Preparing For UPSC, While in College!
A fresh and enthusiastic pass-out student from a college has very high chances of the clearing if guided properly. If a student has aspirations for Civil Services, s/he should start preparing for UPSC from the pre-final year or in the final year. An early bird has better prospects if the preparation is in the right direction. So, lets delve into the methodical preparation for UPSC by college students.
Firstly, know the eligibility criteria for UPSC :
A candidate must be of 21 years of age and must possess a graduate degree in any subject to
write UPSC CSE.
Secondly, the student must be aware of the plan of exam :
Its divided into three parts.
- Preliminary examination
- Mains examination
- Interview
Now lets come to the preparation part:
1. Be thorough with the syllabus: Yes! UPSC syllabus is huge. Go through it, twice or thrice. Choose your optional subject, depending on your comfort. It might or might not be your graduation subject.
2. Buy the most recommended books for it :
Since you dont have any time constraints so prioritize your time and read a few basic books like:
NCERTS for all the conventional subjects.
Modern History by Bipan Chandra
- Polity by Laxmikanth
- And an Oxford School Atlas
3. Newspaper Reading: This is one of the most important habits to be developed by a UPSC aspirant. Make newspapers and indispensable part of your daily life. If you come across any place locate the place in your Atlas.
Prefer The Hindu or The Indian Express.
4. Find a Peer Group: Get along the Friends/seniors/juniors who aspire for UPSC. This will help you maintain your tempo and clear the doubts as well.
5. Discuss with friends: No matter whether your friends are preparing for UPSC or not, discuss the news items with them. This will help you in remembering the facts.
6. Be happy and Positive: This should be cultivated throughout. No one likes to recruit and unhappy person. So, try to put a happy face and be positive about the future.
7. Finish Optional subjects in semester break: It is the strategy of some toppers to finish the optional subject during semester breaks during college so that they can concentrate on General Studies (GS) and current affairs after graduation. Completing an optional subject becomes a lot more easy if its your graduation subject. Try to have a command over it.
8. Read IAS Toppers Interviews: Reading the IAS toppers Interviews not only motivate but also provide guidance. They help you analyse whether you are on right track or not.
Good luck!
