Course Options After 10+2: Dr. Shahid Amin Trali Assistant Professor School of Management, ITM University

It is never ideal to make hasty, unplanned decisions due to peer/parental pressure. It is important for students to pursue a field they are truly passionate about. Selecting the right stream is really important as your future depends on it.

It is not that easy to decide on a better career option that will determine the rest of life for any student, especially at the small age of 16 or 17. Even parents today are left confused about the right suggestions for their children. Therefore confusions a student has to face are massive and varied in nature. The questions that may arise in any student’s mind may be in the form of whether to opt for a B.Sc. degree; or switch to the field of Commerce; or whether to opt for a three-year regular course; or go for a correspondence degree; or whether to go for professional careers such as Business, CA, CS or Journalism?

A right decision can help the students’ progress in their career. There are some mistakes made by the parents and students in selecting the right career. Many students just take up any stream because some of their friends or relatives have also decided to take that stream. Students must choose the stream which they are most passionate about rather than doing what others are doing. Many parents also give examples of others to influence the decision of their child. This can also have a bad impact on the career of their children.

Today there are vast options as degree, diploma and certificate courses available for the students. For those who have studied Science with Maths in Class 11th and 12th, the most popular courses are B.Tech, Integrated M.Tech, BCA, B.Arch and BSc etc. Students with PCM/PCMB combination can also make a career in the aviation industry as a Commercial Pilot. For students who have studied Science with Biology in Class 11th and 12th, the most popular courses are MBBS, BDS, B. Pharma, B.Sc Nursing and Paramedical courses etc. Science students are also eligible to pursue courses like Law, Management, Mass Communication, Animation, Graphic Designing, Travel & Tourism and Fashion Designing etc. For those who have studied Commerce in Class 11th  and 12th, the popular courses at UG level are BBA/ BMS, BBA Hons., Integrated MBA, B.Com, B.com (H), Eco.(H), CA and CS etc. Students with Arts backgrounds have career choices in BA, BA (H), B.PES, BA- LLB, BJMC, BBA/BMS, B. Lib, BSW etc. It must also be kept in mind that the different degree courses mentioned are offered with many good specializations and continuously new courses are emerging which offer a bright future. For example, B.Tech degree course in addition to its traditional specializations nowadays offer more specializations like Computer Science, Data Science, Cloud Computing, Cyber forensics, Biotechnology, Agriculture technology etc. BBA degree course has specializations like marketing, HR, Finance, Data Analytics, Retail, Aviation, Tourism, Financial Markets etc. Degree courses in the field of science also have new specializations like Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food technology etc.

Job-oriented diploma courses are also available for students from science, commerce or arts backgrounds. Diploma courses could last anywhere between 1-3 years. Some of the popular courses are Diploma in Retail Management, Diploma in Hotel Management, Diploma in Digital Marketing, Diploma in Education Technology, Diploma in Dairy Technology, Diploma in Nursing, Diploma in Physiotherapy, Diploma in Occupational Therapy, Diploma in Operation Theatre Technology, Diploma in Dialysis Technology, Diploma in Medical Lab Technology, Diploma in X-Ray Technology, Diploma in Radiography, Diploma in Event Management, Diploma in Filmmaking and Video Editing, Diploma in Fashion and interior design, Diploma in Computer Application etc.

There are some students who may look for just certificate courses that suit their capabilities. Certificate courses are a great source of help in finding suitable employment opportunities for these students. In India, those certificate courses are available in different streams such as Management, Healthcare, Education, Foreign Languages Arts, Commerce, Science, Law etc. Some of the popular certificate courses are Certificate in Rural Development, Certificate in Social Work, Certificate in Disaster Management, Certificate in Organic Farming, Certificate in Environmental Studies, Certificate in E-Commerce, Certificate in Banking, Certificate in Retail Management, Certificate in Event Management, Certificate in Radio Jockeying, Certificate in Computer Application and IT, Certificate in Tourism Studies and Hospitality. Students after 10+2 also have opportunities in various public sector and private sector jobs which a candidate can apply for immediately after class 12th. Those who aspire to have a career in this sector must have to put in lot of efforts to get selected.

It is being observed that some of the students panic if they have scored less in their board exams. Today we have a dynamic age of self-starters, there are huge opportunities available. Hence there is no need to panic. But it is never ideal to make hasty, unplanned decisions due to peer/parental pressure. It is important for students to pursue a field they are truly passionate about. Selecting the right stream is really important as your future depends on it.

No course is a bad course. What it demands is a deep interest on part of students. Students must develop true passion in it. They must not hesitate to seek inputs and career guidance from seniors and experts. Career counseling with the trained career counsellors can also help students solve their career-related confusions. Career counsellors may make use of assessment tests that can potentially analyse student skills, interests, abilities and then proper career guidance is provided to the students. It's much easier to forge a career path when students know what they want in their career. It is better to be well prepared and be on a right path. It’s well said that taking right steps early on will save our children from a lot of struggle and uncertainty in the long run.