It is always good to plan and strategize in preparation for further studies and a career. It is highly advisable to select careers by choice rather than chance, although it is not necessary that those who get into a career by chance do not reach the top echelons. Those who have it in them succeed in almost any field that they find themselves in, since attitude more than anything else determines whether you succeed or fail. But the importance of informed choices cannot be underestimated. So here are some career choices that you may want to consider.

ASTRONOMY

Which courses should you do if you want to become an astronaut/astronomer? Should you pursue 11th and 12th standard in a regular school or switch over to 1st PUC State Board as CET is going to be NEET in a few years’ time?

Students and parents have always compared various boards to have a sense of what the differences and similarities are. Such a comparison can be a daunting task since there are many boards of education, and there is bound to be apprehension in the minds of the students and parents alike. However, no matter which board your school is affiliated to, there is no substitute for individual hard work. Inputs from the academic institution and faculty members too contribute to the success.

However, for consistency, you should maintain continuity in the academic system you pursue. If you are pursuing CBSE at the 10th standard, you should stay with it in the 11th and 12th as well.

On the question of becoming an astronaut, following 10th you should pursue academics in the area of Science, with Physics and Mathematics as the main subjects.

ASTROPHYSICS

What are the career opportunities in the field of astrophysics? Which course should you take in class 11 and what are the top institutes that offer BSc in cosmology?

Astrophysics being a highly specialized subject, one will have to plan well. At the +2 level you must join a Science program with Physics as an integral part of the study. This should be followed by a Bachelor of Science course in Physics. Astrophysics/Astronomy is normally offered at the postgraduate level and in India there are some very good institutions that offer the course. Most of the learners who complete astrophysics pursue research (doctoral) and become scientists. Some join the corporate world.

NEUROBIOLOGY

Which are the institutes that offer a course in neurobiology and what research opportunities do they have.

Neurobiology is the study of the body’s nervous system. Although generally neurobiology focuses on the brain, how the nervous system affects the various functions such as behavior, states of consciousness and autonomic functions are also central to the discipline.
For more information contact the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) Paris, France; you may also access their website: www.ibro.info. You could also contact the Indian Academy of Neurosciences (vijir@vsnl.com), an Academic Member of IBRO, and get more details.

Located in Bangalore, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) (www.nimhans.kar.nic.in) has contributed much to the growth and development of the science of medicine.