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I want to pursue an M.Sc in forensic science. Currently I’m in my first year B.Sc and next year I have the option to specialise in biotech/ bioinformatics/ microbiology. Which subject will help me qualify for a Master’s in forensic science?
Sneha Joseph, Bangalore

To enroll in a Master’s programme in forensic science, you need to be a graduate in any of the following disciplines: physics, chemistry, zoology, botany, biochemistry, microbiology, applied sciences, B.Pharm, MBBS, BDS, engineering, computer science or psychology. Postgraduate study programmes in forensic science are offered by Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP); University of Rajasthan, Jaipur; Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra; Punjabi University, Patiala; University of Delhi; Anna University, Chennai; Karnatak University, Dharwad; University of Lucknow. In the UK, King’s College and the University of Strathclyde are highly reputed for the excellent quality of their forensic science programmes. Most Indian universities which offer a MBBS programme also offer an MD in forensic science.

After finishing my BA this year I would like to do a postgraduate degree in mass communication. Please let me know about institutes offering mass comm programmes and their admission procedures.
Rita Saldanha, Panjim

Among the prominent institutions which offer postgraduate qualifications in journalism/ broadcasting are the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi (www.iimc.nic.in); Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (www.asian-media.org); Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in all metros (www.bhavans.info/); Pioneer Media School, New Delhi (www.pioneermediaschool.com) and Times Centre for Media Studies, 10 Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002.

Admission into these programmes is through a written entrance test and interview. With the print and electronic media going great guns, career prospects in mass media are good.

I’m in class XI (science) and would like to become a chemical engineer. What are my career prospects in this field?
Siddarth Rao, Bangalore

Chemical engineers are usually employed in the petroleum refining, fertiliser technology, food processing, medicine (pharmaceutical), synthetic food, petrochemicals, synthetic fibres, coal and mineral based industries and businesses engaged in the prevention and control of environmental pollution. In short, a wide spectrum of industries employ chemical engineers. Therefore career prospects for chemical engineers are excellent, especially for graduates of premier engineering colleges.

I’ll be graduating in law in 2008. What are my career options after LLB? Will LLM improve my prospects?
Ravi Naik, Pune

After LLB you could start your private practice, work in a law firm or in the legal department of a company, in the judicial service, etc. Doing LLM will definitely better your employment prospects. Selection into LLM programmes is based on merit or on the outcome of an entrance examination, depending upon the norms followed by the targeted university.

I’ll be completing B.Com this year and want to pursue an MBA abroad. Please provide information on TOEFL and GMAT.
Nalini Raghavan, Chennai

You should have at least two years of full-time work experience after graduation to qualify for admission into the MBA programme of a B-school abroad. Together with the application form you need to submit letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, academic records/transcripts, demonstrate strong extra-curricular activities and above average GMAT and TOEFL scores. From January 1, 2006, the GMAT (www.gmat.com or www.mba.com) exam is being conducted by two new service providers: ACT Inc, which provides test questions and certain scoring services; and Pearson VUE, a subsidiary of NCS Pearson Inc, which administers the exam and provides official score reports. GMAT is a computer-based test while TOEFL is offered by the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org) and also by Internet Based Testing (IBT).

I’m in second year BE (mechanical engineering) and keen on signing up for a course in automobile design. Please advise.
Naresh Patel, Ahmedabad

You could enroll for the postgraduate programme in transportation and automobile design of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (www.nid.edu) and/or of transportation design at the MAEERMIT Institute of Design, Pune (www.iid. pune.org). The IITs at Bombay, Delhi and Kanpur also offer Master of industrial design programmes. Applications for admission into NID and IITs are invited in September-October and entrance examinations are conducted in January.

I’ll be writing my class X exam this year and want to pursue a career in neurology. What subjects should I take in Plus Two and which institutions provide programmes in neurology?
Gautam Puri, New Delhi

Neurologists diagnose and treat various disorders that impair the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles and nervous system. To qualify as a neurologist you have to acquire a postgraduate degree after completing MBBS. Meanwhile in Plus Two (science) you should study the following subjects: physics, chemistry and biology. For admission into medical college, you have to write a common entrance test.

After graduation I would like to become a college lecturer. Is it better to do B.Ed followed by an M.Ed or an MA followed by a Ph D?
Daisy Damania, Mumbai

If you do B.Ed and M.Ed, you could become a lecturer in a teachers’ training college. For lecturers’ posts in colleges and universities, you need to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET)/ State Eligibility Test (SET) or acquire a doctorate (Ph D). If you do MA and Ph D or MA and the NET/SET, you qualify as a lecturer. However you should average at least 55 percent in your Master’s degree as a general candidate to write NET/SET.