The long and short of IT

• Q: Although I am a commerce graduate, I would like to pursue a career in computers. Is there is any difference between a PGDCA and an MCA?

— Leela Sengupta

• A: Master of computer applications (MCA) is different from a postgraduate diploma in computer applications (PGDCA), as the former is typically a full-fledged three-year postgraduate degree (usually divided into six semesters) offered by universities and affiliated colleges. It hones your skill in computational theory, programming, algorithm design, database management and other related fields. Considered to be on a par with a BE or BTech, an MCA from a reputed university has greater market acceptability, especially for professional jobs in software.

A PGDCA, on the other hand, is of shorter duration (1-2 years), has less stringent entry requirements and is usually not as comprehensive as a full-time MCA.

Universities like Ignou, Sikkim Manipal University and several others allow direct or lateral entry into the second year of their MCA programmes to those who have a PGDCA qualification. Alternatively, you could supplement your qualifications with a course in advanced computing or a certification in Oracle 9I / SQL server and C++.

MCA is offered at over 1,000 institutions and university departments. Admission is on the basis of an entrance exam (either conducted by the university or the state) which requires a fair amount of preparation. While most institutes conduct their own entrance tests, there are some centralised tests like AIMCET.

The syllabus of MCA entrance exams comprises mental ability, English comprehension and mathematics of Class XII standard. While most of the MCA entrance tests have objective questions, some universities follow a mixed pattern of objective, short-answer and long-answer questions.

From the back to the front

• Q: I am working as a back office accountant in a hotel but am bored with my job. I am an extrovert with good communication skills. I feel I would do well as a front office executive but don’t have any experience in this area. How should I go about it?

• — Gauri Dasgupta

• A: Just because front office work is different from what you’re doing now, doesn’t mean you aren’t — or couldn’t soon be — qualified to do the job. Often, people find they can build on core functional skills they already possess.

Talk to at least three people who are doing the job you want to move into. Find out what skills, training and experience are needed and assess your own career and experience to see whether you match these requirements and identify the gaps.
Organisations are now increasingly open to lateral moves. Particularly, if the person has worked in the organisation and is well acquainted with its culture.

Sink your teeth into dentistry

• Q: I will be completing BDS this year. What are the openings for dentists in the armed forces?

• — G.S. Saha

• A: The armed forces medical services recruits dental surgeons in the army corps, both in direct permanent commission as well as in the short service commission. The eligibility and selection procedure is as follows.

The eligibility for direct permanent commission is 60 per cent marks in bachelor of dental surgery (BDS) or master of dental surgery (MDS). The candidates should have completed a one-year rotatory internship, besides having a permanent dental registration certificate of the Dental Council of India and be medically fit. The candidates should not be more than 28 years old.

The selection is based on the BDS result, written (objective) exam, clinical test and interview. For the short service commission, the eligibility is 55 per cent in BDS / MDS. The candidates should have completed a one-year rotatory internship. The candidates should have a permanent dental registration certificate of the Dental Council of India. The age limit is 45 years. The selection is based on the BDS result and interview. They have to also clear the medical exam. The candidates, on commissioning in the army dental corps, will be granted the rank of captain.

Besides a competitive salary, they are also entitled to free ration, subsidised accommodation and allied facilities. MDS degree holders are eligible for PG allowance. In addition, they are entitled to 60 days of annual leave and 20 days of casual leave, LTC, free medical facilities for self and family, including parents and group insurance of Rs 10 lakh.

The Army Dental Corps delivers oral health care to the service personnel, veterans and their families through a network of dental treatment facilities. These include, independent dental set ups, dental set up at various levels of deployment of the troops, military dental centres at Command level, air force dental centres spear headed by the Air Force Institute of Dental Sciences, naval dental centres on ships and the shore spearheaded by the Naval Institute of Dental Science, Armed Forces Dental Clinic, New Delhi, and the two centres of excellence — department of dental sciences, AFMC, Pune, and Army Dental Centre (research and referral), Delhi Cantonment.