E & C in MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech, microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course, Career in Analytics, How to prepare for GMAT, Selecting an happening career, US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester

E & C in  MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech, microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course, Career in Analytics, How to prepare for GMAT, Selecting an happening career, US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester


CAREER DILEMMA : MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech

I am a third year student of BTech engineering. I am confused about what course to choose — an MBA or Civil Services. What would be a better option?
   Shagorika Basu

The MBA route will lead to a career in the corporate sector, while IAS will lead to a career in the government impacting the lives of the public. The MBA route would help you to play a role in the success of private companies making a difference to the bottom line and reach of one company/organisation's business while the IAS will allow you to make a difference to the lives of a wider public. Life is good on both sides, but the decision of which is better would depend upon your perception and priorities in life. Selection for the IIMs as also in the IAS, would be very competitive.

BACKUP CHOICE : Selecting an happening career

After doing my BBA, I am now pursuing MBA from IP University. I have decided to take finance as my major subject but I am confused between taking marketing, information technology and international business as my minor subject. As a result, I am unable to decide the specific line in which I would like to make my career. If I opt for a career in research or logistics or stock broking, which subject would be more helpful? I will be grateful if you could help me in this matter.
   Debjyot Kaushik

In an indirect manner, all the three areas you have mentioned — marketing, IT or international business can be connected to finance. One way to select your choice of minor is to think of which area after finance you would choose (or are better suited for) as a 'backup' job/career. As you have already decided on finance as the area you will be majoring in, the choice of minor should then be based more on the subjects that you enjoy.

microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course

 
Could you please tell me the minimum eligibility criterion for the microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course? Please also suggest some institutes that provide the course and the future job prospects.
   Anmol Gehlot

You have not mentioned your current academic status, but you can do the MCSE/MCSD course along with your graduation although the general profile of those attempting the exam is people with three-four years of experience in the industry who are trying to improve their prospects. Moreover, you also have several choices. For instance, you could look at a certification in networking like MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) — globally recognised for LAN design, implementation, administration, trouble-shooting, creating web servers, etc. The Windows platform enjoys a customer-base running into millions.
   The full certification involves clearing seven papers. After you clear the first paper, you will get the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) card. Clearing four papers will equip you with knowledge of LAN networking to start working in the technical support area. The passing mark is 80-90% per-exam. Along with that you can continue to prepare for the remaining papers or acquiring a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) certification. While MCSE certification is fine for handling 500-1,000 client/seat establishments, broadband, internet and intranet environments are better served by Cisco-certified experts.
   So if you are looking for better value-addition, CCNA will give you expertise in ISP (Internet Software Protocol), ASP (Application Software Protocol), WAN (Wide Area Networking), etc. It will also teach you how to design, build, and maintain global computer networks from a single location. This involves clearing exams at four levels — 1) associate level 2) professional level 3) expert level 4) specialist level. Make sure you register for the course at a Microsoft Authorised Training Centre. The intake is typically restricted to 15-20 students per session. The passing mark is about 90%.

ANALYTICAL CAREER

Could you please tell me if a career in analytics is good for a BTech graduate? Would an MBA degree suit that profile well?
   Ritwik Ahuja

Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO has given a new dimension to the outsourcing industry in India. KPO differs from BPO in that they require specialised knowledge and skills and often require qualified professionals (lawyers, engineers, doctors, etc). KPO services also tend to be more qualitative and judgment based. In short, they are higher IQ jobs. Analytics is the process of analysing (raw)
data to unearth hidden patterns, understand trends, and draw meaningful conclusions to help in business modelling, decision-making, and forecasting. It uses computers, mathematics and statistics as its tools. Thus as an engineer you possess the requisite skills.

SEARCH FOR B-SCHOOL

Could you please tell me how to prepare for GMAT? From where can I get the US government ranking of American B-schools?
   Anonymous

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is designed to help business schools assess the qualifications and potential of applicants for advanced study in business and management. To begin, log on to www.mba.com and click on 'Take the GMAT' and scroll down to 'Tools to help you prepare' for GMAT test taking strategies. For a list of MBA schools, log on to www.educationusa. state.gov, click on 'Find a School' and go to MBA programmes in the left margin under 'Graduate.' The search options will generate a long list of B-schools. When you ask for the best management schools, you are basically considering rankings. The US government does not rank universities, hence there's no official source to begin with. However, some of the popular private rankings are those compiled by the US News & World Report or The Princeton Review or BusinessWeek.
   Make sure you understand the specific methodology and criteria on which the rankings are based (and be particularly wary of rankings that don't explain the criteria on which they are based). While this could be a good starting point, the 'best' B-school for you would be the one that best matches your profile and preferences. You need to prioritise your preferences and be realistic in terms of matching your background with the B-schools you plan to shortlist. Weigh the strength of the B-school in terms of quality, competitiveness, programme design, special features of the programmes offered. Then consider admissions requirements, cost effectiveness, internship opportunities, placement and lastly scholarship possibilities for foreign students.

US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester

I am a final year student of BTech electrical engineering. I am planning to apply to universities in the US for admission to the spring semester next year. But my friends are saying that it's very difficult to get scholarships for the spring semester. Is it true? Should I apply for fall 2013 instead?
   Danish Trehan

As an international student it is better to apply for the fall semester admission, mainly for three reasons. Firstly, financial aid is relatively easier to get in the fall semester than in the spring semester. Secondly, though not perhaps as important, February is one of the coldest months in many parts of the US. It is therefore not a particularly good time to have your first stint with snow — especially if you're not a native of the Himalayas. And finally, more students are admitted in the fall semester than in the spring semester, so naturally your chances of getting in are greater. Timing your moves correctly while applying to a US varsity is a most crucial factor. So when should you start the application process? At least 18 months in advance of your intended date of enrolment. For example, if you wish to enrol in the Fall session: August/September 2013, you should ideally start the process around April 2012. Also, do browse the net for college rankings and other useful info. There are plenty of websites including www.usnews.com  and www.fulbright-india.org .

TRENDY CHOICE : pursue a career on the basis of current trends?

Is it advisable to pursue a career on the basis of current trends? For instance, if information technology is a 'happening' career, then should one go for it?
   Mihika Saha

While planning your career it is important to keep employment trends and scope for advancement in mind. Selecting a 'happening' career, which offers more openings, is ok from the short-term perspective of getting a job. Flowing with the tide is perfect when the 'happening' career also matches your priorities, skills, aptitude, abilities and interests. But, don't take on jobs for which your personality and abilities are not suited because your chances of success would be low. There are no good jobs or bad jobs, nor is there a 'future' in any job. Remember, the future lies in the person who holds the job. So at the end of the day, its better to choose something you like, lest be forced to like what you get.

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Undergraduate Studies in US

Undergraduate Studies in US

In a new trend, more Indian students are going to the US to pursue their undergraduate studies.

 

   In the last couple of years, the Indian higher education sector has been going in for a makeover, trying to work towards an international model. From introducing the grading and semester system to adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Indian colleges and universities are also re-examining their curricula to suit the changing needs of a 21 ^st Century generation. 

   However, despite radical steps and bold decisions, more Indian students are leaving for the US to pursue their undergraduate studies. While the US has always been the first choice for Indian students, it was usually at the Master's or research level. Till yesterday, going to America for one's undergraduate studies was rare. While colleges were tight-fisted about funding, it was a given that you complete your Bachelor's in India and then move on to the US for a niche specialisation. 

   Things have changed. This year, Venkata Shiva Mandala, who is going to the Oberlin College in Ohio for a Bachelor's in biology and computer science, has received a scholarship from the university to the tune of Rs 16 lakh per-year, equivalent to 75% waiver of the fee. 

   Also, students today are more mature and focused. In fact, Mrinalini Sinha, all set to go to New York University (NYU), had decided to go abroad for her college while she was in school. So she did her 'A' levels instead of taking the Indian exams. It is a four-year Bachelor's programme, and Mrinalini is majoring in economics. The course gives her the opportunity to spend two years in London and two years in New York. 

   An early awareness comes from the fact that several schools in metros are going for student exchange programmes and overseas tie-ups. "Hence, students get a taste of overseas academics and start planning way ahead. Also, education loans have made things easier for parents, who want to give the best education to their children," says Vibha Shah, a parent.

> FLEXIBLE APPROACH

According to Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, published annually by IIE (Institute of International Education), in 2009/10, 104,897 students from India were studying in the US, with 14.5% of them going for undergraduate studies. 

   While the numbers can be attributed to a rise in income and high aspirations, there is more to it. As overseas counsellors point out, it is also a question of flexibility and unconventional course combinations. 

   For instance, Medha Dutt, who scored 93% in class XII, is going to Parsons The New School for Design in New York to study design. With a range of interests such as design, music, drama and writing, she wants to build on them. "At Parsons, I can choose my own courses," she says. 

   Another student, Alessandro Saini, is all set to pursue a Bachelor's in music with a major in music performance and a minor in audio production at the Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, California. "The course suits me not just because I am interested in music but because California is known as an entertainment hub. It will provide me with an interesting combination — I can make my own music as well as work in a studio," he says. As to the new trend, Renuka Raja Rao, country co-ordinator, Education USA Advising Services with USIEF, (United States-India Educational Foundation), says, "Indian undergraduate programmes are fraught with a few pitfalls — dependence on a single exam, stiff competition, and stereotype courses, which in comparison, is radically different in the US. Not every 17/18 year-old can decide what he/she wants to study for the rest of his/her life. The US system recognises this and students have to 'declare a major' only in the second year." 

   Finally, as Mallika Seth, ready to join the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a Bachelor's in aerospace engineering, says, "Above all, a holistic and stimulating learning environment is likely to be more challenging." 

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Changes in GRE Exam from 1st August 2011

Changes in GRE Exam from 1st August 2011

The new format of the exam from 1st August 2011

   The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is one of the most important standardised tests that international students applying to American universities need to take. The reasons are simple: GRE scores are used by admissions officers to compare students from a large range of educational backgrounds on a common metric; the scores are also useful for assessing whether students can be given scholarships and various kinds of financial aid. Since the format of the GRE is changing on August 1, 2011, let’s take a closer look at the changes: 
 OVERALL INTERFACE
New GRE computer-based test will no longer prevent students from surveying the entire section of a test. Students are now allowed to examine, mark, review and tag questions. This will allow students to decide the sequence of questions needed to optimise the score. Students can also edit answers as long as they stay within each section of the test. In the mathematical ability testing section, an onscreen calculator will be provided, and students can put in numeric entries on the screen itself. Overall, it will be more user-centric and user-friendly. 
HIGHLIGHTS
New GRE computerbased test will allow students to survey the entire section Greater focus on vocabulary as it is used Verbal and quantitative reasoning sections will be scored on a 130-170 scale, with 1 point increments 

 VERBAL REASONING
In the verbal section, students can highlight sentences in a passage testing reading comprehension. This is helpful to enable closer focus on a key idea in that passage. A very important change is that the emphasis of the new GRE will be on vocabulary as it is used rather than the usage of vocabulary in isolation.
   So students don’t need to stress out on memorising long vocabulary lists: rather than memorising, a better sense of the appropriate usage of a word in context will now be tested — skills that will matter in the real world of work and graduate studies in the US — and other parts of the world.
   The new text completion section will test the ability to assess and make inferences based on what students have read in a passage. Given a reduced emphasis on individual vocabulary, students will need to interpret and evaluate the larger grain of what an author is trying to argue, so focusing on the meaning of the entire sentence rather than individual words will be tested. These are skill-sets that the ETS seeks to test. In particular, this move will ensure the relevance of GRE for those going for studies at the postgraduate level and even for MBA programmes or business studies. 
 SCORING SCALES
This is a significant change in the GRE that merits attention. Unlike the existing 200-800 scale with 10 point increments, both the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections will be scored on a 130-170 scale, with 1 point increments. What does this mean? Basically what this change indicates is a more finegrained differentiation between candidates.

Education USA: advice to student's on code of conduct to follow in foriegn campus.

In the fall of every year, Indian students wing their way in all directions, seeking educational opportunities. The cross-cultural experience can be fraught with landmines. Students who wish to study in foreign countries need to understand and appreciate the differences in culture and academic systems, so that their educational and living experience is pleasant and enjoyable. 

ACADEMIC

PLAGIARISM:

Intellectual honesty is imperative. The case of Kaavya Vishwanathan, the teenage author of How Opal Mehta got kissed, got wild, and got a life comes to mind. With allegations about plagiarism soon after publication of the book, the unfortunate Indian-American at Harvard University became famous for ‘How Kaavya Viswanathan got rich, got caught, and got ruined.’

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

Questions and a curious mind are the hallmarks of an intelligent person, so shed your inhibitions and do not be afraid to ask ‘stupid questions.’

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

Foreign institutions believe in a wellrounded educational experience, and campuses abroad offer opportunities for personal enrichment and enhancement, so students should make the time to explore and benefit from the opportunities outside of the classroom.

FRIENDLY AND INFORMAL FACULTY:

Faculty members and officials at most educational institutions tend to be relatively more informal and relaxed than in India — in fact, several of them ask students to address them by name. Students should not construe this as licence to be familiar with faculty.

LEGAL

STAY IN LEGAL STATUS:

Students are admitted to foreign countries on specified student visas. Students should be careful with their legal status and make sure there is no violation of their status.

WORK ONLY AS PERMITTED BY YOUR VISA STATUS:

Apply for CPT/OPT well in advance. Students should attend orientation programmes for foreign students and familiarise themselves with the procedures for employment.

HIGH ALERT:

Most foreign campuses are safe and are equipped to deal with eventualities. However, whenever students step outside their campuses, they should take all precautions to ensure their safety and well-being.

YOUR RIGHTS:

Students in foreign lands should not feel reticent about lodging complaints in cases of harassment, molestation or discrimination. However, they should be able to differentiate between harmless fun and serious offences. The Indian government has consular offices in most of the countries where students go for higher education. It is worth the effort to register with the foreign mission office and keep the phone numbers of the local Indian consular office handy. This website provides country-wise information: http://india.gov.in/overseas/indian_%20missions.php

SOCIAL ETIQUETTE

INTERACTION WITH PEERS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS:
Students should learn to respect the private space of their peers and classmates — for example, while it is acceptable in India to ask a new acquaintance about exam scores, scholarship amounts, such questions are considered inappropriate abroad. Speaking and laughing loudly or poking fun at other people is incorrect.

EATING, DRESSING, DRINKING, GAMING:

Most Indians eat with their fingers — nothing wrong with that — but they have to adapt and be adept at using cutlery. Making negative comments about the local food and eating habits is inappropriate. Students should try and blend in with the rest of the community, including in appearance. Ethnic clothes and jewellery should be reserved for special occasions. Students should be wary of trying alcohol. Drugs and online-gaming are to be strictly avoided.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Students should stay focused on their mission and should not get derailed by romantic involvements. Remember that young people in many foreign countries don’t marry the first person they get romantically attracted to — even if they are ‘going steady.’

CHECKLIST

• Carry all transcripts and certificates, medical records, electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCOE) /letter of acceptance from university
• Avoid arriving on a weekend as university and student offices are closed and there will be no assistance
• Be mentally prepared to do all your work by yourself
• Carry a traveller’s cheque and avoid carrying too much cash
• Attend your college orientation session and remember there is nothing like a ‘stupid question’

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A NEW ONE-PLANET MBA PROGRAMBY UNIVERSITY OF EXETER BUSINESS SCHOOL, UK

A PLANET-MINDED LEADER

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER BUSINESS SCHOOL, UK, IS REPLACING ITS TRADITIONAL MBA COURSE WITH A NEW ONE-PLANET MBA PROGRAMME IN SEPTEMBER.

 

(Students will learn how environmental impact can be incorporated into financial reporting)

HOLISTIC FOCUS A key strength of the One Planet MBA programme, feels Kirkup, is that sustainability is embedded throughout the programme, and is not a ‘bolt-on.’ In accounting, for example, he explains, the focus initially is on training students to understand financial statements and accounts and how to evaluate the performance of companies in financial terms. “We then extend their knowledge and skills by exploring how environmental impact, social impact and governance can be incorporated into financial reporting.”
   The programme will be offered in partnership with WWF, which will be contributing in terms of teaching a number of modules and bringing technical expertise on environmental management and sustainable solutions into the classroom. Secondly, Kirkup adds, “WWF has extensive contacts with some of the largest multinational companies around the world and will help students to find placements and projects with these companies.”

   Traditional MBA needs to be changed to reflect the realities of the global challenges that businesses now face. Future business leaders need to be more planet-minded and trained in how to develop more sustainable strategies. Hence, in keeping with the times, University of Exeter Business School, UK, is going to offer the One Planet MBA programme instead of its traditional MBA course. Says Malcolm Kirkup, director of the One

Planet MBA, “We have replaced the traditional MBA with the One Planet MBA because we feel that business leaders need to face up to the new global challenges, take a longer term and more responsible view and go beyond shareholder value to focus on shared value.”

   The full-time One Planet MBA starts at the end of September 2011 and is 12 months in duration. The cost of the tuition fees is £19,000 (Rs 1,371,828 approx), but a number of scholarships valued at £5000 are on offer from several major companies. Exeter is currently running a pilot course called the Innovation Cohort, where 40 students are from around 22 countries and the average age is 33.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Applicants need to have a minimum of three years work experience (ideally in a managerial capacity). They need to have a good degree, with a minimum of 60% (first class) and a high proficiency in English (equivalent to IELTS 7.0).
   For Indian students interested in pursuing the course, will they be able to apply the learning in a developing country like India where issues of sustainability concern a range of realistic issues? Yes, absolutely, says Kirkup, adding, “We understand the challenges of introducing sustainable approaches in developing countries where, for many, the first priority is to obtain work and ensure their families are provided for.” However, all businesses in every part of the world must adapt and be more sustainable as soon as possible. “If we deplete the natural resources of the world too quickly then there will be no resources on which to base business. So it is everyone’s responsibility to find more sustainable ways of living and more sustainable ways of doing business,” says Kirkup. For more log on to :  http://www.exeter.ac.uk/

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Education & Career Counseling (Visa issues for U.K., Career After Masters/PhD. in Urdu, Career in cultivating aromatic medicinal plants )

Education & Career Counseling (Visa issues for U.K., Career After Masters/PhD. in Urdu, Career in cultivating aromatic medicinal plants )

Visa issues for U.K.

Please tell me something about the new point-based immigration system introduced in UK. Does it mean that it will become very difficult to immigrate there? I work in a hotel and I am very keen to move to London.

Vikas Rajan