Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: Dear Mr Abidi, I scored 77% in Intermediate Pre-Medical after a one-year improvement. Despite my strong desire to join a medical college, I am unable to secure a spot due to high merit. I am now torn between two career options - BS Psychology or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Can you please suggest if either of these career paths has scope in Pakistan? (Amna Anwar - Nankana Sahib)

Ans: Dear Amna, if you aspire to be in the field of Medical Science without pursuing a professional degree like MBBS, it's a wise decision. I recommend opting for a 4-year honors degree in Microbiology or Biochemistry. This choice will open doors to work in hospitals alongside doctors as a health specialist or pathologist, addressing the high demand in these areas.

Q2: Dear sir, after reading your recent column, I decided to seek guidance for my daughter. She is pursuing a 4-year honors degree in Microbiology. Could you please advise on the future prospects and scope of this field? (Ali Amjad - Rawalpindi)

Ans: Dear Ali, Microbiology is an innovative and emerging subject area. After completing her bachelor's degree, I recommend that she consider pursuing a Master's in Genetics or DNA Analysis, falling under Genomics. This will allow her to engage in research on various viruses and collaborate with those developing new drugs, as there is a substantial demand in this field.

Q3: Sir, I aspire to become a professional Engineer, but I'm torn between choosing Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Could you kindly guide me on which field has better scope? (Usman Amjad - Peshawar)

Ans: Dear Usman, I advise you to consider Mechatronics. This field combines Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, providing you with a competitive edge over specializing in a single subject. You can explore this subject further on the internet for more details.

Q4: Dear sir, I have been working as a professional accountant in a Faisalabad-based multinational company for the last 9 years. Now, I intend to pursue Law/LLB. Following this degree, I aspire to practice law. Kindly guide me on obtaining a degree without attending classes, as I cannot leave my job. Your advice will illuminate my decision-making. (Ahmed Gujjar - Gujrat)

Ans: Dear Ahmed, considering your prior academic qualifications and experience, my first recommendation would be to avoid pursuing a general law degree. Given your background as an accountant, I suggest focusing on Corporate Law or Tax Law. You can explore institutions offering these specialisations online.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).