My Science School

 

How to pursue career in film direction?

Film direction is not an easy job. Even if you do get selected to the Film Institute in Pune and do well there, your struggle would have, in fact, just begun. For the initial years of your career you would be making ends meet by doing ad films. Even a few years down the line, you probably would still not have worked under a famous banner. Small time work and big time uncertainty may be your way of life for several of your initial years.

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) IN Pune runs a three-year diploma course in film direction. Admission forms have to be submitted in the month of March. The address is:

Film and Television Institute of India, Law College Road, Pune- 411004.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I am not presentable in my looks. How can I go in electronic Media?

Looks do matter on TV, to a certain extent these days. You don’t have to be a beauty queen, but how you present yourself in front of the camera spells your success. Maybe, you are photogenic and work wonders in front of the camera. The best way to start is to give an audition tst for a TV channel. If you clear the audition, you will be called for voiceovers for TV programmes of that particular channel. In these voiceovers, you don’t appear onscreen, but record for a given news item or a documentary. Having stepped into an organization, you can prove your mettle and show an inclination for the area of your interest.

 

Each assignment, however small, is your chance to prove yourself as a conscientious worker and quick learner. Don’t miss any opportunity, even if it is in the form of a tiny news coverage. Face the camera with confidence. There are also openings in the research department and at the desk, where you can excel and gradually take on news reading assignments.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

 

I am in standard XII, studying commerce and maths. I have a keen interest in marine engineering. I would like to know whether I could join this branch straight after the 10+2 level? Please mention some reputed institutes in the fields of marine engineering.

You should have opted for the science stream after class X to study marine engineering. Marine engineering is about building and designing technically sound ships. Training for marine engineering is imparted at the Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI), which has its head office in Kolkata and branch in Mumbai. MERI offers a four-year course in marine engineering for which the eligibility is a 10+2 with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Admission on the basis of performance in the all India Joint Institute of Technology (IIT-JEE). Mechanical engineering graduates can do a six-month course from MERI- Mumbai, provided their degree is recognised by the AICTE. If you are still keen to go to sea, use your commerce background and join the shipping industry where you can join job duties like port administration and cargo handling. Narottam Morarji Institute of Shipping, Nariman Point, Mumbai, runs post-graduate diploma courses in shipping management and in associateship. The two different courses tackle the various commercial and management aspects of shipping.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

How should I tell my parents that he is the one I wish to share my life with?

You have rightly said that there is a lot of time before you can decide on settling down and spending a lifetime with this young man. There is no urgency now to broach this subject. Two years is a sufficient time.

Use that time constructively. Concentrate on your work and job and at the end of two years, think the matter over and come to a decision. Right now there is nothing much to do except concentrate on your studies and get a good job and become independent.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I have been wondering about the kind of trauma and problems being faced by a large number of people, especially the youngsters. Could you enlighten me?

It is indeed nice of you to show such care and concern for the quake victims, especially youngsters like you. It is traumatic for children and adults alike. It is agonising because over the years people have toiled and saved money to build up their homes and businesses as well as bring up their children. Young children, teenagers and youth who have been planning to study further or appear for certain examinations, etc., suddenly find that all their efforts and toils have been destroyed in  few seconds. They are shocked, frustrated, angry and totally devastated by these sudden happenings. They don’t believe that this has happened to them. There is total dismay and helplessness at this natural calamity where humans could do nothing.

Initial shock over, most people try to get over their grief at the loss of their near ones and try to look after those who are alive for which they gratefully thank the Almighty. Many suffer from what is called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The essence of this is a delayed distress response to a very atypical and significantly traumatic event. They may show both anxiety and depression. Some need very specific psychological help as they have lost not only all their belongings but their nears and dears and thus feel totally lost, helpless and highly distressed.

However most people try to come out of their grief and work towards normalising themselves as they were before the tragic event occurred. What is perhaps most important is to draw oneself out of the tragedy, start organising one’s daily activities and learn to think and behave positively.

 

Picture Credit : Google

For every Harvard, there will be 10 universities with doubtful credentials. Students desperate for a foreign tag bare easy preys for them. Before investing your family fortune in a foreign education, ascertain the merit of that university in terms of faculty, facilities and its standing. Although ascertaining this is difficult, this is one exercise that you will have to undertake.

Contact the representative organisations like USEFI (for USA), IDP Australia or DAAD (for Germany) to inquire about the institution that you want to join. In fact, most of the reputed universities and institutes of higher learning are represented by representative organisations.

 

I have just appeared for my class X exams. I want to take up commerce when the school allots subjects to us. But I want to take economics instead of maths. Is it the right thing to do?

 

Most students opting for commerce study both maths and economics because career prospects get better with this combination. If you want to pursue a career in the software sector, we suggest you take up maths with commerce, as maths is a prerequisite for appearing for entrance tests like BIT, BCA (both after XII) or MCA (after graduation) of a reputed colleges. The entrance exams to these courses have questions of the level of higher secondary maths. If you are not keen to do maths, you can join a professional course at NIIT or Aptech. But comparatively, the job prospects then may not be as bright. However, if you are bent upon pursuing economics, you should do an MBA degree.

Career opportunities in software are immense as some of the best placements are possible in the software industry. Among the top recruiters are Microsoft, Infosys, Tata Consultancy, etc.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I am a commerce student, now in class XII. I want to make a career in the insurance sector. Where can I get insurance education?

 

The process of deregularisation has benefited the insurance sector immensely and a number of multinational companies have started operations in India. As a result, job opportunities in the insurance have also increased. There is scope to join the insurance stream right after class XII – you can do licentiate after school. But there are some courses which will require graduation.

The Insurance Institute of India is the premier institute in the field of insurance education. It has an expensive network of associated and affiliated institutes throughout India and abroad.

• Insurance Institute of India

      E-mail: insfeder@bom5.vsnl.net.in

      Course offered: Licentiate, associateship, fellowship.

      Eligibility: 10+2 (for licentiate), licentiate (for associateship), associateship (for fellowship)

• College of Vocational Studies

      Course offered: BA. 

      Eligibility: 10+2

• Kurukshetra University

      E-mail: kuk@doe.ernet.in

      Course offered: BA in actuarial science and insurance

      Elgibility: 10+2 

• Actuarial Society of India

      Course offered: Actuarial science.

      Eligibility: 10+2 (with maths)

Besides courses at the undergraduate level, there are institutes offering courses at PG level too, like Annamalai University, Birla Institute of Management Technology, New Delhi, National Insurance Academy, Pune, and Amity School of Insurance and Actuarial Sciences, Noida.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I am a final year student of physics. After graduation, I want to do MBA from an IIM. But I find it as my English and GK are not good. Please tell me what can I do.

For admission to IIM, you will have to appear for CAT. But that will test your reading comprehension and verbal ability. Your proficiency in grammar, word usage and verbal logic will also be put to test. English will also be useful in the interview and group discussion.

To improve your English, read at least one newspaper daily. You should concentrate on five sections- the front page, business pages, world news, editorial page and the op-ed page. Make notes about each article you read, noting down new words, usage of words and phrases. Newspaper reading will not only increase your speed, it will also improve your general awareness.

Apart from that, read good books to improve your vocabulary. One such book is Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. Also go through current affairs magazines do not hesitate to speak in English. Don’t expect that your English will improve overnight. Only sustained efforts will help.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

My parents have been divorced for 10 years now but they see each other often. I have been living with my mother ever since. However, my father has now decided to remarry. Now while I know that he is well within his rights to do so, I feel its a sort of cheating.

I agree that there had been a lot of acrimony between my parents earlier on but now I feel they have been able to evolve a nice arrangement in which both meet each other without any bitterness over previous quarrels.

However, if my father marries again, it will disturb this arrangement and then there will be no scope for any relationship between the two. How can I help retain the status quo? I feel very disturbed about the new development.

I can understand your predicament. However for 10 years they have lived separately and you have lived with your mother. You had no problems. Perhaps you feel concerned that your father remarrying you may not be able to meet him as often as you do now. Perhaps you don’t want your father to remarry at all. From your letter I cannot understand the real issue. If you don’t want your father to marry again, you could talk to him and find out the reasons for this action. Then you could express your own feelings and apprehensions about the issue. I am sure he will be able to arrive at a solution. Maybe you can talk to your mother, who may be knowing more about this matter and then come to a decision.

Once you know the facts and the implications, I am sure you will feel at ease because then it will be easier to accept reality with understanding.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I want a science student from Ujjain. I want to specialise in dairy technology from New Zealand because I have heard that their courses are reputed. I have plans of setting up a unit close to Ujjain. Can you please give me the details about the course?

It’s good to know about your entrepreneurial zeal. New Zealand is a country where the population of cattle far exceeds the population of human beings. No wonder, dairy technology is a thriving business there. As a natural corollary, the dairy technology courses in this country are also amongst the most reputed and well-developed. Here is a list of universities:

• Lincoln University,

      Email: macraed@lincoln.ac.nz

      www.lincoln.ac.nz

     Offers a four-year degree programme.

• Massey University 

      Palmerston North,

      International Students’Office

      Email: B.C. Graham@massey.ac.nz

      www.massey.ac.nz

      Offers a one-year graduate diploma;

      and one-year PG diploma

• Waikato Polytechnic, Hamilton

      Email: international@twp.ac.nz

      Offers a short-term course.

 

Picture Credit : Google

The fear of failure is making you edgy. There is no reason why a good student like you will not do well at the class 12 exams. As you have rightly realised, there is still plenty of time before you come face to face with the reality of the exam. It’s time that you told yourself that negative thoughts do hamper performance.

Worrying about the exams and wondering whether or not you will do well is the cause for anxiety and headaches. Since you are hassled you will only think about failures. As a result, you will be distracted and find it difficult to focus on your studies. You will find it difficult to remember all that you read. This in turn will cause more anxiety and panic. This sets off the chain reaction and you begin to forget and feel miserable, all over again. The only way to overcome these headaches is to learn to relax. Try the following things:

• Relax all the muscles of your body, loosen them up and sit in the most comfortable relaxed position possible in a chair or a reclining one. You may even lie down in bed. During this period don’t think of anything. Empty your mind of any thoughts.


• Take a deep breath. Inhale slowly until you feel a beautiful pleasant feeling inside your head. This happens when the oxygen goes to the brain. Now slowly exhale while continuing to relax.


• Repeat this slowly and in the most comfortable way for around five to six times. Do keep your eyes closed during this exercise.


• Gradually, open your eyes and get back to your sitting posture. You will feel like a new person. Your head will feel light and wonderful. The negative thoughts would have vanished by this time.


• Now pursue your work at a pace that suits you. You can then take a five-minute break. If you feel tense again, return to the exercise. Otherwise, resume work right after the break.


• Organise your course and lessons in such a manner that you complete the easy sections before moving onto the difficult areas.


• Whenever you have a doubt, mark the lesson and keep it aside to seek clarifications from your teacher.


• During all this, don’t think about next year’s exam. Focus on your work. Do not worry about the results.

         Adopt this strategy with a bit of discipline and very soon you will see your tension and anxiety disappear.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

I am introvert, How can I go in Hospitality industry?

 

To be successful in this profession you need to have a pleasing personality, outgoing temperament and be adaptable. Being an introvert does not mean that you cannot be successful in this field. There are certain departments like front office, which require goo interpersonal skills. But you can join any function, such as food and beverage, housekeeping and so on. One quality that is very essential is grooming. Leading hotels even have a manual stipulating dress code and hairstyle- down to the type of earrings and bangles that are permitted.

 The test is designed to measure your general mental ability, analytical ability, numerical aptitude and English language ability.

The interview will test how well you can communicate and how pleasant you are in various circumstances.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

 

Indian students accustomed to mugging up textbooks and reproducing them in exams will have to gear up for new way of learning. Foreign universities expect students to be analytical in their approach. Instead of just applying formulas and information, they are expected to produce reasoning and theories of their own. Critical thinking and questioning is appreciated, unlike in India, where exact reproduction of classroom lectures fetches you marks.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Representatives of foreign universities have one lament about Indian students: the moment they get out of the flight they announce, ‘I want a job.’ But the purpose of your going abroad is to study, not to earn. Keep it in mind that you cannot cover the cost of your studies by taking up work. That will only partially cover your extra expenses

 

Picture Credit : Google