Matching courses & choices

Studying in India

Dear Sir,

I am in my forties and would like to know if there are any good job-oriented courses through distance education which will fetch a good job later. I have completed my BA and I am now working on a part time basis. I would like to take up a full time, well paying job with a good company. I cannot speak Kannada very well as we recently shifted here.
Shakuntala

Dear Shakuntala,
Ideally you can learn the local language, Kannada, by day-to-day practice with whoever you interact. Since you are a graduate, you are eligible to take up a Masters programme in any open university, but you need to go by your interest and aptitude. Possibilities are: teaching, computers, counselling, marketing, mass communication, and many more. Do select very carefully, not based on what people say there is “scope” in, but more on your own passion and talent. Most open university courses start admission after July every year.

Dear Sir,
I am a student of BCA and will be completing my course in a year. I would like to pursue my MBA after my computer course and don’t want to end up as a software engineer. What are the courses available in MBA in India and abroad in Marketing, Finance, Sales Promotion, etc? Besides I have a fancy for automobiles. Will my computer knowledge and future degree help one in getting a good job in the automobile industry?
Rajesh

Dear Rajesh,
Do try and narrow down your goals, since you are studying computer applications, and have shown interest in marketing, finance, automobiles, administration, etc. Since you will be completing your degree within a year, you should start preparing systematically for your post-graduate entrance exam, primarily in management since you do not wish to be a software professional.  If you can get admission in a very good B-School, then you can decide on your specialisation later, and eventually seek employment in the automobile sector, in whichever field you have specialised in.

Dear Sir,
My son has completed his PU II year exams in commerce. Should he take up BCom or BBM? I would like to have more details in pursuing CA and the Company Secretary course. Also, are there any good courses available apart from the above?
Ravi Shankar

Dear Ravi Shankar,
If he is genuinely interested in CA or CS, he should ideally have registered and prepared for his Foundation Exam, which he could have appeared for now.  If he has not shown a deep passion for either of these highly competitive exams, it may be better if you take him forward in degree.  While B.Com and BBM are the most obvious choices, they are not the only ones.  Depending on his interest and abilities, he can even opt for Computer Applications, Mass Communication, Marketing, Languages, and many more.  Do help him identify his strengths and what he would enjoy doing, fix up his long term goals in terms of career, and work backwards to see which course would be most appropriate.

Dear Sir
I am a BCA 6th semester student. At my father’s behest I wanted to go in for an MSc in Maths rather than an MBA or MCA. Will I get a seat for MSc Math? If so, what is the procedure to apply for this course? Which university in Karnataka should I join?
Priyanka

Dear Priyanka,
As a BCA graduate you are eligible for entry into M.Sc. (Math), provided you studied Mathematics at the +2 level. Do visualise and fix up what career you would be taking up as a mathematician before you take the plunge, since it is an unusual field and you should be clear where it will lead you. Most universities all over the country offer M.Sc in Math, and you may choose a college that has a good reputation and committed teachers.

Dear Sir,
I am working as a software engineer. I want to do an MBA through correspondence. I came across ICFAI University which is offering an executive MBA programme. Is this a good university? I also need guidance to select a specialisation for my MBA. If not ICFAI which other universities can I opt for?
Roshan Zameer

Dear Roshan,
If you are sure that you are unable to take a break from your job and do a full-time MBA, then Executive MBA (which offers weekend contact classes) is the next best option. Only if you cannot do even that due to lack of time, etc., should you go in for a correspondence course. ICFAI is one of the well-known universities, but there are many more to choose from. You can keep selection of specialisation pending till you settle down in the course and get an exposure to various areas.