Need Guidance and Counseling For the UPSC Exam? You’ve Come to the Right Place

Considered the most daunting competitive exam and the most prestigious competitive exam of the country, the UPSC exam takes a heavy toll on the minds of the young aspirants. Preparation for the UPSC exam required great dedication and determination and to help young aspirants like you conquer the UPSC exam we have prepared this article. In this article, we will guide you on how to prepare for the UPSC exam and provide you with the necessary information which will help you move in the right direction. Thousands of aspirants each year appear for the exam and the number of applicants is increasing rapidly, which is why proper guidance and counseling is required for the UPSC exam. In this article, we will discuss why guidance and counseling are needed? What are the common misconceptions that young aspirants have about the UPSC exam, and finally a list of all of the things that a UPSC aspirant should know before applying for the exam? 

Why is UPSC Counseling Needed?

UPSC witnesses candidates from all backgrounds students who are in high school, college, even people who are working in a company apply for the UPSC exam however the vast syllabus and tough selection process gives the UPSC exam an impression of being the toughest competitive exam and yet the number of applicants is rising at rapid growth. Many aspirants get discouraged due to the drastic difference between the candidates applying and candidates who are able to clear the exam, with over a lakh of applications only a few thousands of candidates are able to clear the examination with such drastic difference counseling become the only motivator and pushes students to study harder and stay determined even when they are discouraged. Although being tough the UPSC exam can still be conquered if you have the right mindset and proper dedication, the exam is definitely not insurmountable.

Common Myths and Misconceptions About The UPSC Exam:

1. Believed to be the toughest competitive exam in the country, due to its vast syllabus and the rising number of applicants the UPSC exam is believed to be the toughest competitive examination in the country. However, with the right mindset and the proper dedication, anyone can clear the UPSC exam with ease. 
2. Believed to be the exam for humanity stream students or students from an engineering background, there are many misconceptions about the education field for which the exam is suitable however a student can be of any stream and still clear the exam. 
3. Many believe that to clear the UPSC exam you have to be great in studies right from your high school, however, this is not true a candidate can clear the exam even if he/she was not great in studies in their high school. The UPSC exam can be easily cleared if you are persistent and focused. Being good in studies in high school or college has zero relation with your success in the UPSC exam. 
4. “Begin your preparation right from high school if you want to clear the UPSC exam” we all have heard this statement many times but it holds no value. Students can begin their preparation whenever they want and still clear the UPSC exam only if they are dedicated and focused. Beginning your UPSC preparation from high school gives you a minimal advantage over the rest of the applicants. There are hundreds of cases where aspirants didn’t start their preparation in high school and yet still cleared the exam. 
5. Many believe that UPSC preparation costs a lot of money and the majority of people can’t afford it. This is not true as there are now many coaching institutes that provide great flagship quality education at affordable rates and have made education easily accessible. Institutes like Plutus IAS, TheHinduzone, etc. have made UPSC preparation affordable and have helped thousands of students achieve their dream. 
6. Many aspirants get demotivated after listening to people studying for unfathomable time, “you have to study for 12 hours a day, 15 hours a day, 18 hours a day” all of this demotivates aspirants. Studying for long hours will not help you until you don’t understand the topics, concepts clearly. 
7. “You need to have a graduation degree in the subject which you wish to choose an optional subject” This statement holds zero truth that an aspirant can choose any optional subject that he/she wishes to.

Things you should know before applying for the UPSC exam:

1. The UPSC exam tests all skills and abilities of a candidate and his/her mental capacity. To clear the UPSC exam a candidate has to be quick and accurate with his/her decisions and make quick judgments in the case of an emergency. 
2. A proper strategy, plan, and timetable are needed to properly prepare for the exam.
3. Aspirants should be aware of all of the requirements, eligibility criteria, academic, and physical requirements. 
4. Complete information about the UPSC exam syllabus is needed and aspirants should go through the whole syllabus thoroughly and revise the whole syllabus at least once. 
5. Since the exam takes a heavy toll and is quite demanding, an aspirant should pre-plan his/her approach and have at least 3 years preplanned. Although in some cases aspirants have cleared the exam in the first go, a candidate must pre-plan his/her 3 years in advance. 
6. Put in serious efforts and do not get phased by false claims like “people who have reservation have better chances of clearing the exam since it’s a government examination” all this is untrue, with proper dedication and determination anyone can clear the UPSC exam.

Some More Benefits of a Guidance And Counselling Program:

1. Prepares children for career and personal challenges through career and personal development.
2. It makes them competent for future success.
3. Equipes them with all the latest career trends.
4. Improves personal development.
5. Shapes the child for decision making and making the process by developing their interpersonal skills.
6. Induces teamwork and leadership qualities.
7. Educates them about the changing world.
8. Fosters effective learning.
9. Gives them a feeling of being heard.
10. Facilitates with better communication skills and enhances their personalities.

Role Of a Guidance Counselor 

1. Gives wings to the dreams of children through vocational and career-oriented guidance.
2. Lends a heart to individual problems both academic and personal.
3. Aids in personal development.
4. Offers information about jobs, interviews, career scopes, advantages of selecting a specific field, the process of achieving it.
5. Advises on study techniques.
6. Makes the child mentally prepared for future outcomes.
7. Leads the child to a pathway by motivating on the strong points.
8. Works on polishing the skills to reach a determined goal.
9. Introduces to external agencies.

Conclusion:

With proper guidance and counseling, achieving great results in the UPSC exam is definitely possible. UPSC exam can get quite overwhelming due to its overly complicated and lengthy syllabus; however, with this article, we hope that some confusion is cleared and young aspirants now have a better understanding of the UPSC exam.