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Study Abroad Expert - Answered on Oct 06, 2023

Sushil Sukhwani is the founding director of the overseas education consultant firm, Edwise International. He has 31 years of experience in counselling students who have opted to study abroad in various countries, including the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. He is part of the board of directors at the American International Recruitment Council and an honorary committee member of the Australian Alumni Association. Sukhwani is an MBA graduate from Bond University, Australia. ... more
Asked by Anonymous - Oct 05, 2023Hindi
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Career

Hello Sir, My son is doing 1st year BSC (BioTech) and wishes to pursue research after graduation. Which overseas University would you recommend for post graduation?

Ans: Hello,

First and foremost, thank you for getting in touch with us. I am happy to hear about your son’s plans on pursuing research in the field of biotechnology on completion of his Bachelor’s of Science degree. I would like to let you know that several aspects viz., your son’s interests in research, the cost, his professional objectives as well as his individual choices play a key role in his decision to attend a foreign university in order to pursue his postgraduate degree. I would recommend that your son take into account the below mentioned universities that are regarded for their robust programs in biotechnology and life sciences:

1. The UK:
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge

2. Australia:
University of Melbourne

3. The USA:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Harvard University
University of California, Berkeley
Stanford University

4. Canada:
University of Toronto

5. Switzerland:
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)

6. Singapore:
National University of Singapore (NUS)

Prior to deciding on a university to pursue his research interests, I would suggest that he takes into account the details of the program, potential possibilities for research, the experience of the faculty members, possibilities for funding, as well as the location of the university and it’s overall ambience. Not just that, your son should also examine the prerequisites for securing admission to as well as the application deadlines for the universities he intends to attend. To acquire the best possible advice and seek assistance while deciding on a university that best resonates with his research pursuits, I would recommend that your son also gets in touch with educational instructors and counselors who are at present teaching him. Lastly, the decision he makes should match his academic as well as professional objectives.

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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Nov 30, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 23, 2024Hindi
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Sir, we are from Mumbai and my son is studying in 11th Science. He wants to do his career in research in Biotechnology. Currently he is preparing for JEE Mains. But he wants to take admission for undergrad program in some foreign University after 12th. Is this a right decision or should he pursue his Graduation in India and then go to abroad for post graduation and research? Please advise good universities in India and abroad for biotechnology.
Ans: Your son's ambition to pursue a career in biotechnology research is admirable, as this field offers substantial opportunities across healthcare, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and environmental sciences. The choice between studying abroad for an undergraduate degree or pursuing it in India depends on various factors, such as long-term goals, financial considerations, and the relative quality of education in each option. Pursuing an undergraduate degree abroad provides advantages including exceptional research opportunities, access to international experts, a well-rounded curriculum, and programs focused on intensive research. Nonetheless, it may also entail higher costs and standardized evaluations such as the SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS. The undergraduate education in India provides a solid foundation in biotechnology, is cost-effective, and highlights the importance of competitive examinations such as the JEE. This also enables students to engage in postgraduate research abroad, providing access to global research opportunities. However, the landscape of restricted research exposure is changing.
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Jawarlal Nehru University (JNU), VIT Vellore, SRM University, and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) provide outstanding biotechnology programs with lower tuition fees.
Prominent international universities recognized for their excellence in biotechnology encompass MIT, Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, the University of Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, McGill University, ETH Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, and Technische Universität München.

International undergraduate programs may entail significant expenses; however, there are scholarships and financial assistance options accessible. Obtaining a bachelor's degree in India, followed by a master's or PhD abroad, can offer valuable early exposure to research opportunities. Admission readiness necessitates thorough SAT/ACT preparation and notable extracurricular accomplishments. Alternatively, attending a renowned Indian institution and moving for postgraduate studies is a feasible option.
Below are the recommended steps to follow for your son: Develop a detailed strategy for your son's education in BioTech, considering options in India or abroad. This should encompass selecting a preferred destination, preparing him for international admissions, enhancing his profile, planning for Indian college applications, and investigating scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Wishing you and your son great success in his future endeavors.

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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

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