Your counsellor repliesI‚m an above average Plus Two (science) student interested in studying medicine in the UK or US. Please advise.Lakshmi Iyer, ChennaiMedical training in theUK starts with acquisition of an under-graduate medical degree, also known as the pre-med. This five year study programme culminates in the award of a bachelor of medicine and surgery degree (MBBS) which is the primary medical qualification. Medical schools require applicants to have studied chemistry and physics, biology or mathematics in Plus Two. The British government restricts the number of seats offered to foreign students in med schools, with preference given to students from countries which lack medical training facilities. All students, including overseas applicants, are required to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Information about courses and eligibility criteria is available on the UCAS website, http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ucc/index.html or from the British Council offices. For overseas students the cost of medical education in Britain is about ‚£16,500 (Rs.13.85 lakh) per year excluding residential expenses. After graduation, overseas students can remain in the UK to complete their postgraduate, general, clinical, and other specialist training.In the US, four years of medical training starts after four years of undergraduate study. Subsequently there is five years of residency, depending upon the speciality you choose. Foreign applicants may discover that capacity reserved for non-US citizens is very limited.US medical schools require applicants to submit MCAT scores and possess a strong background in the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics), good communication skills, knowledge of computers and strong credentials in the humanities and social sciences. Tuition fees are approximately between US$10,000-30,000 (Rs.4.5-13.5 lakh). I‚m in second year B.Sc and am interested in a career in the Indian Police Service. Please advise.Anil Kulkarni, PuneTo be eligible for the Indian Police Service (IPS), you have to be over 21 years of age, a graduate and you have to write the Civil Services Examination. After you succeed in CSE you can opt for IPS, IAS, Indian Foreign Service and several other all India government services, depending upon your position in the merit list. You can familiarise yourself with the pattern of the Civil Services Examination by logging on to www.upsc.gov.in. I‚ll be writing my class XII exam next year and wish to study engineering. Which branch of engineering offers the best job prospects?Deepak Rao, BangaloreAt entry level, marine engineers get the best remuneration, but working conditions are demanding. Within conventional streams, the IT industry offers better pay packages. However, it is only after two or three years‚ experience that an IT/ computer/ software engineer begins to earn big pay money. It is advisable to enroll for a branch of engineering which interests you. Ultimately, success attaches itself to the individual, so if you are good at your job, your prospects are bound to be good in any engineering stream.I‚m doing my B.Com in accounts and finance. Should I read for an MBA in finance or chartered accountancy?Neeta Puri, New DelhiThe knowledge acquired in B.Com will give you a good academic background for a finance MBA as also for accountancy. However, admission into MBA would be on the basis of your performance in entrance examinations such as CAT or CET. The decision on your MBA specialisation should be finalised after understanding the demands of a career in finance.After completing Plus Two (science) next year I want to study pharmacy. Do I have to write the CET? Which institutes offer this course?Rajeev Sawant, MumbaiAccording to the new pattern of CET introduced this year, there is one combined Maharashtra CET with different papers: Paper I ‚ physics and chemistry (50 marks each) and Paper II biology (botany and zoology ‚ 50 marks each). Paper II has to be taken by candidates who wish to study medicine and/ or pharmacy. Paper I and Paper III (mathematics, 100 marks) have to be written by candidates who wish to pursue engineering and/ or pharmacy. So for pharmacy, you could choose either paper I and II or paper I and III.Therefore depending upon your academic strengths, choose either paper II (biology) or paper III (maths). The most reputed institution for B.Pharm is Mumbai University‚s Institute of Chemical Technology (earlier known as UDTC, www.udct.org). A list of other pharmacy colleges is available on www.dte.org.in.I‚ll be completing my BE (mechanical) next year. Should I opt for an MBA immediately after graduation or work for two years? Does work experience help in getting admission into top management institutes?Sailesh Patel, AhmedabadYou should writeCAT next year i.e November 2006. If you are unsure about giving up engineering then choose an engineering placement and a year later take stock of your future.While work experience is not mandatory for admission into Indian management institutes, foreign business schools prefer graduates with at least two-four years work experience.After completing my BBA next year, I want to pursue a career in import-export management. Please provide information on courses offered in this field and job prospects. Pallavi Bose, KolkataAfter completing bba, you could opt for a full-time two-year postgrad programme in international business management. This programme will enable you to get a comfortable job placement. After working for a few years, you could promote your own business. Alternatively, finish your graduation and look for a job with an export-import firm. Simultaneously you could study for a postgrad diploma in international business through distance education (for example, Pondicherry University) or certificate programme in import and export management (correspondence course) of the Indian Institute of Materials Management (www.iimm.org).