Q: I am a student of BCom final year (pass). After graduation, I will be joining my father?s business. That?s why I have decided to do an MBA through correspondence. Is this the right decision? Please advise.

Abhishek Bhattacharjee

A: MBA courses offered through distance learning are usually preferred by working professionals to upgrade their qualifications for better growth prospects, particularly those working in the government sector.

You?ll gain in professional knowledge but miss out on classroom interaction, dissection of case studies and the opportunity of networking with your peers, professors and visiting faculty which form an essential core of a regular MBA programme.

Management is essentially a practical, hands-on discipline rather than a mere academic field of study. If possible, try and enrol for a part-time course instead, so that you can continue to work and apply your learning alongside.

In the West, online MBAs (e-MBAs) are gaining popularity amongst working people. These are being offered by some of the top B-schools and have a fair amount of interactivity built in to make them more meaningful. Of late a number of such programmes, including those via satellite, are being offered in India. However, even such courses are meant for working people, not freshers.

Besides, the dropout rate of these courses tends to be pretty high. Rowing two boats at the same time is not always easy. After a hard day at work, it?s tough to sit down to regular study in the evening or night ?month after month. Which is why not many of those who enrol in correspondence or part-time courses end up completing them. You will need to be extremely focussed, disciplined and motivated to submit your assignments and take the exams. Tough certainly, but not impossible.

Let your daughter choose

Q: Our daughter is in Class X. While I am encouraging her to choose science, my husband is asking her to go for arts & humanities. What would you advice?

Anandita Das

A: Discrimination against the girl child starts at home when parents directly or indirectly try to steer girls away from subjects like maths, science and computer applications. At times, this extends to the school. And if you think this is typical of India , let me assure you this even applies to advanced countries like the US of A! As far as your daughter?s choice of subjects is concerned, I would urge you to go by her likes and interests rather than by sweeping generalisations masquerading as meaningful insights into what women can and can?t do. Please encourage her to shine in whatever sphere she chooses. Perpetuating the theory that women are not suited to the sciences is a subtle way of covering up the active discrimination against them.

Women are welcome to join the Indian Navy

Q: I am 17 years old. Can women seek entry into the Indian Navy? If yes, please tell me about the eligibility requirements.

Tenzin Dorma

A: Women are recruited in the Short Service Commission (SSC) for non-combatant posts at the officer-level in several branches of the Indian Navy. Although the duration of SSC is seven years, it is extendable to 10 years. Postings in the navy are great, the housing good, and there are excellent opportunities for postgraduate studies.

But there?s some great news in the offing. The Cabinet Committee on security plans to allow induction of women officers into all branches of the navy. This includes engineering, electrical and all branches of the executive cadre. However, it is not yet clear whether this includes the flying and submarine wings of the navy as well.

Presently though, opportunities for women exist in the following branches:

Executive Branch

• Law Cadre: Eligibility: LLB (55 per cent in the aggregate) qualified for enrolment as an advocate. Age: 22-27 years.

• Logistics Cadre: Eligibility: II Div BA (economics) / BCom/ BSc (physics & mathematics)/ BE/BTech or any bachelor?s degree with degree/diploma in material/financial management. Age: 19? - 25 years.

• ATC (air traffic control):

Eligibility: BSc first division (physics & mathematics). Age: 19? - 25 years.

Educational Branch:

Eligibility: Masters degree in one of the following (55 per cent in the aggregate): Physics (with mathematics in BSc) or mathematics (with physics in BSc ) or chemistry (with physics & mathematics in BSc) or computer applications/ computer science (with either physics or mathematics in BSc) or humanities (English/economics/ history/political science) or engineering degree (mechanical/electrical/ computer science/technical) . Age: 21-25 years.

Watch out for the advertisements published in Employment News and other leading national dailies. There is no entrance test. The selection procedure includes an interview and a comprehensive medical examination.

For further information, log on to the Indian Navy?s official website: www.nausena-bharti.mil.in. In Calcutta you could contact: INS Netaji Subhas, Hastings, Calcutta 700022 and Zonal Recruiting Office, 1 Gokhale Road , Calcutta 700020.