Your Counsellor Replies

Please advise if there is any college in Bangalore which offers B.Com and CA (chartered accountancy) as a five-year integrated degree programme.
Shilpa Dutta, Bangalore

The CA study programme is conducted solely by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi, through its regional offices located in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Kanpur (see p.48).

I want to study pharmacy after my Plus Two (physics, chemistry and maths). Please advise.
Ritika Das, Bangalore

You can apply for a B.Pharm study programme after Plus Two. This degree programme trains you for a career in the pharmaceutical industry. After B.Pharm you have the option to pursue M.Pharm for a career in scientific research, clinical research, teaching, quality control etc in the pharma industry. All government recognised pharmacy colleges are listed on the website of the Pharmacy Council of India (www.pci.nic.in).

I’ll be writing my class XII (science) exam this year. Which stream of engineering offers good career prospects?
Srinivas Murthy, Chennai

I suggest you focus on entering one of the prestigious engineering colleges as they offer the best prospects for campus recruitment. While computer engineering, IT, electronics and allied disciplines offer excellent job prospects, the traditional mechanical, electrical and civil engineering streams also offer good opportunities, even as biotechnology and biomedical engineering are emerging as lucrative options. Your first objective should be to get admission into a well reputed college.

Which colleges/universities offer a degree course in robotics? I’ll be writing my final year B.Sc exam this year.
Ashok Roy, Kolkata

The institutions which offer degree programmes in robotics are the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Madras. The Centre for Robotics and Mechatronics at IIT-Kanpur also offers a Master’s programme in robotics.

Other institutions offering degree qualifications in robotics are the National Institute of Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata; Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; Veermata Jijabhai Technological Institute, Mumbai; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani; University of Hyderabad; Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala; Hyderabad College of Engineering, Osmania University; MS University, Baroda; Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

I completed my B.Com last year and am currently studying chartered accoun-tancy. Should I do an MBA simulta-neously? Which MBA specialisation will complement my CA qualification?
Sudha Kelkar, Pune

It’s best to focus on completing your CA study programme. After qualifying as a CA and working for a couple of years, you can decide whether to pursue an MBA. If you enroll for a full-time MBA programme, specialisation in finance/marketing/human resources is advisable.

Which colleges/institutes offer a degree programme in fashion journalism?
Zarine Mehta, Mumbai

Degree/diploma programmes in fashion journalism are not offered in India. The best option is to get a postgrad degree in journalism, and work as a fashion journalist in a magazine or newspaper to acquire valuable work experience. Also, it would be a good idea to do a fashion design or related course part-time to get a feel of the fashion industry. NIFT, Pearl Academy of Fashion and other prominent institutions offer training in fashion design.

After my Plus Two I want to do the five-year integrated law course offered by National Law School, Bangalore or Symbiosis, Pune. Please enlighten me on eligibility criteria, entrance tests and coaching schools.
Ashwin Pillai, Cochin

Law school entrance test papers usually assess your English language, general awareness, current affairs, analytical reasoning, legal aptitude and quantitative maths capabilities. You could start preparing right away, especially for the current affairs and general knowledge sections. Questions testing quantitative maths ability require familiarity with secondary school mathematics. Familiarise yourself with analytical reasoning questions and model answers detailed in exam guide books. For brushing up English language questions there’s no harm in revisiting grammar texts.

You may purchase a compilation of previous years’ question papers from NLSIU (www.nls.ac.in). For information on coaching schools, look out for newspaper advertisements.

After my Plus Two I want to pursue a career in computer gaming. I’ve applied for admission into the National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad) and ICAT (Chennai). Which is better?
Deepak Patel, Ahmedabad

NID offers a more comprehensive training programme, while ICAT offers a more focused programme. However getting admission into NID, which is a premier institute, is highly competitive.

I have completed my Plus Two. I’m interested in a career in broadcast journalism and would like to pursue a course in mass communications on the internet or through distance education. Please advise.
Ujwal Gadgil, Mumbai

The Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC), Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai, is reputed for its certificate/diploma programme in mass communications. Its distance learning programme is of six to eight months duration and does not have a fixed admission/registration date. Therefore students can register for the course any time during the year. XIC also offers a placement service which helps students land jobs in the booming television industry. You have the option to do this course part-time while studying for a bachelor’s degree. Download its application form at www.telexic.com.