Q&A

Both the MCA and MSc statistics degrees promise good job prospects for those who have what it takes to succeed in these fields. The three-year professional MCA programme provides a sound theoretical background as well as good practical exposure to the demands of India’s information technology industry. There continues to be a demand in the IT sector for professionals with the MCA qualification, and the jobs vary according to the requirements of IT companies in terms of the services they provide. You can, therefore, be working as a system analyst in a big company, develop software for companies like Microsoft and Infosys, work as a systems analyst in a corporate organisation, as an Internet expert doing specialist work, or take up a career in computer education. There are hundreds of institutions offering the MCA programme and some states and universities hold their own entrance tests. There is also an All India MCA Common Entrance Test (AIMCET) conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for admission to many leading universities and colleges. The list of institutions participating in AIMCET is available on www.iitr.ac.in/ aimcet. There is also the National Institute of Technology MCA Common Entrance Test. However, a good quantitative aptitude and strong reasoning skills can be a great advantage for a career in statistics. You may apply to the Indian Statistical Institute (www.isical.ac.in), with a presence in Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi, which runs MSc statistics programmes. Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, and Panjab University also offer this programme. With a degree in maths, you can also get into market research, operational research, or do an MBA programme. You can also take up a career in financial services, such as chartered accountancy, cost accountancy, chartered financial analysis, stocks and securities or in other related areas. Usha Albuquerque