Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: Dear Mr Abidi, I am seeking guidance on how to get admission to a reputable university in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, or any other country whose degree is globally recognised. I aspire to pursue a career in MBBS. Currently, I am in FSc Part-2 and will complete my FSc in September. I scored 449/505 (89%) in Part-1 and 1003/1100 (91%) in Matric. I plan to take the MCAT, but I also want to have an alternative. I have participated in several Model United Nations and the Pakistan Young Physicists Tournament in 2017, where I secured the 3rd position. Additionally, could you inform me about any available scholarships? (Javeria Rashid, Karachi)

Ans: Dear Javeria, please note that pursuing a degree in Medicine overseas, especially in Western countries, can be very expensive. When considering MBBS programmes in Turkey, China, or Cyprus, be cautious as these may not be fully recognised by the PMC, potentially requiring additional exams or accreditation in Pakistan. For MBBS programmes in the UK, Canada, NZ, or Australia, additional pre-medical or foundation programmes might be necessary if you have not completed A-Levels. Scholarships for medical courses are either very limited or nonexistent, so plan your studies abroad carefully.

Q2: Dear sir, I seek your expert opinion regarding my eldest daughter, who is currently in class 7 at an O-Level school and wishes to pursue a career in Medicine. Her tutor suggested switching her to the Matric system to avoid wasting a year and the 20-mark deduction if she takes the medical exam after O-Levels. This switch would also alleviate the burden of additional coursework. I look forward to your guidance. (Hassan Mahmood, Islamabad)

Ans: Dear Hassan, I believe you are right. It is generally recommended that students complete their FSc rather than A-Levels if they wish to pursue a Medical degree in Pakistan. This not only saves a year but also ensures better equivalence from IBCC. FSc students are also likely to score better in competitive exams like the MCAT due to the curriculum they follow during their intermediate or higher secondary years.

Q3: Respected sir, could you please explain the scope of a PhD in Psychology and the research opportunities on the mental health of war-affected children in Europe? (Faisal Azeem, Peshawar)

Ans: Dear Mr Faisal, Psychology is a broad field, and there are very few highly qualified psychologists in Pakistan. The increasing social issues, such as terrorism, violence against women, and crime, require extensive research, with psychologists playing a key role in addressing these problems. The mental health of war-affected families and children, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, is another critical area for research. A PhD in Psychology offers substantial prospects for both research and teaching in these areas.

Q4: Dear Mr Abidi, I have completed my Matric with Science (797/1050 marks) and then pursued ICS (Math, Computer, and Stats) where I scored 804/1100 (with 162/200 in Math). I enrolled in a BS Mathematics programme but received an A grade in only three subjects and failed the other three in my first semester. I am now feeling depressed about my results and am unsure whether to change my field or continue into the second semester and retake the failed subjects. Please provide guidance or advice so I can continue my studies successfully. (Amna Haq, Gujrat)

Ans: Dear Amna, there's no need to feel depressed. You've performed well in your Matric and Intermediate. Sometimes, poor results occur due to various reasons. Focus on improving your study patterns and schedule, and practice Math regularly. Identify the reasons behind your failures and work on those deficiencies. Continue into the second semester, and reappear for the subjects you failed, with a better study plan. I'm confident you will improve your grades this time.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).