A guide to making informed decisions after matriculation

Eastern Mirror Desk

Dimapur, March 29 (EMN): The spread of the novel coronavirus across the globe is having a massive impact on schools and colleges across the country. Nagaland is no different with classes and examinations both being suspended and postponed by the state government to prevent the spread of Covid-19. If you’re a student, you might be concerned about the uncertainty of your plans for the coming months. Even more so would be students who have appeared their class ten board exams, and are currently evaluating the pros and cons of choosing a particular stream and their career path.

The plethora of opportunities and choices available might look intimidating at first, but on introspection you might realise that the positives and negatives of your options would either be in tune to your ambitions or not.

However, you need to answer a couple of questions before taking the plunge –

What are the career opportunities in the subjects you are deciding on?

What are the curricula followed by the different boards?

Should you consider professional courses or stick to more options that are traditional?

Choosing the right stream after class ten will be one of the most important decisions you make, as your future career decisions will depend on it. It will be wise to avoid the ‘herd mentality’ of choosing a course your friends are enrolling in, or the one suggested by your parents. This kind of erroneous action often leads to dissatisfied career choices, as you would be opting for a stream without knowing what it entails.

Science

Science is one of the most sought after courses and most parents would want their child to take up this stream as it has a number of rewarding career opportunities.

Another major advantage is that it allows students to change streams and take up Arts or Commerce later if they are not at ease with programs or specialisations available at the graduation level.

For a career in medical stream, students need to take Physics, Chemistry and Biology as their main subjects. Students who have interest in Biology can make a career in Medical line and for that, they can opt for courses like:

MBBS( Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental surgery),BAMS or Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery, Optometrists, Dental Surgeon, Pharmacists, Nursing etc.

For a career in the engineering domain, students should opt for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as their main subjects. In engineering, there are various streams and they further offer specialisation when students go for post graduation. The common specialisations for a career in engineering are:

Mechanical engineering, Civil engineering, Aeronautical engineering, Bio-Medical engineering, Information Technology, Marine engineering, Computer Science engineering, Electronics and telecommunication, etc.

Apart from medical and engineering fields, a science student can opt for PCMB subjects and explore career options in –

Forensic Science: B.Sc. in Forensic Sciences engineering, Diploma in F/Sciences (Ballistics and Finger Prints), B. Sc  in Life Science, Chemistry, Forensic Science, Diploma in Forensic Science (Cyber Crimes), Diploma in Forensic Science  (Computer Forensics), Diploma in Criminology and Forensic etc.

Zoology: B. Sc (Hons) in Zoology, B. Sc in Zoology and Animal Biotechnology, B. Sc in Aquaculture(Fishery Microbiology), B. Sc in Advanced Zoology.

Biotechnology: B.E. in Biotechnology, B. Tech (Industrial Biotechnology), Diploma in Biotechnology, B. Science in Biotechnology, B. Sc in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Agriculture: B. Sc (Agriculture Marketing and Business Management), B. Sc (Biochem. and Agricultural Chemistry), B. Sc in Crop Physiology, B. Sc in Entomology, B. Sc (Hons) in Agriculture, B. Science in Agricultural Eco and Farm management, B. Sc in Agricultural Statistics, B. Sc in Agronomy, B. Sc in Agricultural Meteorology, B. Sc in Agricultural Biotechnology

Geology: B. Sc (Hons) Geology, PG Diploma in Geology (Groundwater), PG Diploma in Environmental Geology, PG Diploma in Engineering Geology,

Textile: Diploma in Fabrication Tech and Erection Engineering, B.E in Textile Technology, Diploma in Textile Technology, Diploma in Textile Engineering, B.E in man-made Fibre Technology, B.E in Textile Chemistry

Microbiology: Diploma in Clinical Microbiology, Diploma in Clinical Pathology, B. Science in Microbiology, Diploma in Industrial Microbiology, B. Science (Hons) in Microbiology

Food Technology: B. Sc in Food Processing and Technology, B. Sc in Food Storage, Preservation and Food Tech, B. Sc in Food Technology (Bio-Chemical Engineering), Diploma in Fish Processing Technology, Diploma in Sugar Technology, B. Sc in Food Preservation and Processing, B. Sc in Food Processing

Commerce

Career options for commerce students include those in the accounting, auditing, finance and banking sectors. Earlier, choosing this stream would get you a few handpicked commerce careers, like one in banking. That is no longer the case as the sector is growing at an unbelievably fast pace.

Here are some of the career paths if you choose commerce:

Entrepreneurship

Teaching and academia

Analytics: Business analytics, Statistics, Actuarial science, Quantitative finance, Financial engineering

Management: MBA (General), MBA(Marketing, Business, International, Operations, HR), M.sc Marketing/International Business

Professional courses: Accounts (Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, Financial Advisors, Directors (Finance), Certified Public Accountant, Chief Financial Officer, Chartered Management Accountant, Company Secretary

Banking and Finance: Economics, Finance, MBA/MBA Finance, Investment banking

Financial services: Financial modelling, Credit Analysis, Investment Management, Commercial banking, Corporate Finance, Equity Research Analysis, Regulation and Compliance

Sales and Marketing: M.com, Sales, Advertisement, Communications and PR, MBA Marketing

IT: MCA, M.sc-IT, Web Development, UI/UX Design, Animation

Humanities/ Arts

Contrary to the belief, humanities offer a vast range of career options for students. Students who have completed their graduation in arts can opt for a variety of careers. Careers in Arts are no longer the lesser cousins of careers after studying Science or Commerce. Careers in Social Science are as lucrative and prestigious career options as their engineering and medical counterparts.

One can opt for career paths in: Mass Media, Journalism, Literature, Languages(Interpreter/ Translator), Social Service, History, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Human Resources, Economics, Interior and Exterior Designers, Film Making, Photography, Fine Arts, Event organiser, Travel Agent, Content Writers/ Editors etc.

                                                                                   (With inputs from Stoodnt)