Career Hotline
More of maths
Pervin Malhotra

Q I have done B.Com and wish to do MCA. Can you please tell me about the eligibility criteria, particularly the level of mathematics required?

A The eligibility for admission to MCA courses (as mandated by AICTE) is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with maths in plus two OR a Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years’ duration in any discipline with mathematics as one of the subjects.

Most university require minimum 50 per cent aggregate, although some ask for 60 per cent.

Admission to MCA courses in Indian universities is through state/institution-level entrance tests that assesses your logical and analytical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, higher mathematics (plus two and B.Sc level), English comprehension and basic computer awareness.

You may have to put in some extra effort while preparing for this exam since the maths component is fairly significant. Not only is numeracy a vital prerequisite to make it to a good MCA programme, it is also an important constituent of the MCA course as well as of your career in software development.

Q I am pursuing a 3-year diploma in Medical Lab Technology. Kindly clarify if I can take admission in B. Sc Nursing without an entrance test?

— Shalini Saini

A The basic eligibility criterion for admission to B. Sc Nursing courses from recognised nursing colleges is plus two (PCB & English). And, to the best of my knowledge, the selection procedure for most institutes includes an entrance test.

You can do a course in General Nursing and Midwifery. Many institutes like the Fortis School of Nursing, Fortis Heart Institute, Sector-62, Phase VIII, Mohali 160062; School of Nursing, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi-110007 or the General Hospital, Hisar, Karnal, Bhiwani etc don’t ask for an entrance test.

Q I am a student of Class X. I want to be a scientist. Please tell me what subjects I should take in college for becoming a scientist. Is maths important?

— Jaspreet Singh

Q I am a student of hotel management (diploma course). Do you think there is a good career in the Front Office?

A Certainly. The Front Office is an important department of the hotel. After all, it is with the Front Office staff that guests make their first contact with the hotel.

The work of the FO Department is subdivided into reservation, reception, information and accounts.

Give or take a little, your career path in the Front Office of a hotel will go along the following lines:

Management Trainee/ Front Office Asst. (stipend approx Rs 5000-6000 p.m.) Starting out as a Duty Manager, you will be put through on-the-job training round of the various Front Office departments.

Asst Manager (Rs 16,000 p.m.). You will be responsible for the functioning of a designated section (Reservation/ Front Desk, etc). You will head a team of FOAs and coordinate with other units.

Asst. Front Office Manager (Rs 22,000 p.m.) Reporting to the Front Office Manager, you will now be in charge of personnel management and MIS of Front Office.

Front Office Manager (Rs 30,000 p.m.). Responsible for the entire functioning of the Front Office, you will supervise team of managers and submit a monthly report to the GM.

— 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