Need Guidance for Optional Subjects
 

Assalam o Aailaikum All,

Respected Members,

I need guidance/tips for selecting optional subjects. I have done Masters in Economics and Finance, an MBA Finance and some certifications in relevant subjects. I am planning to attempt CSS in Feb' 2018 for which i need some pertinent advice regarding selection of optional subjects.

I have been reading reviews through which I came to know that international relations is a subject which covers major parts of compulsory subjects. Though I have a finance background, I am a bit confused to go for IR or not. I am also working in planning department of a autonomous Govt corporation where I regularly write reports and analysis and do market research for different business avenues.

I have also planned to take classes in KIPS Karachi in order to streamline course contents and to work in a focused direction. On a rough estimate, I have 1500 hours for studying CSS books. Can anyone guide me in this regard?

I would suggest that you should try to study for a week or so and then decide. I believe reading scholastic articles and keeping up on the news from various different publishers is the best way to stay informed on International Affairs. The theory is perhaps the bulk of the foundational works along with International political economy (IPE) and International organizations/Law. Then there are a lot of dynamic parts; what is happening around the globe etc.
I would suggest you read global politics by Andrew Heywood as a starter and then decide whether you find it interesting or not. I hope that helped a bit.

Thank you. Yes that may help. But one more thing i want to ask that if someone is aiming for high marks in order to get his desired group like I am aiming for Foreign Service, would it be prudent to opt for subjects that are not very high scoring? Or to keep it simple and go for accounts where you have a good background and which would require less efforts to cover the course.

I have gone through accounts paper and few questions don't look that tough. But yes if I go for accounts rather than IR, I would be losing major contents and topics that can help me in other compulsory subjects. Isn't it?

First of all, this is a huge decision. Do not take my words on this or anyone else's. You are the only person who has to make a decision and live with that for at least a couple of years. So do not take a hasty decision.
Now let us deal with your issue. Your issue has two parts:
a) A subject with a foundational background: It seems that you have a sound background in accounting and it will take you less time to prepare for it. That is true; it will take you a little less time to prepare for accounting and you can utilize this time to study other subjects such as current affairs and Pakistan affairs. However, you should keep a couple of things in mind. Firstly, having a foundational or even advanced knowledge in a subject does not necessarily mean that you will score high in the exam. Secondly, you might think that you have previous knowledge about accounts; you might not study as harder as it is required and in the end, it might not be as fruitful as you would have liked. Beware of these two things and you will do absolutely fine in accounts ( the Second point involves psychological perspective, I hope that I have made myself clear).
b) Overlapping Subject: It is also true that International Relations overlaps with Pakistan Affairs in general and with Current Affairs in particular. However, International Relations is a very dynamic subject and a bulk of foundational work would be required to get a hand of it. You have to keep yourself up to date with every resource available to you keeping in mind the foundational work of IR. So if you know the foundational work and learn the dynamics of IR, you will get a hand of IR and CA and Pakistan Affairs would become by-products.
In the end, If you choose accounts then you have to work hard for CA and Pakistan Affairs and if you to select IR then you have to work hard for IR. The amount of work will be equal. So chose the subject which is more interesting for you. The choice is YOURS.