Work hard to achieve your dreams

Dear Sir,
My daughter is studying in Class 8. My husband and I are engineers and we want her to become one. But she is showing inclination towards interior design. We don’t know much about the field, and want to explore the options. Please let us know the best colleges in India and abroad, admission process and prerequisites to become an interior designer. Also, provide information about the scope for it, income etc., and how we can prepare her for her dream job.
A parent

Dear Parent,
It is commendable that you are willing to allow your daughter to carve out her own career path, despite your desire to make her an engineer. She can take up Arts after Class 10, and then a professional course in design.
In her generation, very exciting and rewarding careers can be made in the design field, hence courses are being offered at both degree and post-graduation level in reputed institutions like IITs, IISc, NID, Symbiosis. Encourage her to first acquire skills and qualification in design and then she can decide whether she would like to specialise in interiors or any other related field.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in II PUC (PCME) and have an average score of 70%. I have not made any preparation for the competitive exams. Should I attend any crash course for these exams? If yes, which one would you suggest? If no, which books should I refer to? Do you think I can take up engineering with this average?
Devashish Balekundri  

Dear Devashish,
Since hundreds of engineering colleges have come up in many states in the last two decades, admission in an average engineering college has become very easy. Not everyone needs to take tuition for CET and other competitive exams.
If you can prepare systematically, get old question papers and give yourself mock tests, you stand a good chance of getting admission.

Dear Sir,
I am a Class 9 student. Apart from my syllabus, I have a lot of interest in Space Science. So, what courses should I take to pursue it?
Rama

Dear Rama,
It is always good to “dream, dream, dream” as our late President Abdul Kalam told the youth. Study well, take up Science (PCM+ electronics or computer science) at the +2 level, and then decide whether you would like to be in the pure science aspect of space or the technology part.
In the first instance, prepare for the KVPY exam when you are in Class II (www.kvpy.org.in). If you wish to be in the applications field, you need to do your engineering, either straight away in aerospace engineering (visit www.bit.ly/2o8MDRN) or do a basic engineering like mechanical and aim for a postgraduation in space technology. In the meantime, keep reading and exploring everything about space.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in Class 9 and want to join the flying wing of the Indian Air Force. Can you suggest an appropriate path.
Ananya Bhatnagar

Dear Ananya,
Girls are selected in the Flying Wing of the Indian Air Force if they have completed a degree in science or engineering. They first have to qualify through the Common Defence Services Exam (www.careerairforce.nic.in) and if your merit rank is high, you can opt for Air Force, and specifically the Flying Branch.
Flying training is provided by the government once you are selected. Girls are recruited for helicopter and transport planes, and this year, the first three girls qualified as fighter pilots too. You will initially be taken in the Short Service Commission which is for five years, extendable based on your performance.

Dear Sir,
I am studying PCME. I am interested to do architecture, and I know that I will have to opt for BArch though NATA exam. Can you please give me some details regarding the exam.
A student

Dear Student,
First ensure that you are good in creativity, pencil sketching (since, during academics, you will have to draw by hand, you can later switch over to computer-based drawing) and basic maths. Also be aware that a five-year BArch is a rigorous course involving long hours of project work etc. If you are passionate about it and enjoy such activity, you may take the plunge. Students who complete +2 with any subjects including Maths and English are eligible to appear for NATA exam. Details are available on www.nata.in. This year, the exam has been restricted to only one date, April 16. Marks of NATA and your qualifying Class 12 exam are both taken into account to get your merit rank number.
Depending on your rank you can choose the college for your BArch course.

Dear Sir,
I am studying in 1st PUC (PCMC). I am into computers, coding, developing and hacking. I am hoping to become an ethical hacker in the future. Can you provide more information about related courses and the scope for ethical hackers?
Darshan

Dear Darshan,
To become an ethical hacker, it is essential that you first acquire an extensive knowledge about software development. You can take up Computer Science Engineering (first choice) or Information Science Engineering or a Bachelor in Computer Applications.  Subsequently, you can take up postgraduate programmes in ethical hacking, or even develop skills on your own as many people have done.
With computers becoming more and more self-reliant (i.e. they can be programmed to check out their own bugs and shortcomings), it is questionable in the long run what will be the future of hackers, but if you are capable you can grow and move into allied fields that are promising at that time.

Dear Sir,
I am currently in the second semester of Mechanical engineering. I wish to work in the Indian Railways. Please guide me as to what preparations should be done from now?
A student

Dear Student,
Entry into Class I Services of the Indian Railways is through exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission. For Commercial, Traffic and other non-technical branches in Railways, the selection is done from the same exam which is for IAS and allied services. For technical branches, there are separate exams, details of which are available on the website www.upsc.gov.in.

You can start preparing by improving your general knowledge, current affairs, communication and presentation skills, and also by checking out old exam papers. You can do serious studies, or take up coaching once you come to final year of your degree.