearing for the IIT-JEE exam, held once a year.<br /><br />You can join one of the 40 NITs (National Institutes of Technology, formerly known as Regional Engineering Colleges) and allied central institutes through the AIEEE exam.<br /><br />You can join one of the over 160 engineering colleges affiliated to Visweswaraya Technological University for a 4-year degree course through the CET (Common Entrance Test) conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority in April every year. <br /><br />If you have studied biology, you may appear for physics, chemistry and biology papers of CET and aspire for a medical seat in any of the colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka.<br /><br />Admissions to over a hundred private engineering colleges in Karnataka are also available (at a significantly higher annual fee of over 1 lakh, compared to less than 25,000 for CET seats) through the COMED-K exam conducted by the Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka. This exam is held a few days after CET.<br /><br />Admission to Architecture (BArch 5 year course) is through the National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA). Some colleges in select states also take non-science students, provided they have studied maths at the +2 level.<br /><br />Exams are also conducted by private universities for admission to engineering and medical colleges. In Karnataka, some of the universities are Amritha, Manipal, KLE, BLDE, Yenepoya, Sri Sidhartha, Christ, Jain, and other famous universities include Madras, VIT at Vellore, Symbiosis in Pune and Birla Institute of Technology (BITS Pilani). <br /><br />The government-run Institute of Space and Aeronautical Technology conducts a separate exam for those aspiring to become aeronautical engineers.<br /><br />Non-science students:<br /><br />Those interested in a legal career can appear for Common Law Aptitude Test (CLAT) for admission to over a dozen national law universities all over India. This entitles the student for admission to a five-year BA, LLB course.<br /><br />Creative students can appear for the NEED test that gets them admission to the National Institute of Design for graduation in various areas of design.<br /><br />Even while pursuing +2, students wishing to become chartered accountants can register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and appear for the foundation exam just after their 12th Board exams.<br /><br />Non-science students wanting to get the advantage of an IIT education now have the option of an integrated MA in humanities from IIT Madras, for which a separate entrance exam is held.<br /><br />Students who wish to take up a 3-year BBM or BBA course in good institutions like Christ, Joseph, Jain, etc., need to prepare for entrance exams conducted by the respective institutions.<br /><br />Similarly, some humanities courses such as a BA in Communicative English in reputed institutes like Mount Carmel are in great demand, hence the colleges hold their own entrance exams.<br /><br />While competition has increased, so have opportunities. Even at the undergraduate level, most prestigious institutes have started holding entrance tests, and if one is not prepared sufficiently in advance, by the time the Board exams are over, it may be too late to apply.<br /><br />Before you get busy with your forthcoming annual exams, it is advisable that you give a serious thought to the courses you would like to pursue and start preparing for them by checking out on the last dates for registration. Keep in mind that appearing for too many entrance tests in a wide range of fields may be counter-productive.<br /><br />Those who are more focused and keep working in a specific direction are more likely to beat competition and secure admission in a prestigious institution, which will automatically open doors for a successful career and a bright future.</p>.<p>Other important websites<br /><br />*www.aiims.ac.in - All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi<br />* www.christcollege.edu - Christ College (deemed university), Bangalore<br />* www.cmch-vellore.edu - CMC, Vellore for medical courses<br />* www.icsiindia.com - Company Secretary Institute<br />* www.sdicwai@vsnl.net - Cost and Works Accountants Institute<br />* www.careerairforce.nic.in - Indian Airforce (details on recruitment/ career)<br />* www.nausena-bharti.nic.in - Indian Navy (recruitment / career)<br />* www.icai.org - Institute of Chartered Accountants of India<br />* www.icsi.org - Institute of Company Secretaries of India<br />ieiksc@dataone.in - Institution of Engineers India (for AMIE course)<br />* www.niasa.org, www.coa.india.org - National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA)<br />* www.nid.edu - National Institute of Design (NID)<br />* www.lawentrance.com - National Law School Entrance guidance info<br />* www.nis.ac.in - National Law School of India University, Bangalore<br />* www.schoolofdramaindia.<br />com - National School of Drama, New Delhi<br />* www.rguhs.ac.in - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences<br />* www.upsc.gov.in - Union Public Service Commission, for various exams<br />* www.vtu.ac.in - Visweswaraya Technological University<br />* www.ignou.org - Indira Gandhi National Open University, for distance learning courses <br /><br /></p>
<p>There was a time when admissions to colleges depended entirely on the marks (or the influence) of the candidate. Then came in CET, and those aspiring for engineering and medicine found that they had to slog it out for a competitive exam, regardless of how well they did in their 12th standard or PUC.<br /><br />In the past few years, other vocational colleges have also adopted the methodology of basing their admissions on entrance tests, rather than the marks in qualifying exams.<br /><br />Some institutions like IIMs total the candidate's marks in 10th, 12th, degree and the qualifying CAT exam.<br /><br />Those who complete 10th standard have two decisions to make (1) to select the Board for their +2 years, i.e., make a choice from PUC, ISC, CBSE, IB, or even polytechnic diplomas, and (2) optional subjects to study. <br /><br />Having taken that step, it is not wise to sit back and relax till the next crossroads that appear after 12th. During the 11th year, one has a great deal of time to assess, evaluate, and prepare in advance for admission to a course of one's choice in the best possible institution.<br /><br />Listed here are some of the most popular options. The details, including websites, for getting more information, are given in the box:<br /><br />Those who have taken up science:<br /><br />You can join military service (army, air force or navy) by appearing for NDA (National Defence Academy) exam of UPSC, held twice a year.<br /><br />You can join the premier engineering institutions of India, the IITs, by appearing for the IIT-JEE exam, held once a year.<br /><br />You can join one of the 40 NITs (National Institutes of Technology, formerly known as Regional Engineering Colleges) and allied central institutes through the AIEEE exam.<br /><br />You can join one of the over 160 engineering colleges affiliated to Visweswaraya Technological University for a 4-year degree course through the CET (Common Entrance Test) conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority in April every year. <br /><br />If you have studied biology, you may appear for physics, chemistry and biology papers of CET and aspire for a medical seat in any of the colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka.<br /><br />Admissions to over a hundred private engineering colleges in Karnataka are also available (at a significantly higher annual fee of over 1 lakh, compared to less than 25,000 for CET seats) through the COMED-K exam conducted by the Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka. This exam is held a few days after CET.<br /><br />Admission to Architecture (BArch 5 year course) is through the National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA). Some colleges in select states also take non-science students, provided they have studied maths at the +2 level.<br /><br />Exams are also conducted by private universities for admission to engineering and medical colleges. In Karnataka, some of the universities are Amritha, Manipal, KLE, BLDE, Yenepoya, Sri Sidhartha, Christ, Jain, and other famous universities include Madras, VIT at Vellore, Symbiosis in Pune and Birla Institute of Technology (BITS Pilani). <br /><br />The government-run Institute of Space and Aeronautical Technology conducts a separate exam for those aspiring to become aeronautical engineers.<br /><br />Non-science students:<br /><br />Those interested in a legal career can appear for Common Law Aptitude Test (CLAT) for admission to over a dozen national law universities all over India. This entitles the student for admission to a five-year BA, LLB course.<br /><br />Creative students can appear for the NEED test that gets them admission to the National Institute of Design for graduation in various areas of design.<br /><br />Even while pursuing +2, students wishing to become chartered accountants can register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and appear for the foundation exam just after their 12th Board exams.<br /><br />Non-science students wanting to get the advantage of an IIT education now have the option of an integrated MA in humanities from IIT Madras, for which a separate entrance exam is held.<br /><br />Students who wish to take up a 3-year BBM or BBA course in good institutions like Christ, Joseph, Jain, etc., need to prepare for entrance exams conducted by the respective institutions.<br /><br />Similarly, some humanities courses such as a BA in Communicative English in reputed institutes like Mount Carmel are in great demand, hence the colleges hold their own entrance exams.<br /><br />While competition has increased, so have opportunities. Even at the undergraduate level, most prestigious institutes have started holding entrance tests, and if one is not prepared sufficiently in advance, by the time the Board exams are over, it may be too late to apply.<br /><br />Before you get busy with your forthcoming annual exams, it is advisable that you give a serious thought to the courses you would like to pursue and start preparing for them by checking out on the last dates for registration. Keep in mind that appearing for too many entrance tests in a wide range of fields may be counter-productive.<br /><br />Those who are more focused and keep working in a specific direction are more likely to beat competition and secure admission in a prestigious institution, which will automatically open doors for a successful career and a bright future.</p>.<p>Other important websites<br /><br />*www.aiims.ac.in - All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi<br />* www.christcollege.edu - Christ College (deemed university), Bangalore<br />* www.cmch-vellore.edu - CMC, Vellore for medical courses<br />* www.icsiindia.com - Company Secretary Institute<br />* www.sdicwai@vsnl.net - Cost and Works Accountants Institute<br />* www.careerairforce.nic.in - Indian Airforce (details on recruitment/ career)<br />* www.nausena-bharti.nic.in - Indian Navy (recruitment / career)<br />* www.icai.org - Institute of Chartered Accountants of India<br />* www.icsi.org - Institute of Company Secretaries of India<br />ieiksc@dataone.in - Institution of Engineers India (for AMIE course)<br />* www.niasa.org, www.coa.india.org - National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA)<br />* www.nid.edu - National Institute of Design (NID)<br />* www.lawentrance.com - National Law School Entrance guidance info<br />* www.nis.ac.in - National Law School of India University, Bangalore<br />* www.schoolofdramaindia.<br />com - National School of Drama, New Delhi<br />* www.rguhs.ac.in - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences<br />* www.upsc.gov.in - Union Public Service Commission, for various exams<br />* www.vtu.ac.in - Visweswaraya Technological University<br />* www.ignou.org - Indira Gandhi National Open University, for distance learning courses <br /><br /></p>
