Career counselling: Questions and answers

Q.1 Sir, I have cleared MCAT exam and my current aggregate is 90.18. Now I want to apply for Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC). What do you suggest, should I join this college or other option is Rawalpindi Medical College because it is quite near my home? Being a girl what should I choose? (Saba Khawar, Rawalpindi)

Ans: Studying medicine is just not like all other subjects or degrees. It requires focus, attention, care and full attendance.

This means that the nearer you are to your home the better you get all these facilities and therefore my recommendation to you would be to choose the university/college which is close to your home. This is especially right when you are a female.

Q. 2 My daughter has done BS in biochemistry from Jinnah University and she wants to do MBA. Please suggest the specialization. I have suggested my daughter to do master's in her own field. Please guide us what should we opt for MBA or master's in biochemistry? (Faheem Ali, Karachi)

Ans: I am totally against your daughter doing an MBA at this stage. I am sure she has no work experience? My suggestion to her is: The first thing she should do is to find a job or internship paid or unpaid preferably in a pharmaceutical lab or in a hospital lab etc and work for at least one year. After that she should look for an MSc in biochemistry that too by research and her key subject areas should be bionanotechnology, biophysics, structural biology etc. I am sure she will understand what I am trying to say, this will wider career opportunities for her.

Q. 3 I have done FSc pre-medical with 83%, now I am interested in applying for BS in International Relations. Can you please let me know what is the scope of International Relations in Pakistan? (Anzil, Lahore)

Ans: My recommendations to you would be to go for a degree in your own area. I mean related to biology. These could be cellular biology, microbiology or biochemistry. However, if you wish to change your stream and your entire field of study then you should not look only for International Relations but combine this with journalism that will help you to enhance your career opportunities in media and international relations portfolio.

The other advantage of this degree would be that you will have an edge over other applicants when attempting in the CSS competency examination. I hope you understand my advice.

Q. 4 Sir, I have done diploma in electronics and I am doing job in an oil & gas company. Now my interest is to do Mass Communication, please let me know what should I do? (Abu Bakar, Islamabad)

Ans: Firstly I will not advise you to change your field as there are wider opportunities in your own area of oil & gas exploration. The brand new area that you can divert too and would still remain within your specialism would be Geo Informatics which is basically IT to do with geology.

There are huge opportunities in your specialism as compared to mass communication and since you are a science and technology student you will find it very difficult to get good marks or make a career within this field.

(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 the recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).