Your Counsellor Replies

Apart from the IITs, which are the other institutes offering aerospace engineering?
Arvind Kolhatkar, Pune

Apart from the IITs, other engineering colleges which offer a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering are Anna University, Chennai (www.annauniv.edu) and Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. You can also graduate in aeronautical engineering by clearing the Associate Membership Examination of the Aeronautical Society of India, Parts II and III/section A and B (http://www.aesi.org).

I’m in class XI (science) and preparing for the IIT-JEE. I would like to know about SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and other engineering entrance exams. Will my preparation for the IIT-JEE help me write these exams?
Chandrashekar Rao, Bangalore

AIEEE success will qualify you for admission into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and several other reputed engineering colleges. Preparation for the IIT Joint Entrance Examination also trains you to write the AIEEE and the recently introduced BITSAT (www. bitspilani.ac.in/BITSAT/) for admission into BITS Pilani.

However your preparation for the IIT-JEE will not help much in writing SAT or TOEFL. High SAT and TOEFL scores are required for pursuing undergraduate studies in the United States. SAT is a test of verbal and quantitative ability while TOEFL is an English language proficiency test. However maths preparation for IIT-JEE may help you tackle some sections of SAT for assessing quantitative ability.

I’m in B.Com third year. After graduating I would like to work in the State Bank of India. Please advise.
Sudha Chawla, New Delhi

The selection procedure of SBI is two phased. First, you have to write an objective type examination (negative marking for wrong answers) assessing quantitative aptitude, general awareness, reasoning and English language skills. Candidates who fare well are called for a second written test (option of Hindi/English), group discussion and personal interview. Look out in the prominent dailies, Employment News and visit www.sbi.co.in or www.statebankofindia. com for the next recruitment notice. Other nationalised public sector banks also recruit probationary officers through similar selection processes and their notifications appear in the same publications.

After completing my BA next year, I would like to study broadcast journalism. Which institutions offer this course?
Riya Das Gupta, Kolkata

Some institutes offering this course include the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067 (www.iimc.ac.in); Asian College of Journalism, Kasturi Centre, 2 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 (www.asianmedia.org); School of Broadcasting and Communication (www.sbc.ac.in), 108 Building No.4, Kamdhenu Centre, Lokandwala Complex, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053 (affiliated to the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism); and Pioneer Media School, New Delhi (www. pioneermediaschool.com). Admission is through a written exam assessing English writing skills and general knowledge and personal interview.

I’m a Plus Two science student and want to pursue a career in forensic science or genetic engineering. Please advise.
Nalini Joseph, Trivandrum

For admission into a forensic science study programme you need to be a science graduate. A limited number of universities offer the M.Sc programme in forensic science. For a career in genetic engineering, a B.Sc or B.Tech after Plus Two is ideal. After Plus Two you could also enroll in a B.Sc biotechnology degree programme.

I’m a B.Sc graduate and would like to know about institutes offering a degree in rural management.
Suresh Patel, Ahmedabad

Rural management graduates work with co-operatives, NGOs, government development agencies and national and international charities engaged in promoting rural development. They are recruited for jobs related to planning and information systems, production management, marketing, finance, accounts, human resource development and natural resources management. Among the institutes reputed for rural management study programmes are the Institute of Rural Management, P.O.Box No. 60, Anand 388 001 (www.irma.ac.in); Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar (www.ximb. ac.in); IIM Bangalore and Xavier Institute of Social Sciences (XISS), Ranchi.

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (www.nmims.edu) offers rural marketing as a specialisation in its MBA programme. Most of these courses are of two-years duration and open to all degree holders. Admission is through a written entrance test followed by group discussion and interview.

I’m in my final year B.Sc and would like to pursue a career in astronomy / astrophysics. Please provide details of institutes offering postgraduate courses in this subject.
Rahul Fernandes, Mumbai

The Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathawade University, Dnyateerth, Gautami Nagar, Vishnupuri, Nanded 413 606 offers an M.Sc degree in astrophysics while Osmania University, Administrative Building, Hyderabad 500 007 offers a Masters in astronomy. Punjab University, Patiala 147 002, Andhra University and University of Pune also offer M.Sc (space sciences) with the option to specialise. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009 offers a postgrad diploma in space science. Astronomy/astrophysics can also be studied as part of the M.Sc physics programme in reputed institutions such as University of Mumbai.

Moreover there are excellent research institutions for pursuing a doctorate in astrophysics/ astronomy.

I’m a final year B.Sc student and would like to qualify as a pathologist. Please advise.
Nalini Kerkar, Nasik

You have to first acquire the MBBS degree and then specialise in pathology at the Master’s level. You have to write the MH-CET for admission into medical colleges in Maharashtra. For admission into medical colleges which don’t use MH-CET scores as admission criteria, you will have to write specific medical school entrance tests. For instance Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune; Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Science, Wardha; Armed Forces Medical College at Pune; Padmashree Dr. Patil Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Navi Mumbai etc conduct their own entrance tests which are advertised in dailies in November-December.