Your Counsellor Replies

Your Counsellor RepliesI‚m in my final year B.Sc and would like to study for a MCA degree after graduation. Which institutes offer this course and what are their eligibility requirements?Bikram Singh, New Delhi The basic qualification for admission into MCA (Master of computer appli-cations) is graduation in any discipline with maths as a subject until class XII. There are many reputed institutes/ universities which offer the two-year MCA study programme. Among them are: University of Mumbai (www.mu.ac.in); University of Pune (http://cs.unipune. ernet.in); Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in); Delhi University (www.du.ac.in); IIT Roorkee (www.iitr. ernet.in) etc. You have to apply separately to universities of your choice by responding to their admission notifications advertised in prominent dailies. From this year on, the All India MCA Entrance Test (AIMCET), is being conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, on behalf of the Union ministry of HRD. For the list of institutions participating in AIMCET 2004 visit www.iitr.ac.in/aimcet.I‚m in Plus Two (science) and would like to qualify as an IAF (Indian Air Force) pilot. Please advise.Ravi D‚Souza, PanjimTo qualify as an air force pilot you have to seek admission into the air force wing of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala (Pune). And to do that you need to write the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. Unmarried males who have successfully completed Plus Two with physics and mathematics and have attained the age of 16.5 years, are eligible to apply for admission into the air force wing. Admission dates and criteria are notified twice a year. Good physical and mental health is an important requirement for admission into the NDA. Candidates who habitually wear spectacles are not eligible for the air force. I‚m in my final year B.Com and would like to pursue a career in marketing. Which study courses would you suggest?Shalini Mehta, Mumbai Marketing can be related to different industries, products and services. It can also be divided into direct marketing, tele-marketing, market research, advertising, marketing strategy, brand management, product development, sales and retail. You could opt for a diploma in sales and marketing or retail management, but your best option is to qualify with an MBA in marketing from a reputed B-school. Against the backdrop of the current boom in retailing, specialising in retail management and marketing is a good option. After graduating, you could apply for admission into the 18-month retail management and marketing programme of the ITM School for Business Leadership at the Centre for Development of Leadership and Human Potential, ITM University Campus, 25/26 Institutional Area, Sector 4, Kharghar (E), Navi Mumbai 410 210. I would like to study aeronautical engineering. Other than the IITs, which reputed colleges offer this subject? What chances do I have of getting into NASA?Srinivas Rao, BangaloreThere are a limited number of colleges offering aeronautical engineering. They include Anna University, Chennai 600 025 (www.annauniv.edu); Hindustan College of Engineering, Chennai 603 103 (www.hindustancollege.com); and Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh 160 012. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) offers educational opportunities, fellowships etc, for students enrolled in a related programme of study in a US university. To find out about NASA‚s educational opportunities, log on to http//education.nasa.gov. After completing my B.Com I would like to qualify as an actuary. Please advise.Dina Sethna, Pune Actuaries generally work with life, general and health insurance companies. Strong mathematical skills are important for success in this profession. So, be very certain that you have the appropriate skills and are prepared to work hard. For further information write to the Actuarial Society of India, Administrative Office, 9 Jeevan Udyog, III Floor, 278 Dr. D.N. Road, Mumbai 400 001 which also conducts training programmes in actuarial management. There‚s also the two-year full-time Master of actuarial sciences at the ITM School for Business Leadership at the Centre for Development of Leadership and Human Potential, ITM University Campus, 25/26 Institutional Area, Sector 4, Kharghar (E), Navi Mumbai 410 210 (www.itmcdlhp.com). Graduates/ postgraduates in maths/ statistics/ economics/ physics/ chemistry/ operations research/ computer sciences/ CA/ ICWA/ BE/ B.Tech are eligible to apply. As per the given requirements you are not yet eligible for this course. However the one-year full time PGD in actuarial science at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (a deemed university), Insurance Centre, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056 (www.nmims.edu) is open to science/ engineering/ technology/ commerce/ arts graduates with a minimum 50 percent average (or a Masters with 45 percent). After completing my graduation in commerce in 2005, I would like to pursue a distance education programme of a foreign university. Please provide information on correspondence courses.Geeta Krishnan, ChennaiYou could check with the British Council Division, British Deputy High Commission, Mittal Tower, ‚ËœC‚ Wing, I floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 for the distance learning courses offered by universities in the UK. Also check www.britishcouncil.org.in. Universities of other foreign countries which invite applications from Indian students, advertise in prominent dailies. However, it is important to understand that distance learning is valuable and worthwhile if you are able to complement it with related practical experience/ exposure.I‚m in final year B.Com and after graduation would like to do a postgraduate course in export management. Which institutes offer this course?Ashok Roy, Kolkata The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (www.iift.edu) is well-reputed for its study programme in export management. Other institutions offering such courses include Symbiosis Institute of International Business at Pune; University of Delhi, Department of Commerce; Delhi School of Economics (www.comm dsedu.org); K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E), Mumbai 400 077 (http//: simsr.somaiya.edu); Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 017; University Business School, Punjab University, Chandigarh; GITAM Institute of Foreign Trade, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam 530 045 and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad/ Nagpur.