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Rajkumar Roychoudhury
Head, physics and applied mathematics unit, ISI, Calcutta
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Q: I’m studying at a private engineering college. I have taken information technology as my subject. I want to do space research or become an astronomer. I’ve heard for that I’ve got to do an MTech in astrophysics. Could you please tell me how I should go about it? Do I have to take GATE or JEST?
Tishya Karar
A: Several reputed institutions in India offer courses in astronomy and astrophysics at the postgraduate level. JNTU College of Engineering, Hyderabad offers MSc (Tech) in space physics. The admission is through an entrance test conducted by the University. IUCAA, Pune (www.iucaa.ernet.in) offers an MTech course in astrophysics. The admission is through JEST. BITS (Pilani) also offers a masters degree in astrophysics in collaboration with Birla Planetarium, Calcutta.
Q: I am in Class X (CBSE). I have been getting 90 per cent in my exams. If I want to shift to the West Bengal board, would it be very difficult for me? How can I adjust to the new curriculum?
Rajdeep S. Dutta
A: I
don’t think you would have any problem in shifting
to the West Bengal board. If you have Bengali as your second
language, you may have to put some extra effort. However,
as you are getting good marks in your school exams, this
should not bother you.
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Father Joseph Manipadam
Provincial youth delegate, Don Bosco Youth Services,
Calcutta |
Q: I
passed Plus Two (science) in 2004 and am now preparing for
medical entrance exams. I am very poor in mathematics. I
don’t know what I should do if I don’t qualify
for medicine. I don’t want to do graduation because
if I study with my juniors, I will feel embarrassed. Please
suggest a course where my maths marks will not be considered.
Name withheld
A: You
will have to concentrate on maths as you are preparing for
medical entrance exams. You are from a science background
and maths cannot be avoided if you want to pursue a career
in the field of science. So instead of doing away with maths,
try to improve your skills. And if you really cannot deal
with maths, then you will have to change your stream ? in
that case, you can go for humanities or mass communication,
hospitality industry, etc. As far as feeling embarrassed
while doing graduation with juniors is concerned, it’s
only a difficulty which you will easily overcome after a
couple of weeks. In fact, there are several students who
cannot clear such entrance exams and therefore fall back
on graduation in general courses and then try to take the
exams if desired.
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