I’m in Plus Two (science) and keen on specialising in psephology at the undergrad or postgrad levels. Please advise. Seema Shah, Ahmedabad Psephology is study of the science of public elections and statistical analyses of voting trends. Loosely, it enables prediction of electoral outcomes and is a sub-discipline of political science. Several universities offer postgrad specialisation and/or research opportunities in psephology in their faculties of political science and sociology. Sociologists, psychologists, demographers, market research professionals, archivists and statisticians are best equipped to qualify as psephologists. Since psephology is not a specific/ independent discipline, you could choose one of several routes to qualification depending upon your interests and aptitude. Along the way, you could also keep alternative occupations in mind. I’m in my final year B.Sc (computer science). After graduating next year, I would like to enrol for a Masters in computer application (MCA) programme while working alongside. Is that possible? Rajesh Iyer, Chennai It would be advisable to sign up for a full-time MCA programme with a reputed college as it will give you the advantage of direct campus placement. If you opt for a distance education MCA, that advantage won’t be available to you. Freelancing is a possibility but you will have to look for a job in the IT industry. I’m in Plus Two (science) and keen on qualifying as a professional chef. What study courses would you suggest? Neela D’Souza, Mumbai IHMCTAN, Mumbai (www.ihmctan.edu) offers an 18-month craftsmanship course in food production and patisserie. IHM, Aurangabad (www.ihma. ac.in), Oberoi’s STEP (www.oberoi hotels.com), Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad (http://www.iachtchef academy.com/home.html) as also Ace Academy of Culinary Education, Goa (http://www.acegoa.com/) are popular choices for culinary arts and allied education. The minimum admissions eligibility is completion of Plus Two. I’m a genetics engineering student keen on specialising in forensic science in my Masters programme. Can you suggest reputed universities abroad which offer an MS in forensic science. How different is it from an MS in criminology? Ravi Narayan, Bangalore Forensic scientists assist criminal investigations by using specialised equipment and laboratory tests to analyse scene of crime evidence. Students study subjects such as forensic science instruments and methodologies, DNA typing, arson inspection, courtroom testimony and forensic science research procedures. You can also add courses in areas of your interest related to law, accountancy, bio-chemistry, psychology etc. The best forensic science study programmes are offered by the University of Florida, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of California at Davis and Boston, George Washington and Syracuse universities and the State University of New York at Albany, Drexel, as also the universities of Mississippi and Ohio. After completing my B.Tech (biotechnology) next year, I would like to press on for an M.Tech. Which institutes do you recommend? Sumit Chawla, New Delhi Reputed institutes for M.tech (biotechnology) are IIT-Kharagpur (www.iitkgp.ernet.in); University of Calcutta (www.caluniv.ac.in) and University of Hyderabad (www.uohyd. ernet.in). You’ll have to write the GATE entrance exam for admission into these institutions. Success in the Common Biotechnology Entrance Examination conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in)…
