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A It is not unusual for those matriculating in the vernacular medium to feel uneasy with the English language. But I have seen time and again that by sheer dint of hard work, many of them have often excelled their English medium counterparts in English tests. So, if you are willing to work hard, you should be able to do well in the GMAT English sections, which are two: analytical writing assessment which does not count towards your main score and verbal which does. In addition to your English, both the sections test your analytical skills, which your mathematical background gives you in large measure. For building up your English for the test, in addition to going through the usual paraphernalia of guidebooks, coaching institutes, and/or the test-specific websites, read English voraciously, focusing on, among others, technical, business and international sections of newspapers, as well as any another areas you have been reluctant to read about earlier. That will better prepare you to read often unfamiliar and dense passages in the English sections. At the same time, it will familiarise you with the nuances of the idiomatic usage of English words. If you need additional grammar help, read some practical English grammar books, preferably from Oxford University Press or Cambridge University Press. For writing practice, download the pool of issue essays from www.mba.com and work on them. For the best advice on how to write essays, get any of the three books in the Style series by Joseph M. Williams. The one with the exact title Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, though priciest, has practice exercises along with the correct answers, which you may find useful.
Experience it Q Is work experience really necessary for doing an MBA? How much and of what kind? I am in final year of B.Com and planning to take CAT in November. — Harish Sajwan A While work experience is not mandatory before you go for an MBA in many business schools in india, it is increasingly turrning into an advantage during the selection process. Although a good academic record was considered sufficient to be admitted to a reputed institute until a few years ago, today, one finds an increasing number of institutes jumping on to the work experience bandwagon. Prospective students, with a solid work record, are preferred over fresh graduates. People with work experience tend to have more practical knowledge, and thus, absorb the new information in a better and quicker manner than their academic scholar counterparts. For example, those without experience have been often found to be less receptive to management and people-related subjects such as organisational behaviour than their experienced counterparts Also, companies prefer people with work experience in their functional areas because they have a lot more to offer and build a better gene pool in the organisation. But too much experience can also go against you — particularly if it’s in an industry other than that of the recruiting company. Some companies at times, prefer freshers for their energy, enthusiasm and trainability. Also, having put in a stint at work will help you face the interview panel with a convincing answer to "Why an MBA?" While participating in case studies, you can relate better to managerial and professional problems if you have come across similar situations in real life. Work experience also bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. It gives you clarity of goals and a sharper overview and perspective of what’s happening in the marketplace. All told, it will also help you extract greater value from your course. Take the CAT by all means this year, but don’t compromise on the B-school you join. If you think you can do much better next time, treat it as a trial experience and give it another shot next year. Class apart Q I am a schoolteacher. I am thinking of taking a teaching assignment in the US. What are the possible pitfalls of the American education I should be aware of to minimize cultural shock there? — Harmeet Chaddha A America being a wealthy nation, it places much greater emphasis on making learning interesting for children. Accordingly, you are likely to find many more teaching aids than you do in India. So, that will be a rich and rewarding experience. But having said that, teaching in the US is often a challenge. Teachers complain that barely two or three children in a class are properly behaved, unlike India, where a teacher has to cope with perhaps just one or two unruly students. As a result there is much greater focus on classroom management than teaching a subject. Teenage pregnancies are not uncommon. Nether are drugs and violence. Many schools let in students only after they have passed the metal-detector. Teachers are often called by name and not addressed as Sir or Ma’am. Indian names are difficult to pronounce for the US students. So many teachers are assigned American aliases. But if you go prepared for all that, let me assure you that you will come back richer in experience. And dollars. With the added satisfaction of having given more than you have received, which is every good teacher’s special bonus. Doctoring abroad
— Radhika Chopra A No, the Medical Council of India (MCI), the main recognising authority in India for medical education programmes, does not recognise such programmes. Having heard of these advertisements, it has come out with a public notice cautioning prospective applicants. You can see the notice on the website www.mciindia.org/tools/prelease/notice.htm. If you want to get a foreign medical degree and practice in India, you need to clear two hurdles. First, get an eligibility certificate from the MCI. That will also ensure that you are not going for a fake medical programme, because MCI wouldn’t give a certificate for such programmes. Second, after you get the degree, you must clear MCI screening test. Only then are you eligible to practice anywhere in India. You can get all the relevant information on the rules and regulations section of the MCI website www.mciindia.org. The writer is a noted career consultant Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
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Q
I am planning to write the GMAT. Since I am an engineer by training,
my maths is fine, but as I studied in Hindi medium up to
matriculation, I am not very comfortable with the English portion of
the test. Kindly advise me.
Q
I am studying science with biology in Class XII. I see several
advertisements about admissions to foreign medical colleges, where
part of the education is done in India. Is a degree from such
medical programmes recognised in India?
