HIGHER STUDIES
1. Masters in Technology (M.Tech)
There are two ways possible. Either
go for an Indian university like IITs, IISc or go to
foreign university. In USA the equivalent degree is M.S. For M.Tech one needs to appear for GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test
in Engineering).
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
(GATE)
It is jointly conducted by IISC and
seven IIT and is considered to be a benchmark test for engineering graduates.
Each year one IIT take the responsibility of conducting the exam on rotation
basis. The scores are only for application to graduate programs in engineering
disciplines in India. Any candidate who has cleared her bachelors or masters or
is in the final year of her respective course is eligible for GATE.
The examination consists of a single
paper of 3 hours duration, containing 65 questions carrying a maximum of 100
marks. The syllabus is typically related to the engineering course for which
one applies. Some PSUs like BARC, NPIL and HAL give preference to GATE scores,
so apart from being a ticket to higher education, it is also helpful in landing
up at that dream job.
2. Master of Science (MS)
USA has been a preferred destination
for Indian engineers for the past several years and Indians continuously form
the largest chunk of foreign students in USA. To get admission in a foreign
university for MS, one needs to appear for Graduate Record Examination or GRE.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
It is an admission requirement for
many graduate schools in USA and in other English-speaking countries. It is a
computer-based test measuring verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning,
critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a
long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.
Unlike GATE, there is no cut-off line for GRE and the admission score varies
from one university to other. After appearing for GRE, one needs to apply to
the universities of his choice. As applying to each university is very costly
affair, hence selection of universities is an equally important activity. The
selection is based on realistic assessment of one’s abilities and GRE score.
For scholarships many universities
also consider the research work that a candidate has undertaken previously.
Combining this with the GRE score, they give an admission offer to a candidate.
3. Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Again like M.Tech
one has many options. In fact the options are much more here, owing to the
presence of a large number of good private colleges. First we will discuss
about the options available in India. For admission to Indian institutes there
are many exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, apart from separate exams conducted by some
universities like FMS.
Common Admission Test (CAT)
It is conducted by IIMs on an
all-India basis and is basically used for admission to IIMs. There are other
colleges as well, which use CAT score for granting admissions. Post 2009, the
pattern has moved from offline to online mode and has seen a change in pattern
as well. With the increase in number of IIM and increase in number of seats in
each IIM, it has become an attractive option. What works against it is the
exorbitant fees being charged by the IIMs.
Management aptitude test (MAT)
It is the smaller, less popular and
less efficient brother of CAT. Its score is applicable to basically every other
college that is not covered under CAT.
XAT, FMS
Some other colleges like XLRI
Jamshedpur, XLRI Bhubaneswar and FMS New Delhi conduct their own admission test
and a student need to appear in these exams to be eligible for these
institutes.
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
It is a computer-adaptive
standardized test in mathematics and the English language for measuring
aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. Business schools
commonly use the test as one of many selection criteria for admission into
graduate business administration programs (e.g. MBA, Master of Accountancy,
etc.) principally in the United States, but also in other English-speaking
countries.
Similar to GRE, based upon
preference, score and capability, one needs to apply to institutes separately.
So the selection of institutes is very important. Most good universities give a
lot of weight to work experience (unlike Indian institutes). Thus a similar
score can land you in different university based upon your work experience. A
GMAT score is valid for five years, so you can take the exam during your
student days (when your mind is really sharp) and then apply for schools after
three years (with proper work experience).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
It evaluates the ability of an
individual to use and understand English in an academic setting. It sometimes
is an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many
English-speaking colleges and universities. So it is an advantage if you have
taken TOEFL along with GRE/GMAT. Sometimes some universities demand this score
if you are a foreign student (as in the case of Indian student). The test
consists of reading, listening, speaking and writing section. The minimum score
may vary from one school to other, with Harvard and MIT demanding a score of
100.
Unlike other exams it can be taken
any number of times, to improve upon the previous score and the score is valid
for two years. Colleges consider the most recent TOEFL score as a parameter.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
It is an international standardized
test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of
Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and
was established in 1989. For applying to any British university IELTS score is
generally a precondition. The structure is similar to TOEFL and both the scores
can be used interchangeably. Again similar to TOEFL the requirements for each
university vary with Oxford demanding a score of 7.0 and Essex University
demanding a score of 5.5. The score is valid for two years. For information
into IELTS and application procedure, one can directly walk into any British
Council situated all across India and get the application form.
4. Civil Services Examination
The Civil Services Examination is
used for recruitment for many Indian administrative bodies. It has three stages
– Civil Services Aptitude test (CSAT), a main exam, and an interview – and is
known for being extremely challenging. With the introduction of CSAT, a form
costing less than Rupees 100, and the introduction of sixth pay-commission,
appearing for IAS was never so lucrative for an engineer. The CSAT will consist
logic based objective type questions, which should be an advantage for
engineers.
5. Indian Engineering Services
Indian Engineering Services (IES/ES)
are the Technical Services that meet the technical and managerial functions of
the Government of India. A combined competitive examination is conducted by the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC); for recruitment to the Indian
Engineering Services (IES) in the month of June.