Build your creativity

I am a Bcom graduate. I am very creative and have excellent drawing and painting skills. I want to become an architect. Would it be a wise decision to take up architecture or should I go for an MBA course. If so which stream should I take, please advice.- Joyce, Bolaram

To succeed as an architect, you not only require a design talent but also qualities like vivid imagination, creativity, keen observation, three dimensional visualisation, drafting in two or three dimensions, business aptitude and social awareness, to name a few.

You are a graduate in commerce and the architectural field is a totally different one. Therefore shifting into this field requires lot of contemplation. There are two options of getting into architecture. One is the five years B Arch (after 10+2 in Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics).and the second one is a three year full time Diploma in Architectural Assistantship/Diploma in Architecture & Interior Design. For the Architecture degree course, you need to write the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) conducted by the Council of Architecture.

There is a third option, which is to write the professional examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Architects. The exam is carried out in four parts and the qualifying student is awarded the associate membership, which is a recognised qualification to work as an architect. The eligibility for this exam is a 3 year full time diploma in Architectural Assistantship/Diploma in Architecture and Interior Designing and one year of practical experience under a qualified architect.

Before making a decision for a career shift, remember the fact that B Arch would be a graduation course and MBA would be a post graduation course. After a B Arch, if you want to thoroughly flourish in this field, maybe you would have to do an MBA related to this field or an M Arch.

My suggestion would be that:

Research thoroughly on both these fields.

Contemplate seriously about your likes and dislikes regarding both the fields and in general, your level of interest in the architectural field. What do you really enjoy doing in your spare time/ when you are on your own.

What excites you and energizes you?

If possible take a career assessment test from a career counselor.

Find out whether you have enough years and money to switch your career to a newer area of studies.

Identify and make a list of any transferable skills and talents that you can transfer over to your new area of studies

Ask yourself whether you are ready to retrain or start from square one?

If you decide on an MBA, then from the varied specializations available for MBA, a commerce student can give his first priority to finance, international business, banking & finance, business economics and banking & insurance. Depending upon your area of interest and comfort, you can also choose an MBA in retail management, sales, human resource, marketing, travel & tourism, supply chain management, media management, rural management, etc.

the current demand for MBA’s are in the finance, marketing, HR, business analytics, health management, media management and hospital industry. Each field may require a different skill set and work environment. Consider all the factors. Select a specialisation that will provide a sense of motivation and enthusiasm. Also, focus on your area of expertise. That should help you with your career advancement in the long run.

According to MJ Xavier, Director, IIM Ranchi, “There are three things that one has to take into consideration while deciding on the area of specialization:

Examine your aptitude

Understand whether you would be interested in a desk job or would you like to travel. Examine your educational background and experience and then find a match between them.

I would be finishing my 10+2 with maths, physics, chemistry and I want to pursue a career in astrophysics. How to go about this. Please guide. - Sheetal Jain, WHO Vedvihar

Astrophysics is the study of physical properties of star and galaxies. You need expertise in mathematics and physics subjects. This stream can be taken up as a specialisation in your post graduation studies.

You have the options of:

Doing a Bsc in physics and then opt for a masters in physical science

You can opt for the research-oriented five-year integrated Master of Science (MS) in Physical Science

You can take up the four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) programmes at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

The five year integrated MS course in physical science is provided by the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), which has its focus on research.

The institutes are in Thiruvananthapuram, Bhopal, Pune, Mohali and Kolkata The five-year integrated M.Sc. programme in Physical Science is also offered by The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai-Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai

The IIT Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee offers an MSc course in physics with a specialisation in Astrophysics.

Osmania University and Swamy Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded, Maharasthra offers Astrophysics and Astronomy courses

The IISc offers an integrated Ph. D course for graduates in physics. You have to prior qualify in the national level entrance test and an interview for an admission into it.

An integrated MSc and PhD is offered by S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata. Visit www.bose.res

A residential M Sc and Ph D is offered by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. The selection is again through a national level entrance test. The first two years the student gets hostel and medical facilities with an amount of 10,000 a month. From the third year (prior to Msc) the deserving students while pursuing the Ph D gets a fellowship of 18,000 to 20,000 per month.

You can pursue a B Tech course from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Valiyamala, Thiruvananthapuram. You have to write an IIST admission test. Students qualifying with 65 and above percentage are appointed as scientists or engineers in ISRO. The education is provided free by the institution. It offers the UG, PG and the PhD programe in space science and technology.

By:shehre banu