Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: Dear Mr Abidi, I’m in O Levels and studying all sciences and I plan to study medicine in the future. I want your expert opinion on whether I should go for FSc (Pre-Med) or A levels so that I can get admission in a better medical institution?

(Nawazish Ali Chattha, Daska)

Ans: Dear Nawazish, if you plan to study Medicine, you should switch to FSc pre-medical. As you may be aware of the fact that Medical University entrance exams and the IBCC equivalence are more inclined towards the FSc marks/ grades and FSc students usually get better marks compared to A Level ones in medical university entrance tests. So, it would be a good move.

Q2: Dear sir, I am doing BSc Chemistry and I wish to pursue a master’s in Organic Chemistry from the UK. Do you think I have chosen the right master’s degree and can you please suggest some good university options in the UK?

(Noman Ali Khan, Sargodha)

Ans: Dear Noman, Master’s in Organic Chemistry in the UK is an excellent choice, especially if you have a strong interest in synthesis, medicinal chemistry, catalysis, or materials science. The UK has some of the world’s best universities for chemistry, with strong research programmes and industry connections such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, among others. You would, however, require a really high CGPA and a strong Statement of Purpose to secure admission in any of these top universities.

Q3: Dear sir, I am a practicing lawyer from Lahore and I work in corporate law and I really enjoy my work. Therefore, I am thinking of doing specialisation in corporate finance. Do you think I should go for a master’s or should I consider any certifications instead?

(Shehryar Nafees, Lahore)

Ans: Dear Shehryar, it is always lovely to hear someone say that they love their work. Since you enjoy corporate law so much, you have two strong pathways: Option 1: Pursue a Master’s Degree (LLM / MSc / MBA) if you want to further your theoretical knowledge in corporate finance. Option 2: professional certifications, if you want practical and job-ready skills without taking a break from work. Some options for these could be Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Financial Risk Management etc.

Q4: Dear Mr Abidi, I am doing BSc Telecom Engineering but I am confused. Should I do master’s after this or should I apply for any job? Please advise me.

(Wali Abbasi- Gujar Khan)

Ans: Dear Wali, it’s completely normal to think like that. Most students feel this way while they are studying a particular subject.

I think the best option for you right now is to focus on your studies and as you finish this, spend a few years in the industry and get some working experience before looking at further studies.

(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).