I’m a second year B.Com student aspiring for admission into IIM-Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Will it help if I specialise in accounts and finance in my final year?
Deepak Sule, Pune
Admission into IIM-A is dependent upon your score in the Common Admission Test (CAT) of the IIMs which is followed by a group discussion and personal interview. Final selection takes into account your undergraduate academic record, work experience (if any) and extra-curricular activities. It does not require specialisation in accounts/finance.
Please note that B.Com with accounts and finance provides you a grounding in these disciplines but doesn’t qualify you for a professional career in accountancy (CA or CWA qualifications are more appropriate).
I’m keen on a career in mass media. What are my study options?
Nalini Rao, Bangalore
To start with, sign up for a bachelor’s degree programme in mass media and follow it up with a postgrad course in mass communication/mass media. Coterminously, hone your skills by attending workshops/lectures delivered by media gurus, update yourself through media forums, social networking sites and showcase your talent when possible.
I’m a final year BA (psychology) student interested in a career in sports psychology. Which institutions offer postgraduate programmes in this field?
Arun Bajaj, New Delhi
Among the well-reputed institutes offering postgrad programmes are the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior (a NAAC-accredited deemed university under the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports) which offers a Masters in physical education (sports psychology); Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (M.Sc in sports psychology), and Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Noida (diploma in sports psychology).
Sports psychologists play a major role in helping players to remain focused on their goals and manage anxiety, fear of failure and setbacks. Career prospects are good with the opportunity to work with top-ranked players, sports clubs and promotion bodies.
What are career prospects in instructional design (ID) like?
Suresh Iyengar, Chennai
The global demand for customised e-learning packages has opened up a host of exciting career opportunities for instructional designers. With ID services being outsourced to India by British and American corporates, it is emerging as a high-potential career.
Instructional designers draft blueprints of multimedia projects — from determining the educational design and content of the project to suggesting ways and means to present it to target audiences. They also work closely with subject matter experts to organise information in learner-friendly formats.
After completing my B.Com degree, would it be more rewarding to enroll in an M.Com or MBA study programme?
Shobha Chatterjee, Kolkata
MBA is a job-oriented study programme whereas M.Com is academic and theoretical in its approach and content. The main employment options for M.Com postgrads are in teaching, accounts, finance and banking. By adding a
B.Ed degree to your qualifications, you become eligible to teach at the Plus Two level, and if you clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) you qualify for teaching jobs in colleges and universities. Moreover, M.Com postgrads are often employed in financial research and analysis, taxation, stock market, insurance, financial planning and advisory, banking, and financial services.
I want to pursue undergraduate study abroad. Would a high SSC (class XII) score be acceptable for admission into US, UK, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand universities or do they also require TOEFL, SAT, and GRE scores?
Ajay Desai, Mumbai
Undergraduate admissions into foreign universities are dependent upon your class XII school-leaving exam average score.
Standardised test scores (SAT and TOEFL) supplement the academic record, but SAT and TOEFL scores are required only by American varsities. GRE is not required for undergraduate admissions. The ideal time to apply is between September and January. But first identify the country in which you wish to study, choose a university and then study its admission criteria.
Do I need to acquire a B.Com degree to qualify for admission into a chartered accountancy (CA) course? I also want to enroll in a B.Sc (IT) degree programme.
Gerald Coelho, Panjim
You can sign up for a CA programme without an undergraduate degree. However, you must complete your graduation coterminously with your CA programme if you wish to pursue postgraduate studies. Both CA and B.Sc (IT) are demanding programmes. Students usually opt for a B.Com degree along with CA because of their compatible syllabi.
After completing my mechanical engineering degree next year, should I enroll in an MS or MBA programme?
Dinesh Shah, Ahmedabad
If you have enjoyed studying mechanical engineering and want to specialise further, I recommend you sign up for an MS degree. You can always top it subsequently with an MBA degree — either online, part-time or full-time — after acquiring four-five years of work experience.