Career counselling: Questions and answers

Q1). Sir, my daughter wants to do MBBS. She is appearing in FSc exam (Pre-Medical Part-II) this year. She got 80 percent marks in Part I. Please advise how can she apply for medical college test and admission. She also has some disability issue, would it make any difference? I am waiting your kind advice. (Raja Tahir – AJK)

Ans: There is complete guidance available on entry test for medical universities known as MCAT. I am sure your daughter can easily find the information online. This is available on various web pages. She can also find past papers on MCAT to practice her test. As for her disability is concerned you will have to check from universities and I am sure they will guide you on the rules and regulations of giving exemptions or relaxation to disabled students in terms of their marks. I wish all the best for your daughter.

Q2).  I have done my BS in Accounting and Finance but now I want to do MS in Peace and Conflict Studies. Please give me whether I should go for it or not. (Nazrana Bashir – Islamabad)

Ans: Accounting and Finance is a recognized and important subject area with huge growth. I am not sure why you would like to change your specialism? However, Peace and Conflict Studies is also another emerging subject area. I hope that you clearly understand the difference between both. Please make your decision after a proper thought process.

Q3). I have completed my MPA from Virtual University of Pakistan. Please suggest which subject to choose from the following for specialization:-1. HRM 2. Management 3. Banking 4.Finance 5.Marketing. (Mubashir Farrukh – Vehari)

Ans: If you are good at numeracy your best option would be Banking and Finance. However, if your marketing, negotiating and convincing skills are more strong you should choose Marketing or HRM. I wish you all the best in the future career.

Q4). I am completing my mechanical engineering degree from COMSAT. Following which I want to take up management degree for my postgraduate. What would you suggest? (Ilyas Tahir – Lahore)

Ans: If you are maintaining a good GPA, I will suggest you work in the industry for few years and then decide whether to peruse a degree in management area or perhaps a further MS in your own engineering subject or related area.

(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).