I’m in third year BA and keen on a career in teaching. What is the admission procedure for entry into a B.Ed study programme? I want to teach in an international school.
Nirmala Subramaniam, Chennai
Every state and university has its own selection procedure for admission into B.Ed study programmes. Look out for admission notices in prominent local dailies (including vernacular newspapers) as also on the website of the authority conducting the entrance exam. Entrance test don’t follow a uniform pattern across the country. International schools follow curriculums which are very different from the national CBSE/ICSE or state boards. A B.Ed degree with some teaching experience in a reputed school should qualify you to teach in international schools.
I want to enroll in a three-year LLB study programme. Please advise.
Nalini Chavan, Pune
The universities of Delhi, Pune and Mumbai offer excellent LLB study programmes. However, not all law colleges are equally reputed. Law colleges recognised by the Bar Council of India are listed on http://barcouncilofindia.nic.in.
Please provide information on reputed universities/institutes offering the MCA study programme in India. Is there an entrance test?
Deepak Shah, Mumbai
Among reputable institutions offering MCA study programmes are IIT Roorkee (www.iitr.ernet.in); the National Institutes of Technology (NIMCET details are on www.nitk.ac.in/ www.nitkkr.ac.in); University of Pune (http://cs.unipune.ernet.in); Jawaharlal Nehru University (www.jnu.ac.in); Delhi University (www.du.ac.in) and Jadavpur University (www.jadavpur.edu). Admissions are on the basis of performance in entrance tests. Generally, all MCA entrance exams test quantitative aptitude, reasoning ability and assess computer related knowledge. Each institutional information brochure provides pointers on the pattern of the entrance test and an indication of breadth of syllabus. Admission notifications are usually advertised in November/December. You could also write the MAH-MCA-CET conducted by the Maharashtra government’s department of technical education (www.dte.org.in).
I want to read for an MBA degree in a B-school abroad. Do I need to write the TOEFL and GMAT exams? My medium of instruction in school and college has been English.
Avinash Pillai, Bangalore
Most top B-schools worldwide require GMAT and TOEFL test scores to determine admission eligibility. Some universities may not insist upon TOEFL as your medium of study was English, but such exemption is discretionary.
I’m a final year BA student majoring in psychology and child care. After graduating I want to pursue higher studies in child care. Please advise.
Sujata Mukherjee, Kolkata
I recommend you enroll for a postgraduate diploma in early childhood care and education. With pre-primary and primary schools mushrooming across the country, there is no dearth of job opportunities. However even if you enroll for a Master’s in psychology, you will be able to work with children. Another option is to do a Ph D and move into research.
You must discuss your options with faculty members in your university to get a feel of their practical applicability and match the same with your own expectations. Also interact with students in both these programmes to get a first hand account of their experiences.
Is the MBA degree offered by the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) recognised in India?
Suresh Mehta, Ahmedabad
The small print at the bottom of every newspaper advertisement released by IIPM states that the institute and its study programmes are not recognised by UGC or AICTE. However according to IIPM, its graduates are widely accepted by industry.
After completing class XII next year, I’d like to do a course in fitness training. Please advise.
Shilpa Kulkarni, Mumbai
Ideally you should enroll in a bachelor of physical education course and then specialise in fitness training.
I’m a final year production engineering student. Which institutes offer industrial/manufacturing engineering and related courses? Do they require GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) scores for admission?
Srinivas Iyer, Bangalore
Log on to http://www.gate.iisc.ernet.in/ and http://www.iitb.ac.in/gate to learn about institutes which require GATE scores for admission and the postgraduate programmes they offer. Watch out for the GATE notification in leading newspapers.
I’m in third year BA (economics) and want to press on for an MBA after graduation. I would like to specialise in international trade and business or banking and finance. Is high maths capability required for an MBA?
Sudhir Chawla, New Delhi
You could apply to institutions such as the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi (www.iift.edu) and Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB), Pune (www.siib.ac.in) for an MBA in international business or for regular MBA/equivalent programmes. While proficiency in maths or statistics is not mandatory for admission into MBA (finance), strong analytical and quantitative skills (typical of maths/stats students) are necessary for success in this field. It’s best to enroll for a full-time MBA/equivalent programme rather than for part-time courses.
I’m a computer science graduate. Please advise whether I should opt for a job or pursue an MBA degree?
Ravi Pillai, Trivandrum
You could work for a couple of years and then decide whether to pursue higher education, which could either be an M.Tech or MS in your chosen field of work. On the other hand an MBA degree would help you diversify beyond technology and computers and qualify you for a management career.
