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Take the untrodden path

Last Updated 11 April 2018, 11:00 IST

Dear Sir,

My son is in Class 8. He understands Maths concepts correctly but does a lot of mistakes in calculations. When he was in Class 3, I made him join abacus class. Later, I stopped sending him to the class as I felt he was getting more confused with the calculations. But now in Class 8, I find him still mixing up the normal method and abacus method and hence, doing wrong calculations. Please advise me as to how he can improve.

A Parent

Dear Parent,

I do understand your concern as a mother, and since your son is still in Class 8, it is possible to set him on the right path before he faces his Board exams. Since every child has individual traits, it is necessary to do an assessment and find out all issues that are of relevance. Understanding the child holistically will ensure that you can get the right remedy and guidance which will set him on track.

Assessment is done by special educators and child psychologists in all major cities. You can contact Child Guidance Clinic of NIMHANS, Spastic Society of Karnataka, Prayatna or any other institution most convenient to you.

Dear Sir,

I am a PUC I (Science) student and I am interested in pursuing Aeronautical engineering. But my friends say that there is no scope for Aeronautical engineering in India. Can you please clarify on this?

A Student

Dear Student,

Since the world is becoming a global village, there is no need to worry about 'scope' in India or any other country. If you are good at your work, you can stay in your hometown and work for a country anywhere across the globe, with customers in different continents.

To get into the field of Aeronautical engineering, you can either pursue a BTech in that branch directly (offered by IITs, NITs and some more private colleges), or you can even get a degree in a basic stream of engineering such as mechanical, electronics, computer science etc and then specialise in aeronautics at the postgraduation level.

If you prepare well over the next one year and get into a reputed engineering college, you stand a good chance of making a breakthrough in this steadily increasing field.

Dear Sir,

I am a second year Computer Science engineering student. I want to become an IAS officer. At the same time, I am interested in research and pursuing a Master's course in the US. This has resulted in ambiguity - dual interests but a single career. Which one is the best course? Can you guide me?

A Student

Dear Student,

There is no such thing as a 'best' course. What you select should be based on your interest and passion, coupled with strong aptitude and talent. Your lifestyle as a government officer in India will be completely different from your lifestyle as a researcher in the US.
Evaluate what are your strengths, how good you are in the skills required for either career, take the help of an elder, an expert or a career counsellor if necessary, and do a detailed SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.

If you can narrow down your goals within a year, you can accordingly start preparing well in advance, because both Civil Services entrance exam and admission to a good university in the US require systematic and extensive preparation.

Dear Sir,

I completed my MTech in Thermal engineering. Now, I want to pursue PhD but I am not sure of the procedure. Could you please guide me as to which exam I need to take and which university I can opt for.

A Student

Dear Student,

The best universities take in students for PhD only if they have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) (for
details, visit https://cbsenet.nic.in) which is held twice a year in 84 different subjects. For this test, you will have to prepare on your own
and then apply to different universities as per the vacancies.

NET also makes you eligible for teaching or research
jobs in universities. A few universities do take students for PhD based on their own entrance exam, for which you have to apply to them directly.

Dear Sir,

I am a PUC II student (PCME). I always wanted to be an engineer but with my average marks and with the decrease in demand for engineers, I am afraid of my future. Apart from Science, I have considered studying Arts as I am interested in writing. Please guide me with opportunities in either field and also, if I choose Arts which degree do I have to choose - BA or Liberal Arts?

Nihaal

Dear Nihaal,

It is good that you have the awareness and foresight to understand that pushing yourself into a field that you do not have the talent or
aptitude cannot get you success or fulfilment. If you are good at writing you may consider doing a BA from a good college, after which you can specialise in Mass Communication, Journalism, Content writing, Translations, Language training etc.

Liberal Arts is a wide range of subjects that help a student who is not sure of his specific career goals, is willing to explore and go on an untrodden path and get a feel of various skills.

Dear Sir,

I am a third-year Diploma (mechanical engineering) student. Could you please suggest what I can do after the completion of diploma?

Shivaraj

Dear Shivaraj,

If you have enjoyed your studies so far and are keen on continuing in the technical field, then you may appear for the Special CET exam for Diploma students to get direct entry into BE in the same branch of engineering. Since a certain quota of seats is set aside for Diploma students, getting admission may not be very difficult.

However, if you are not a very academically oriented person, you may take up an entry-level job in a mechanical or allied industry, get a feel of which specific skill you would like to focus on, and then decide on further studies, either through a vocational part-time course or an Open University degree.

Dear Sir,

I am from Science background and want to study Fashion Communication at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Can you share some tips that would help me get a good ranking in the exam? Should I go to a coaching centre to score well?

Varsha

Dear Varsha,

First ensure that you have a creative streak and a flair for design, which is visible in out-of-box thinking. Get an opinion from experts in the field, and if they reassure you that you have the right aptitude and potential, then you can apply for the NIFT entrance exam. There are 16 NIFT centres all over the country, offering eight different specialisations. Details are available on www.nift.ac.in.

It may not be possible to give you study tips in this column, but taking coaching can definitely help you as their exam is different from others. Usually, the last date for applying is in December so you have enough time to prepare.

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(Published 11 April 2018, 11:00 IST)

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