I’m in class X and keen on pursuing a career in biotechnology. Please advise. Rahul Salve, Pune In Plus Two you should opt for the science stream with physics, chemistry, biology and maths (see p. 68). After that you should sign up for a four-year B.Tech (biotechnology) or three-year B.Sc (biotechnology, chemistry, botany, zoology etc) or B.Pharm, B.Sc (agriculture), and MBBS, veterinary science/allied fields programme. This could be followed by an M.Sc (biotechnology) or a five-year M.Sc (biotechnology) offered by Pune University. Biotechnology offers excellent prospects especially in research and development or in higher education teaching, so a Ph D degree is recommended for long-term career growth. However, it would be advisable to increase your awareness of the various career options available after Plus Two, and understand which of them is in sync with your strengths and personality, and eventually make an informed decision. What’s the difference between MBA and MMS (Master of management science)? Please also provide information about the Common Admission Test (CAT). Rina Samuel, Bangalore The difference between MBA and MMS is in the nomenclature of the certification awarded. The minimum qualification for admission into MBA/MMS or equivalent courses, is completion of a bachelor’s degree (at least 10+2+3). Admission into these study programmes is based on performance in written tests (such as CAT, XAT, etc), group discussion and personal interview with weightage given to academic record, participation in extracurricular activities/achievements, and work experience after graduation. While choosing your B-school, enroll in institutions recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Moreover, most importantly, check out the campus placement track records of your shortlisted B-schools. CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and its notification is published in the month of July in all prominent dailies countrywide, with the written exam usually held in November. I will complete my M.Sc (genetics) degree in 2014. To improve my career prospects, should I opt for an MBA in biotech? Siddharth Rao, Chennai If you get admission into an MBA programme of a reputed B-school, you are likely to be campus-recruited by a reputable corporate. However, an M.Sc (genetics) degree per se also opens up numerous opportunities. It will provide you the basis for understanding genetic diseases to enable counseling to families at risk of producing children with genetic disorders and for investigating the molecular basis of genetic diseases to find cures. In agriculture, genetics is the basis of breeding new crop plants and livestock. A rapidly growing biotechnology industry is already using genetics to produce a range of products from pharmaceuticals to microchips. But currently, the private sector isn’t a major employer of scientists. Hence, an MBA or MBA (biotech) is a better idea as it provides greater career development options. I will complete my BE programme in 2014. Please suggest universities in the US offering the Masters in telecom management degree programme. Do I need to write the GMAT or GRE? Sachin Bose, Kolkata Yes, you need to write GRE or GMAT for admission into a Masters in…
