When should I start the procedure for applying in foreign Universities ?



Ideally, you should start inquiring about the right university for your subject choice at least 10 to 12 months before the commencement of the session. Since you are planning to go to a distant land, you should not hurry zeroing in on a particular university. Ascertaining the credentials of a university from expatriate contacts, representatives of different countries and other sources will be the first step, which will take some time. During this period, you should also strengthen your case by appearing for different tests required by foreign universities, like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc. Your next step will be to procure application forms from that university, fill it properly (and get all the documents mentioned on the form), send it to the university and wait for the response. Once the international students’ office of that university is satisfied about your credentials, it will send you the admission notice. Once you get it, apply for a student’s visa to the concerned embassy, again a time-consuming process.



 



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What is the difference between MBA, PGDM and PGDBM, and which one is really worthwhile?


 



I am a IIIrd year student of Pune University. I want to pursue management. But I get confused between MBA, PGDM and PGDBM. 



There’s not much of a difference. MBA is a two-year masters programme in management. PGDBM is postgraduate diploma in business management. PGDM is postgraduate diploma in management. Like MBA, these are two-year programmes. All the three are at par and the nomenclature is cosmetic. What makes the difference is the institute from where you are pursuing management  studies. You should join only a reputed institute, as these courses are quite expensive, and your job prospects will depend to some extent on the institute tag. We suggest that you join a reputed management programme, like those offered by IIM, XLRI, FMS, TISS, etc.



 



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The road to glamour


 



I have just completed class XI. I want that after XII I should join a course in hospitality. I get very attracted by the glamour of the hotels, but my parents tell me I am not suited for that profession. They say an introvert like me cannot make a success in this field. Please tell me, what are the necessary qualities. Are these qualities tested for admission to training institutes too?



 



Qualities that make one successful in this profession are pleasant personality, outgoing temperament and adaptability. Being an introvert does not mean you cannot be successful in this field. There are certain departments like the front office, which require good interpersonal skills. But you can join any function, such as food and beverage, personnel, etc. One quality that is very essential is grooming. Leading hotels have a manual stipulating dress code and hairstyle – down to the types of ear-rings and bangles that are permitted. One thing you should bear in mind is that behind glamour is hard work and rigorous discipline. You should also be prepared to work at any hour of the day.



It’s good you want to get an early training, right after XII. There is a joint entrance test for the 19 chapters of National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology, New Delhi. The test is designed to measure your general mental ability, analytical ability, numerical aptitude and English language ability. The interview will test how social and pleasant you are.



 



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MCA after Graduation



I am doing my graduation from Punjab University. I want to do MCA after graduation. What is the eligibility for this course and what are the job prospects?



Master in Computer Applications is a postgraduate programme in computers. Some universities / colleges call it postgraduate diploma in computer application or postgraduate diploma in information technology. To enter this programme, you should be a graduate in any discipline and should have studied maths, at least, till senior secondary.



Some of the top universities offering this course are Delhi University, JNU, Pune University, Roorkee University and BHU, Apart from these, there are 165 government-recognised institutes throughout the country offering this course. The entrance exams are usually held between February and June. The focus in these exams is on higher maths, logical reasoning and statistics. A whole gamut of opportunities exist for you after MC, from being a systems manager and web designer to becoming a software architect for big companies like Infosys and Microsoft.



 



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Higher dreams



What do I do in this dog-eat-dog world where there is no future sans a high-profile education?



You are right when you say that you need an education. You can complete your education as you work through a distance education programme. The Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) offers many courses in different disciplines at the graduate and post-graduate levels. Many universities across the country, including Delhi University, offer correspondence courses in variety of subjects.



All you need to do is get a form, fill it up and work towards your graduation and post-graduation in the subject of your choice and at your own pace. There is no need to feel low. You have the essential ingredient of motivation and desire to acquire a higher education. With your capacity to work hard and diligently, you will achieve your goals.



The past, however bad it may have been, cannot be set right. So treat it as a bad dream that is best forgotten. Concentrate on what you want to do. Set clear goals clear and start working towards them now. I am sure no one can stop you from 



 



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I am from village background & feeling slower than friends. Help me change my circumstances, please.


Hailing from a middle class family or not having been exposed to certain experiences has never come in a way of anyone’s thinking or behaviour. If you are confident that you have an opinion on a certain matter, go ahead and express your opinion. By not expressing yourself you may tend to become more withdrawn. If you feel that you have read about a topic as much as your friends have, do not restrain yourself from speaking about it.



You need to think well of yourself if you want others to think well of you too. Similarly, if you want others to appreciate your views, do ensure that they are worthy and the result of sound reading.



To be able to do this, make it a habit to understand the subject matter, think about it and then arrive at your point of view. Express your opinion without fear, as you will be able to defend it even if someone contradicts you. Practise this art in the privacy of your home. Adopt this strategy and you will soon be on your way to speaking your mind with others.



 



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Life beyond CAT



I have lost all faith in myself and I don’t know what to do. Can you help?



It must of course be disappointing to you that you could not get through the CAT exam. But this is not the end of the world. There are many more avenues for which you can train yourself. All that needs to be done is to ascertain first where possibly you could have gone wrong in attempting the CAT. Is it knowledge, speed or content that has prevented you from getting admission? Think back objectively and see if you would like to take one more chance after getting over the shortcomings that you have.



Get some good coaching from a well established centre. Keep your options open. If CAT is going to be difficult, then think of other courses that you can possibly take.



 



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Different strokes



When they playfully tease me for being dark, I get hurt. Please find some solution for me.



A girl so talented like you should not really be worried about your complexion. After all, you do know whether brown or black or white or whitish, every person is a human and there is no need for a person with a darker complexion to feel inferior to the fairer ones. If you accept your complexion as part of yourself and keep it glowing and fine, you will find that being dark is not bad at all. You are in college to study and to enjoy and you can do both if only you do not think that dark complexion is inferior. Remember, only when you allow yourself to be teased will you be teased. The person who teases you would stop doing so if she finds that it has no effect on you. You also know that there are dark complexioned people who have made a name for themselves (Williams sisters, the tennis wizards) and show how proud they are of their achievements. Dark complexion does not really bother them. Try to be confident about yourself, carry yourself with dignity, with your head high on your shoulders.



 



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I am behaving like boys. Is there something wrong with me?



Your problem is what we call identity problem, especially related to the gender factor. For some reason you are unable to accept the fact that you are a girl. You do not seem to feel nice about being a girl and thus you have been dressing up like a boy. Normally, upto a certain age boys and girls are almost indistinguishable in terms of their clothing and attires, but after the bodily changes that occur during puberty and adolescence, girls generally start wearing feminine clothes. This is also the time when boys and girls are attracted towards each other physically and the boys are interested in you as a girl than as one of them.



Both boys and girls have their own wonderful qualities and none is less than the other. Whether it is studies or occupation or any other area of life, both do equally well and none is inferior to the other. However, there are certain things in life that the masculinity of the boys may be able to accomplish better, while there are certain other things in life which the femininity of girls will be able to successfully manage. Many a time, you do not like being a girl because you feel you are not valued by parents, teachers or society which all show preference to the boys. That happens because of certain cultural norms and traditions. Trying to be something that one is not, will only create more and more conflict, anxiety and unhappiness. It is important to feel happy and proud of what one is, not because one is a male or female, but because of what one has been able to accomplish in the best possible manner. Think of yourself as a student, daughter and friend and how well you have been able to play effectively all these roles and how proud you have made your parents.



You need not rush into changing your style of clothing, etc., but what you need to do is to occasionally, that is, once a fortnight or a month, or on some festival days, dress up like a girl and see as well as experience how nice it feels. As you start wearing feminine clothes, you will get used to it in course of time and also you may not only start accepting these dresses but also enjoy being a girl.



 



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Shame

My classmates teasing me that I am in love with a boy. What should I do?



Just forget the incident for the time being and don’t give too much importance to your friends. The more you react and show how annoyed you are, the more your classmates will trouble you. So ignore them and behave as if their teasing does not affect you at all. There is no need for you to feel guilty. Interact with your friends with your head held high. Your confidence will silence the gossip mongers.



 



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Ten down

I wish to take sciences but I have got less marks. What to do now?



I do not think that you should be so worried. Other than those 10 marks, you seem to have done as well as you regularly do through out the year. Keep calm and wait for the results to be announced. Until the marks are announced, stay calm. Just in case you aren’t allotted the science stream, speak to your principal and class teacher to let them know of your keen interest in science and lack of inclination for the other streams. I am sure things will work out for you. Positive thinking is most important for you.



 



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Make no bones

How do we tackle the mess at home?



 



It would please your grandmother if you her as much affection and support as you can. She shouldn’t be left to feel neglected or even rejected. Try and help your mother too. This should not be a problem, as one does not study every minute of the day. So use your break time to help your mother with the household chores. Spend time with your grandmother and make her comfortable during her confinement. This will make you and your brother feel good and bring about an atmosphere of peace at home.



 



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Do you think I can trust a boy again?


I can understand your concern. At the present moment, I would suggest that you go slow as you have not met this person but only talked to him over the phone. You are still young and studying; involvement in such relationships may lead once again to another negative experience, which may affect your studies adversely. There is no harm in continuing correspondence with this person without committing yourself to anything until you meet him and also make your parents meet him. The question is not whether you can trust, but whether you can make a proper judgment about his personality and him as a person, because (1) you have not met him and (2) you are still not ready enough to make such judgments.



 



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Against the tide

How can a student risk being a non-conformist in school and still retain high levels of confidence to do well in life?



Non-conformist does not mean non-performer. A student can be a non-conformist but be a very good student, scoring excellent marks or even average to above average marks. A non-conformist is one who does not agree or conform to all the rules and regulations of the school and when questioned is able to convincingly explain his stand. This is possible only for a person who has the self-confidence to put across his points of view very clearly even though they may not conform to the views of the school. I hope you now understand what was written in that report.



 



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How do I win friends?


 Yes, you do need friends with whom you could share your joys and excitement. For someone as talented and intelligent as you, making friends will not be a difficult task. Jealousy could be one of the reasons why your friends do not share information and books with you. You may have to do some introspection. Ask yourself whether there is something about you that puts them off. Do you have a haughty posture? Do you keep to yourself? Do you help others In studies when they ask you a clarification? Do you give the impression that scoring marks is all that matters to you?  Try and find the answers to these questions. Expect nothing from friends and be willing to give them everything. You will soon discover true friendship.



 



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