Pursue your interests

Dear Sir,
I am presently studying 2nd year BSc (CBZ). I am very good at studies since childhood and had a dream of becoming a doctor. But my KCET result was not satisfying and I joined BSc because I was not interested in engineering. Now, my mom wants me to give CET medical again. My interests have changed now.

My plans are doing MSc in chemistry and later a PhD. So I would like you to advice me whether I must continue the same or go for medicine? I am very much confused. Please help me and reply.
ABC

Dear ABC,
It is good that you stayed with your interest in life sciences instead of going to the beaten path of engineering.  If you are enjoying your subjects viz. Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, then do complete your degree, which will take another one-and-half-years. After that, you can get into many areas that are medicine related.

A few examples are: nutrition and dietetics, cognitive neurological sciences, bio-informatics, clinical research, human disease genetics, Brain and Neuro research, medical image technology, hospital administration, to name just a few. All these fields have good post-graduate courses open to anyone who has a degree in life sciences, which is what you are pursuing.

Once you acquire a post-graduate qualification (which will take only 2 years as compared to almost six years of MBBS) you will be able to find meaningful work in the health and healing sector. Also be aware that since you have a gap of two years since you did your PUC, you will be out of touch with the portions at that level, and the CET exam is entirely based on the syllabus of the current PUC studies.

On the other hand, if your prime interest is in Chemistry, you can still aspire for a career in pharmaceutical and other sectors which also contribute to human well-being. If you are research oriented, you can continue with pure sciences and complete your PhD. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan started off with a BSc from Baroda University and went on to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009.

Meanwhile do help your Mom understand that it is not just doctors who contribute to the health sector, but all those mentioned above too, and if you take up studies that you are passionate about, you will be able to succeed well with least effort, and she can be a proud mother of a scientist who is doing good work for humanity.

Dear Sir,
I am a Mechanical Engineering graduate who graduated in 2014 with a 64 per cent aggregate. I wasn’t able manage to get a job in core mechanical engineering line with focus on non-conventional energy engineering line. As an alternative, I am working in IT support, which I am not enjoying, as my interests lie elsewhere.

Meanwhile I am preparing for GATE 2016. In case I don’t qualify, is there a way where I can make a transition from IT to my home branch? Please advise.
Shamanth S

Dear Shamanth,
I presume you took up Mechanical Engineering because you liked the subject. You have successfully completed your degree with fairly good marks. At the same time not many mechanical industries go to colleges for campus recruitment, hence your dilemma.

Though IT is very alluring because jobs are instantly available, it is better not to get into the temptation of seeking the easy way just to get an entry level job. Mechanical engineering is an evergreen field where jobs are available, but you may have to start at a low salary in a small industry where the work or environment is not very posh.

Non-conventional energy is a very promising field in the long run, if you have the patience and perseverance to pursue it by taking up any work in a corporate, NGO or training institution where you can get practical training. On the other hand, in IT support you are likely to be doing repetitive work which will not only not stimulate your intellect, but will also take away your knowledge and connection with mechanical engineering.

It is not too late to take a courageous decision to either start systematic study to get through GATE and enhance your qualifications, or somehow try and get an entry-level job in your own field, and decide on higher studies once you have acquired a domain specialisation. You may have to struggle for a few years, but eventually you will not only be successful, but will also enjoy your work and feel very fulfilled.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in class 12th and would like to become an experimental psychologist. What course should I opt after 12? Which are the colleges offering BSc in psychology (neuro) in Bengaluru? What is the scope of neuropsychology? Can neuropsychology be pursued after taking neuroscience in BSc?
A student

Dear student
Neuroscience is generally not offered at the B.Sc. level, except in a few selected institutions like NIMHANS (www.nimhans.kar.nic.in), which have very limited seats. The other option is to pursue a basic degree in either life sciences or in psychology, depending on which is your deeper interest.

Subsequently, if you wish to understand the working of the human brain, you will find opportunities at the post-graduate level. You can either do an MSc in psychology and then proceed for specialisation through higher studies, or you can take up Masters courses in Cognitive science, neuroscience, clinical neurophysiology or Decision Sciences in one of the following at the Masters level:

National Brain Research Centre, Haryana (www.nbrc.ac.in)
 Centre for Behavioural and Cognitive Science, Allahabad (www.cbcs.ac.in)
 National Institutes of Science Education and Research (NISERs)
IIT Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad (www.iitgn.ac.in/admission.htm)
S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata (www.bose.res.in)
 IIT Roorkee, Dept of Math, Roorkee (www.iitr.ac.in)

Dr Ali Khwaja is the founder and chairman of Banjara Academy. Send in your queries to Education, Deccan Herald, 75, MG Road, Bengaluru-560001 or e-mail us at [e-mail].