This is a log of conversation piece and some advice that I gave to a lost soul who was researching the prospects of doing MCA (Master of Computer Applications) degree.
Following are some facts about the MCA degree –
- MCA is a 3 year degree. Courses are run by various Universities and colleges across India
- MCA is equivalent to a B.Tech(4 years degree) or a BS(in US)
- MCA candidate’s commonly followed path is –
- BCA to MCA
- B.Sc (IT/CS) to MCA
I know these are two very different disciplines altogether, but, I have seen fresh graduates and under-graduates getting really confused about their situation. Frankly, people who are contemplating on choosing between these two domains, must not be having any clue about either of them. I mean, come on! how can someone say, “Should I take MCA or MBA after my graduation?”. That is downright funny.
See if you are thinking MCA is a very lucrative option, then, think again. First of all MCA is going to be 3 years of basic moronic stuff – really simple things and everyone knows that it is MBA that you got to do later in life to earn better pay.
It is better if it is done after some work experience though. 3-5 years is the recommended minimum. Although, the trend in India is to go for MBA right after graduation. Whereas, the western trend is completely opposite.
I’d tell you from personal experiences and from people around me – stuff that they teach in BCA+MCA (6 years) is just introductory compared to, say, a B.Tech (CS) course.
The pay
The MCA pay package, according to ’07 placements of Amity Noida, Pune University and Christ College (Bangalore) have been between 3-5 LPA. (per my conversation from the batch from these colleges).
If the above data is not an indication then I don’t know what is. Definitely, DO NOT choose MCA! Think about it – 3 years of MCA and all you get is 3 LPA (worst case) to 5.0-5.5 LPA (best case)!
Compare it with MBA guys. Lets take example of a B-level MBA college. The top pay package would be around 6.5-7L (some mid tier private uni), 9L (Symbiosis, this guy had a 2 year workex).
That was just numbers. Lets talk about future job satisfaction part, IMHO, coding sucks! Do you really wanna sit on a chair and type away 12 hours a day? quite mundane don’t you think? At least to me, it doesn’t seem much fun. Same old stuff day after day – code -> document -> code -> test -> document -> debug -> code -> document. I left my first coding job because I hated routine stuff like that. It didn’t help that my mentor said something along the lines of anybody can code.
Embellishments
Since you said you were good at maths (implies logic as well), therefore, you can code without needing to do a post grad in it. If you’re really keen, go for certifications like MCPD, MCAD or Java certs. It would be like a 6 months course you can do along with your college. It will equip you better accompanied by regular programming practice.
If you must, aim for being a Programmer not a coder (code monkeys, as we call them!)
The conversation
The closing conversation went something like this –
It would have been better if you did BCA and then MBA (would have given you basic IT edu and the an MBA would place you high up in the market. Don’t ruin your career track by opting for MCA! You’re good in maths, prepare for CAT. Get in a good A level college.
You can do a parallel courses in IT to quench your IT cravings, LOL, like certifications in SAP, ITIL, ITSM (IT service management), ERM(enterprise risk management), or other stuff. These will not only give you a managerial training from IT angle, but, also will look good on any resume. Keep in mind though, doing it parallel with MBA program might keep you really busy. As MBA programs are quite exhaustive.
All said and done, at the end of the day it is about how much is your take home pay. On a personal note I’d say a little experience before you do MBA would be best. People working under you do respect and pay attention to what you have to say if you’ve had experience under your belt. Otherwise you would be passed off as the new guy who can’t find their way. MBA programs from good places are really demanding, you’ll turn out really well.
Lastly, just have a look at this article by Mr Dheeraj, Prof. IITK [here]
Summary
MBAs are planners; IT people are the implementers. Let us know what do you think.
Tags: Education