Don't be misled by 'scope'

Dear Sir,
I am currently doing BCom (first semester) in a private college. I got 79% in SSLC and 78% in PUC. I am interested in pursuing CS (Company Secretary) course. Will I be eligible to take it up ? Please inform about the course structure and its scope. Also, please shed light on other related courses in India that are affordable.
A student

Dear Student,
You are certainly eligible to take up CS exams since you have completed your PUC (subjects do not matter). You will have to first pass the Foundation test which is held twice a year. The fee is quite reasonable. When you register, you will be sent the study material, which you can pursue on your own, or take coaching from either a private institute or from the Institute of Company Secretaries itself. They have a branch office in Bengaluru. Details are on www.icsi.edu or you can call their helpline on 011-41504444. If you succeed in the Foundation test in the first attempt, you can take it up seriously, without affecting your BCom studies and complete the Intermediate and Final exams. All large companies by law need to employ a Company Secretary, or you can become an independent consultant. Other related certification exams are Chartered Accountancy (www.icai.org), Chartered Financial Analyst (www.cfainstitute.org), Chartered Management Accountant (www.icmai.in) etc, and the fee for each of them is
fairly reasonable.

Dear Sir,
My son is in Class 10. He is a good tennis player, has participated in tournaments conducted by DPI & SGFI. He wants to pursue tennis as career. Kindly suggest suitable courses after 10 to be able to take up a sports-oriented career.
A parent

Dear Parent,
Being a tennis or any other sport player has a limited time span, but someone very passionate about sports can take up a career in coaching, sports management or psychology. Sports universities in different parts of the country offer degree and postgraduate courses, open to students from any stream. Encourage your son to explore which areas of sports he would like to specialise in. Look up websites such as www.lnipe.gov.in, www.sgsu.edu.in, www.nsnis.org and www.ssss.edu.in.

Dear Sir,
I have finished my BCom in 2015 with an aggregate of 85%. Later on, I joined CS. But, some of my relatives and friends say CS doesn’t have a bright career prospective. Hence,they are insisting me to switch over to either CA or crack CAT and get into IIMs. I am stuck in a dilemma, please suggest me the best way to move on.
Sunil U C

Dear Sunil,
Please do not get misled by the concept of ‘scope’. If you are genuinely interested and are skilled in any field, you can make a good career in it regardless of scope.

Also, scope for any profession keeps going up and down, and no one can predict how it will be 40-50 years ahead, which will be your working lifespan. All three options you have mentioned are highly competitive so ensure that you have the ability to succeed in each of them. This can be done by assessing your aptitude, whether you are a people-related person, or are focused on accounts, or whether you have good legal and administrative capabilities. If you are unable to find out by yourself, get a detailed and holistic aptitude test done. Based on that set your long term goals, and then decide which course will take you towards your
ambition.

Dear Sir,
I am currently doing BSc (Composite Home Science) in Bengaluru. I would like to know where can I apply for job after this degree. Secondly, I want to know the salary I can expect if I do a Diploma in Montessori.
A student

Dear Student,
After your degree in home science, you can select from options such as nutrition, early childhood education (including montessori), human development, education management, and related fields. Salaries vary widely from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. What is more important is what you are good at and passionate about. Since you are studying subjects related to all the fields I have mentioned above, you should be in a position to start narrowing down and then aim for a postgraduation in the chosen field. Employment is available in schools, hospitals, NGOs, consultants, and even some corporate organisations.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in Class 12 as a science student and want to pursue BA in Journalism. I have a lot of interest in writing and want to be a writer. Is it a good decision being a science student? What should I do to take up BA?
A student

Dear Student,
Many science students do well in journalism, and they have an additional edge of being able to write in depth on matters concerning scientific issues, e.g. global warming, garbage, medical and health, technology etc.  You can join a BA with journalism or mass communication as one of the subjects in any reputed college and then specialise at the PG level. Before that, show your writing to some experts and take a feedback on whether you have the right talent and potential.

Dear Sir,
I am a PUC student. I am interested in doing architecture, but do not have information about the entrance exams that are conducted to secure admission for the course. As I have taken up IIT-JEE coaching in my PUC, could you please provide information about the entrance exams, preparation and good architecture colleges in India.
Shivangi

Dear Shivangi,
Admission to the five-year BArch course is primarily through the National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA) conducted by the Council of Architecture. Details are available on www.nata.nic.in. You require a minimum of 40% in PUC I with Maths as a compulsory subject (science is not required). Admission is based on combination of NATA+PUC marks. Ensure that you have good creativity and spatial intelligence, and are reasonably good in basic mathematical calculations. Separate NATA coaching is available which you can consider, rather than JEE coaching.

Dr Ali Khwaja is the founder and chairman of Banjara Academy, Bengaluru.

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