career counselling part-2

Career counselling part-2

MANAGEMENT COURSES

    ¨  MBA (Marketing Management)

¨   MBA (Finance)

¨   MBA (HRM)                        

¨   MBA (Production & Operation Management)

¨  MBA (Hotel Management)

¨   MBA (Pharmaceutical Marketing)  

¨  MBA (Hospital Management)   

¨  MBA (Supply Chain Management)

¨  MBA (Logistic Management)

¨  MBA (Quality Management)

¨  MBA (Sports Management)

¨  MBA (Dual Specialization Management)  

¨  MBA (Banking And Insurance Management)  

¨  MBA (Tourism And Hospitality)  

¨  MBA (Rural Management)                

¨  MBA (Operation And Research Management)    

¨  MBA (Telecom Management)

¨  MBA (Pharmaceutical Management)        

¨  MBA (International Business Management)    

¨  MBA (Material Management)            

¨  MBA (Family And Welfare Planning Management)    

¨  MBA (Applied Management)                

¨  MBA (Electronic Business Management)        

¨  MBA (Airline And Airport Management)        

¨  MBA (Retail Management)                

MBA/MANAGEMENT ENTRANCE EXAMS

• AMU : Aligarh Muslim University Entrance Test
• ATMA : Association of Indian Management Schools Test for Management Admissions
• BIMT : Birla Institute of Management Technology(BIMTECH)
• BITS PILANI : Birla Institute of Technology & Science
• CAT : Common Admission Test
• CMAT : Common Management Admission Test
• CEMAT : Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Test
  
• CENTAC PUDUCHERRY : Centralised Admission Committee Pondicherry
• CET MAHARASHTRA : Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
• CUSAT : Cochin University Common Admission Test
• E MAT : Electronic Management Aptitude Test
• FHRAI : The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India
• FMS : Faculty of Management Studies
• GMAT : Graduate Management Aptitude Test
• GUJCET : Gujarat Common Entrance Test
• HPCMAT : Himachal Pradesh Combined Management Aptitude Test
• IBSAT : Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI)Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)
• ICET AP : Integrated Common Entrance Test
• IGTC : Indo German Training Center
• IHMR JAIPUR : Institute of Health Management Research
• IIFT : Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
• IRMA : Institute of Rural Management, Anand Entrance Exam
• ISB HYDERABAD : Indian School of Business
• ISM DHANBAD : Indian School of Mines Dhanbad
• JEMAT : Joint Entrance Management Aptitude Test
• JMET : Joint Management Entrance Test
• JMI : Jamia Millia Islamia
• KMAT : Karnataka Management Admission Test
• MAT : Management Aptitude Test
• MBM KOLKATTA : Masters in Business Management
• MET MP : Management Entrance Test (MET) in Madhya Pradesh (MP
• MICAT : Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad Admission Test
• NCHMCT JEE : National Council for Hotel Management and  Catering Technology Joint Entrance Exam
• NET RAJASTHAN : National Entrance Exam
• NIFT : National Institute of Fashion Technology
• NITIE MUMBAI : National Institute of Industrial Engineering
• NMAT NMIMS : NMIMS Management Aptitude Test
• OMAT ORISSA : Orissa Management Aptitude Test
• OPENMAT : Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) OPEN Management Aptitude Test
• PSMS : Punjab School of Management Studies
• PUBS : Punjab University Business School
  RMAT : Rajasthan Management Aptitude Test
• SNAP : Symbiosis National Aptittude Test
• SPJIMR : SP Jain Institute of Management & Research
• TANCET : Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test
• TAPMI : T A Pai Management Institute
• TISS : Tata Institute of Social Sciences
• UAJET : Uttaranchal Joint Entrance Test
• UPMCAT : Uttar Pradesh Management Common Aptitude Test
• UPSEE : Uttar Pradesh State Entrace Exam
• XAT : XLRI Admission Test
• XISS : Xavier Institute of Social Services          

COMMON NATIONAL LEVEL TESTS FOR MBA

¨  CAT: All IIMs' and 100+ more institutes.
¨  XAT: XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM Bhubaneshwar, S. P. Jain, GIM etc.
¨  SNAP: Institutes affiliated with Symbiosis University
¨  JMET: IITs' and NITs' Management Program
¨  MH-CET: Colleges in Maharashtra
¨  CMAT: All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE)

INDIVIDUAL TESTS OF B-SCHOOLS OF INDIA

¨  IBSAT: ICFAI Business Schools
¨  IRMA: Institute of Rural Management, Anand
¨  NMAT: NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
¨  MICA: Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad
¨  IIFT: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi and Kolkata

IIM COLLEGE

1.      Indian institute of management, Kolkata    1961

2.      Indian institute of management Ahmadabad, 1961

3.      Indian institute of management, Bangalore, 1973

4.      Indian institute of management, Lucknow, 1984

5.      Indian institute of management, Kozhikode,  1996

6.      Indian institute of management, Indore, 1996

7.      Indian institute of management, shilong, 2007

8.      Indian institute of management,Rohtak, 2010

9.      Indian institute of management, Ranchi, 2010

10.  Indian institute of management, Raipur, 2010

11.  Indian institute of management, Tiruchirapali, 2011

12.  Indian institute of management, Udaipur, 2011

13.  Indian institute of management, Kashipur, 2011

LAW ENTRANCE EXAMS

¨  AIBE : All India Bar Exam

¨  ALS : Amity Law School

¨  CLAT : Common Law Admission Test

¨  DU Faculty of Law : Delhi University Faculty of Law

¨  GLC Mumbai : Government Law College Mumbai

¨  ILS Pune : Indian Law Society Pune

¨  QLTT : Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test

¨  SSLC Pune : Symbiosis Society's Law College Pune

¨  TNDALU Chennai : Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University Chennai

MBA TEST MONTH

Authorised institutions for affiliation

¨  (UGC) University grant commission

¨  Field: university

¨  URL: http://www.ugc.ac.in

¨  (AICTE) all India council of technical education

¨  Field: technical institute

¨  URL:www.aicte.ernet.in

¨  (NCTE) national council for teacher’s education

¨  Field: teachers training

¨  URL:www.ncte.in.org

¨  (DEC) distance education council

¨  Field: open University 

¨  URL:www.dec.ac.in

¨  (BCI) bar council of India

¨  Field: law related  

¨  URL:www.barcouncilof india.nic.in

¨   (ICAR) Indian council for agricultural research

¨  Field: agriculture

¨  URL: www.icar.org.in

¨  (CCH) central council of homeopathy

¨  Field: homeopathy

¨  URL:www.cchindia.com

¨  (PCI) pharmacy council of India

¨  Field: D-pharmacy, B-pharmacy

¨  URL: www.pci.nic.in

¨   (DCI) dental council of India

¨  Field: BDS, MDS

¨  URL: www.dcindia.org

¨  (INC)  Indian nursing council

¨  Field: nurse, midwife, health

¨  (COA) council of architecture

¨  Field: architecture

¨  URL: www.coa.gov.in

DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE

¨  Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, Pune

¨   IMT Distance and Open Learning Institute, Ghaziabad

¨   Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai

¨  AIMA, Delhi

¨  BLS Institute of Management, Ghaziabad

¨  Sinhgad Technical Education Society

¨  MIT School of Distance Education, Pune, Maharashtra

¨  IILM Institute of Higher Education, Gurgaon

¨  Institute of Rail Transport, New Delhi

¨  IILM Institute of Higher Education, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

¨  Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, Bhadohi, UP

¨  Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneshwar

¨  AMIE-Associate member of institution of engineers

OPEN UNIVERSITY

¨  National Open University,  Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

¨  STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY ,http://www.dec.ac.in/pro visional_recognition.htm

Advantages & Disadvantages of Distance Learning

Although sometimes considered to be the poorer cousin of regular college programmes, distance learning comes as a blessing to students who want to study further while continuing with jobs or who might not be able to attend a full-time course for various reasons.

The most frequent query from students is related to the confusion over the value of a distance learning programme. The answer to this totally depends on the student. Some students can make the most out of a distance learning programme, but there are also others who are not comfortable with this pattern. Here we will discuss the pros and cons of distance learning/ distance education programmes and help you decide if you should go for it:

Disadvantages of Studying through Distance Learning:

1.No Direct Contact with faculty: There isn’t any fun if you don’t have a teacher you can make fun of! On a serious note, lack of personal interaction with teachers often affects the learning curve for some students. This is one major disadvantage of distance learning. Flipping through voluminous books with no mentor to guide you can be overwhelming for some students.

2.Overdependence on Technology: Some distance learning programmes especially online courses require access to internet. Unless you are comfortable with this medium, you will find studying and interacting with your faculty online difficult.

3.Lack of Discipline: Since you don’t have a teacher standing on top of your head, reminding you of deadlines, asking for your assignments, there are chances that you will not take a distance learning programme seriously. You need to be mature and disciplined to take full advantage of a distance learning programme.

4.It can get Lonely: Even if you’re in a virtual classroom that is full of students, the lack of personal interaction might make you feel detached and lonely. This can be solved as you get more comfortable with using the internet.

5.Not All Courses are Available/ Taught: Another major disadvantage of distance learning is that not all courses can be taught online. For example, subjects like Medicine and Engineering can’t be taught online or through distance learning since practical classes, experiments etc. can’t possibly be conducted over the internet! Some things, you’ve got to do yourself!

6.Not Valued by all Employers: No matter how good the university/college from where you pursued your distance learning programme, some employers will always prefer a candidate who has pursued a regular programme over you.

(Also read: Top Universities for Distance Learning in India)

There are two sides to every coin and here the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages:

Advantages of Studying through Distance Learning:

1.It's Flexible:  You can earn and study at the same time! Flexibility is the biggest advantage of distance learning courses. This stands true especially if you are a working professional. Not everyone has the luxury of taking their own time to finish their studies. For those who had to take a break from studies to start working, such courses are a boon and provide the opportunity to pursue higher education.

2. Saves Time & Energy: You save up a lot of time and energy on commuting. You can stay in Pune and pursue a course that is available in Bangalore. Or you might be based out of a remote village or town which does not have enough options for higher studies. Distance learning courses eliminate these obstacles.

3. Study at your own Pace: Not everyone has the same pace of learning. Some students pick up things fast, others need time to grasp a concept. One of the biggest advantages of distance learning is that you can study at a pace that is comfortable for you.

4. Saves Money: These courses are almost always cheaper as compared to their on-campus counter-parts. You also cut down on the costs incurred while commuting etc.

5. Convenient: You can submit your assignment with the click of a button or simply drop it off at a post-office! It’s sometimes as simple as that!

6. 24X7 Access to Study Material & fellow Students: This is the best way to study if you are comfortable with internet and technology. You can access your study material online whenever you want and also clear doubts, exchange views and discuss with your virtual class-mates!

7.Study any Topic You Want: Since you‘d already have all your books/online study material with you, you can pick up any topic/chapter that interests you and tackle that first! This way your interest in the subject is sustained.Various studies have shown that distance learning programmes can be as efficient and valuable as regular classroom programmes sometimes even better!

CHECK FOR DEC RECOGNITION STATUS OF UNIVERSITY /INSTITUTE

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND IT

¨  B.Tech or BCA/MCA can become an IT engineer, requires +2 with mathematics to pursue B.Tech or BCA.

¨  Software Developers: Software developers are professionals, concerned with facets of the software development .

¨  Hardware Engineers: research, design, develop, test, and oversee the installation of computer hardware.

¨  System Designer: system designing, Logical & Physical Designing .

¨   System Analyst: systems analyst do research about the existing problems and plan solutions for the problem.

¨  Networking Engineers: designing, implementation, and troubleshooting of computer networks.

¨  DBA: design, implement, maintain, and repair an organization's database.

MCA ENTRANCE EXAMS

• NIMCET : National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• CENTAC : Puducherry (MCA Entrance Test)
• MAH MCA CET : Maharashtra MCA Common Entrance Test
• RMCAAT : Rajasthan Master in Computer Applications Admission Test

TOP TEN COMPUTER INSTITUTE

A number of engineering colleges in India offer BTech/BE in computer science and many of them are internationally acclaimed. Most of the engineering colleges are in public sector, which include IITs and NITs.
• Indian Institute of Technology IIT Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology IIT Kharagpur
• Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology IIT Madras
• Indian Institute of Technology IIT Delhi
• BIT, Mesra
• NIT- National Institute of Technology Trichy
• Delhi College of Engineering , Delhi
• BITS Pilani
• IIT Roorkee
• IT-BHU
• IIT-Guwahati
• College of Engg , Anna University, Guindy
• Jadavpur University , Faculty of Engg & Tech., Calcutta
• Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad
• NIT- National Institute of Technology Warangal

 

Top Companies in IT/Computer

¨  Google

¨  Yahoo

¨   Hewlett-Packard

¨   International Business Machines Corporation

¨   Toshiba Corporation

¨   Dell Inc

¨   NEC Corporation

¨   Canon Inc

¨  Apple Inc ASUSTEK Computer Inc

¨   Acer Inc

¨   Lenovo Group Limited

¨   SAIC

¨   Sun Microsystem

¨   Infosys

¨   HCL

¨   Wipro

¨   Techmahindra

FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES

¨  Certificate of Proficiency (COP): part time course of one year duration. The eligibility for COP course is 10+2.The is subject to passing the entrance test conducted by the School of Foreign Languages.

¨  Advanced Diploma of Proficiency (ADOP):
a part time course of one year duration. The admission to the ADOP course is open to those who have passed the COP examination.

¨  Interpretership Course: full time course conducted by the SFL mainly for the personnel sponsored by the Armed Forces as well as other Para-Military services, Cabinet Secretariat and other ministries. The duration of the Interpretership Courses varies from 16 ½ months to 23 ½ months.

¨  Link: http://sflmod.nic.in/courses.html

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

¨  Japanese

¨   Italian

¨   German

¨   Russian

¨   Chinese

¨   Spanish

¨   Persian

¨   Arabic

¨  French.

LIST OF INSTITUTIONS FOR LANGUAGE STUDIES

1. School of Languages - Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
2. Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL) – Hyderbad
3. Benaras Hindu University - Varanasi
4. University of Delhi - New Delhi
5. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Jawaharlal Nehru Academy of Languages - New Delhi
6. Alliance Francasie - 15 branches across the country.
7. Max Mueller Bhavan- major metros.
8. Indo - Italian Chamber of Commerce - Mumbai
9. Japanese Information and Cultural Centre - New Delhi
10. International Institute of Tamil Sciences - Chennai
11. Eastern Regional Languages Centre - Bhubaneswar
12. Ram Krishna Mission - Kolkata
13. Urdu Training and Research Centre - Lucknow
14. Western Regional Language Centre - Pune.
15. Indo-Japan Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Chennai

CAREER IN TEACHING

¨  Nursery schools: Nursery Teachers Training. Minimum qualification: 10+2

¨  Middle schools: Teachers Training Certificate (TTC) or its equivalent. Minimum qualification: 10+2

¨  High Schools: Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). Minimum qualification: Graduation

¨  Colleges/Universities: Post Graduate degree, preferably with Doctoral Degree.

¨  Self employment by starting institutes/tutorials

TEACHERS TRAINING INSTITUTE

¨  State teachers training institute

¨  IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)

CAREER IN SPORTS

The National Institute of Sports is the main academic centre of Sports Authority of India

¨  M.Sc. in Sports Coaching

¨  PG Diploma in Sports Medicine

¨  Diploma in Sports Coaching

¨  6 week certificate courses in Sports Coaching

¨  The minimum educational qualification is a 10+2 pass.

SPORTS CAREER OPTIONS

¨  Physical Education Instructor

¨  Coach

¨  Umpire/Referee

¨  Professional Player

¨  Sport and leisure club manager

¨  Administration

¨  Sports and business marketing

¨  Sports journalism

¨  Sports photojournalism

¨  Television  channels like Star Sports, ESPN, Ten Sports, Zee Sports and DD for sports programmes only

SPORTS INSTITUTE

¨  Sports training institute –in state

¨  Sports Authority of India

¨  Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education,Kerala

¨  Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

¨  Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, New Delhi-110018

¨  Department of Physical Education & Sports Science (University of Delhi), New Delhi-Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, New Delhi-110001

CAREER IN DANCE

¨  Basic requirement for training in dance is 10+2

¨  Choreography:

¨  Teaching:

¨  Performing:

¨  Performing field: like AIR, TV studios, movie studios, films division, song and drama divisions

¨  Self-employment in the form of holding private classes or starting a dance training institution.

¨  Dancing Remuneration: not fixed

DANCE INSTITUTE

¨  Sangeet Akademi, Delhi

¨  Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, Bangalore,

¨  Saraswati Music College, Delhi

¨  (Bhatkhande Collegeo of Hindustani Music, Lucknow,

¨  Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Akademi, Bangalore

¨  West Bengal State Music Academy, Calcutta

¨  Kala Academy Campal, Panaji,,Goa

¨  Abhinaya Institute of Dance, Mumbai

¨  Arunodaya Kala Niketan, Mumbai

¨  Ashwini Kala Kendra, Mumbai

¨  Bharata Natya Kalalaya, Mumbai

¨  Darsana Dance Academy, Mumbai Gyan Ashram Inst. of Performing Arts, Mumbai

¨  EVAM, , Mumbai

¨  Indian People's Theatre Association (Maharashtra State Committee), Mumbai

¨  Bharatha Natya Niketa, New Delhi

¨  Bhoomika Creative Dance Center, New Delhi

¨  Centre for Indian Classical Dances, New Delhi

¨  Delhi Ballet Group, New Delhi

¨  Delhi Tamil Sangam, New Delhi

¨  Delhi Music Society (Incorporating the Delhi School of Music),  Delhi

¨  Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, New Delhi

¨  Ganesh Natyalaya", Saroja Vaidyanathan , New Delhi

¨  Institute of Music, Dance & Dramatics, New Delhi

Group Discussion (GD):

WHAT a group discussion is?

WHY it is conducted by most B-schools ?

What PERSONALITY TRAITS are tested in a group discussion?

 Group Discussion is a process where exchange of ideas and opinions are debated upon. This process is mostly used for selecting candidates for admission to management schools basically for MBA.

As an MBA aspirant, you may score 95% but not sure that you may get place in the top B-schools in India.

What is a Group Discussion (GD)?

A group discussion is a selection (sometimes elimination) round where a group of 8-10 students are given group discussion topics to discuss for a given time period. After the topic is announced, you would be given 10-15 minutes to gather & compose your thoughts. Then the discussion begins.

A panel of judges would be sitting & observing the proceedings & would be marking you according to your performance in the GD.

The number of candidates who are short-listed from this group may vary. Sometimes 2-3 or 4-5 candidates can selected from a group of 10. There have also been cases where the entire group was rejected.

A successful group discussion should ideally proceed like a well-coordinated football team, where every player passes on the ball to achieve a common goal. A GD should not proceed to look like a fish market where everyone is trying to drown out the other’s opinion.

Why is GD an Important part of the Selection Procedures in B-Schools?

A question often asked by many students: Why GD, why not just a personal interview (PI) or why not just the written test? After all, engineering colleges don’t have GDs; neither do medical, law schools.

The answer is pretty obvious: business schools are selecting students who are going to be future managers & CEOs. And a good manager ought to be firm yet flexible, innovative, possess good communication skills, take quick decisions, have sound reasoning abilities & be a good leader. These skill-sets can be best gauged by the panel of judges or best displayed by a potential candidate only in a group activity like the group discussion.

By making GD a part of their selection procedures, the top B-schools are ensuring that they only select candidates who not only have good analytical, quantitative skills (assessed by their written exam score) but also possess excellent soft skills. So a Group Discussion round is a very important part of selecting a student in a B-school.

Personality Traits that are Tested in a Group Discussion:

1. General Awareness: “What” you speak in a GD matters more than “how” you say it. The panel of judges would check how much you know about what’s happening around you. So if the group discussion topic is “Commercialisation of Health Care: Good or Bad?”, you should ideally be aware of the latest developments in the healthcare industry, you should know who is the Minister of Health and Family Welfare (it’s Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad) etc. There is no particluar field from which the group discussion topic is selected. The GD topics can be based on a current hot topic "Is the Lokpal Bill the best way to tackle Corruption in India" or they can be random topics like "Advertising is a form of brainwashin". It is therefore very important to be aware of what is happening around you & also to have a good GK quotient.

2. Team Spirit: As mentioned earlier, there have often been cases when an entire group has been rejected by the panel. This is usually because everyone or most participants in the GD were not team players. Extreme cases of one-upmanship (trying to outdo your competitor) are not appreciated & usually do not go down well with the judges. After all, you as a future manager are supposed to work in/with a team.

3. Leadership: If a group discussion loses steam or ends up in chaos or digresses from the topic, a participant with good leadership skills will usually try to coordinate & sort out the confusion or steer the GD back to the right track. Having leadership skills will always work in your favour. Some of you may have natural leadership skills, others will have to work & inculcate this personality trait into your skill-set.

4. Confidence: The way you put forth your points, your body language etc. should exude confidence. But be careful that your assertiveness does not translate into aggressiveness.

5. Adaptability: Being stubborn & unyielding on your opinion/point of view in a GD never helps. On the other hand if you are willing to see others’ point of view & are open to re-evaluating your own ideas, you will come across as a flexible person who is open to changes/suggestions (if they are viable). This is a positive trait & contributes towards a successful GD.

6. Communication Skills: Good articulation skills are a must for any future manager. Without good communication skills how will you put across new ideas, manage a team; ensure everyone’s on the same page as you are? This trait is also required to bring forth the traits discussed earlier. Without good communication skills, it would be difficult to display your leadership skills, convey the information you have, steer the discussion successfully.

7. Listening Skills: It is important to be articulate & to make your point as often as you can in a GD, but it is equally important to listen when others speak. If you keep interrupting others & don't care to listen when others speak you lose points. Remember, the panel is always closely observing you!

 Tips on GROUP DISCUSSION

To help you better we have compiled a list of points that you should keep in mind while you participate in a group discussion.

Group discussions are an important part of the selection process for admission into a B-School of your choice. You have passed the intelligence test, with GD, your oratory and communication skills along with your problem solving skills will be tested.

Let’s read about the points that you should keep in mind:

1)Adequate matter/ Subject matter is essential : You should have subject knowledge and be well aware of the latest happenings around you, not just in India but around the world as well. To be in a better position, make sure that you have in-depth knowledge on the subject. Subject knowledge is a pre-requisite while you are preparing for a group discussion because you will then have the power to steer the conversation to whichever direction you want to. If you can memorize some relevant data, it will be an added advantage.

2) Make Sure you Read Widely: Being an avid reader will help you in group discussions. Last minute preparations you are strictly a no no, while you are preparing for group discussions. You should read over a period of time. Reading not only adds to your knowledge database, but enhances your vocabulary skills as well. Plus reading over a period of time, helps in your understanding of a particular subject/ topic better.

3) Choose Magazines that are Rich in Content: Always opt for magazines that are content rich and not just full of advertisements. Often magazines have columns which are promoting a particular institute etc. Avoid such magazines, do some research and buy the best that will be beneficial for you in the long run.

4) Be Aware of Topics that are Repeated: Often, there are topics which re-appear with minute changes and minor variations. Be aware of such topics well in advance so that you have ample time to prepare for the same. For example the issues of terrorism, gender inequality, poverty, Ayodhya conflict, liberalization and privatization, reservations in educational institutions etc often appear as GD topics. Make sure you know these topics well and can come up with some unique, insightful points along with dates, stating facts.

5) Work on your Communication Skills: You should be well versed in your communication skills. You should have a good vocabulary and a decent command over English. Much before your actual group discussion, rehearse well. You can sit with a group of friends and choose a topic and indulge in a friendly banter. Not only will this increase your knowledge, you will be a better speaker by the time it is time for your GD.

6) Listen to the Topic Given During GD Carefully: Listen to the topic carefully and understand it... Be alert and vigilant. Sometimes, the topic may be really simple but the manner in which it is presented to you, can be baffling. The first thing that you should do after hearing the topic is by structuring it on the sheet that is given to you to make notes. Make a rough sketch of the points that you would like to speak aloud. You will be at an advantage if you open the discussion, but then beware of what you speak. Deviating from the main topic, or passing strong statements like ‘I agree/ or disagree …’ should be avoided. Your strategy should be to test the waters and make a generic statement relevant to the topic. If you can, back it up by relevant data.

7) Try and Maintain a Balance in your Tone: Besides what you are saying, remember that the panelists are observing your body language as well. If you do not agree with the other student’s point of view, do not raise your tone in objection. Listen to his point of view and instead of dismissing it upfront, try and draw a common ground. .

8) Listening Skills are Essential: Carefully listen to what others have to say. Just speaking throughout the discussion doesn’t make you smart, you should also give others a chance to speak. Try and listen to him/her, respect their view point too. If the speaker is making an eye-contact with you remember to acknowledge him by saying “yes, you agree” or just by nodding your head, so that the speaker is aware that his listeners are listening to him and paying full attention. This will also show that you are vigilant and are an active participant in the discussion.

9) Body Gestures are very Important: The panelists observe the way you sit and react in the course of the discussion. . Body gestures are very important, because your body language says a lot about you.In a GD, sit straight, avoid leaning back on to the chair or knocking the table with pen or your fingers. Also, do not get distracted easily. For example, if the door in room you are sitting in opens, do not look back to see who it is , this will show how distracted you are.

10) Be the first and also the Last to Speak: As mentioned earlier, initiating a GD is an advantage. Closing it too also adds brownie points. If you can grab the opportunity to close the discussion, then you should summarize it. If the group has not reached a conclusion try concluding it .

Imagine you are driving and you have the power to accelerate or brake according to the situation on the road and avoid any accidents. Try to be that conscientious driver in a GD. Take the initiative, know when to apply your brakes and when to seize the opportunity and accelerate the conversation to reach to a desired destination; conclusion in your case.

  Super 30

Super 30 is a highly ambitious and innovative educational program running under the banner of "Ramanujan School of  Mathematics". It hunts for 30 meritorious talents from  among the economically backward sections of the society  and shapes them for India's most prestigious institution –  the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). In the last 10
years, it has produced hundreds IITians from extremely  poor background. During this program students are  provided absolutely free coaching, lodging and food.  Super 30 targets students from extremely poor families.  They have all seen the change with sheer disbelief in their eyes that their children are now going to be top technocrats.  

Source -http://super30.org/contactus.html

 References:

1.      http://www.htcampus.com/ask/

2.      http://www.studyguideindia.com/Colleges/Top-iitcolleges-India.asp

3.      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Institutes_of_Technology

4.      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Institutes_of_Management

5.      http://educationcareer.in/suggest-best-courses-after-10th-150402.html

6.      http://entrance-exam.net/forum/general-discussion/list-courses-can-done-after-10th-

7.      http://www.indiaeducation.net/careercenter/humanities/teaching/

8.      http://www.slideshare.net/bhagwanprasad50/career-counselling-16208285

9.      http://www.careercounselling.in/

10.  http://www.careerforum.in/

11.  http://www.careerguidanceindia.com/

12.  http://www.extramarks.com/

13.  http://www.maafoundation.org/

14.  http://workwise.in/

15.  http://www.youngbuzz.com/

16.  http://www.jagranjosh.com/careers

17.  http://www.htcampus.com/

18.  http://www.worldcolleges.info/

19.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Public_Service_Commission

20.  Source -http://super30.org/contactus.html