Class 12 Board exams is over for some and will be over soon for others. Uppermost in the minds of most class 12 students (and parents) will be – now what? It is now time to plan the next step towards a career.
While the Science stream continues to be a popular choice in school, figures seem to suggest that only about 35% of the young student population in India enrols itself in pure Science and Technology.
Students are mostly not aware of options in science beyond Medicine, Engineering and Information Technology.
Science as currently taught in schools focuses more on rote learning of concepts, rather than learning through discovery and exploration.
A number of options are open to the students from the Science stream
Medicine
The medical profession is a long haul, but a very rewarding and lucrative career option.
There are numerous career opportunities once you complete your study of medicine.
One can also enter into many allied fields after undergoing short training or specialization courses.
Below are the 2 degrees that you can opt for: MBBS or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and BDS (Bachelor of Dental surgery)
The degree level qualification for a medical profession is MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine And Bachelor Of Surgery) which is of 5 1/2 years duration (including 1 year internship).
After MBBS, candidates can go for post graduate level studies (MD or MS), which is usually of 3 years duration through another entrance.
Post Graduates (MD or MS or M Sc in Medicine) can further opt for super-specialisation. i.e. they can go for PhD in any specialised area of medicine.
For those who have an interest in Biology and are looking forward to a career in Medicine can also opt for other courses like Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Physician, Optometrists, Dental Surgeon, Pharmacists, Nursing among several others.
Engineering
Engineering is one field that opens doors into a vast range of hardcore and allied science fields.
Engineers have a wider choice of work options than any other profession, and have a vast scope in advanced areas.
If you have an inclination towards Maths, Physics and chemistry you can plan for a career in engineering.
There are several different specializations that one can opt for depending on your interest. Some of the popular specializations are:
Mechanical: involves the application of laws and principles of Physics to analyze, design, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems.
Civil: Civil Engineering deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings.
Aeronautical: One of the frontier branches of engineering dealing with the design and manufacture of aircrafts, missiles, satellites and spaceships.
Chemical: Chemical Engineering involves the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms.
Electrical: This branch largely deals with the design and application of circuitry and equipment for power generation and distribution.
Marine: A marine engineer's responsibilities consist of development, designing and maintenance of ships' engines and propulsion system.
Electronics: An electronics engineer works to design, fabricate, produce, test and supervise the manufacturing of electronic and data processing equipments and components of various industries.
Communication Engineering: A new study discipline that deals with advanced communication instruments like satellites, television, telephone, radar etc.
Computer Engineering: Computer engineers build computers and computer-based systems for cars, planes, appliances and many other products.
Students who have completed class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are eligible to apply for admission to various engineering colleges.
In most colleges, selection is on the basis of performance in an Entrance Test.
Some of the more popular entrance exams such as IIT JEE do give considerable weightage to the class 12 marks.
So students can now no longer ignore their class 12 studies. BE/ BTech (4 years), ME/ MTech (2 years), Integrated M Tech 5 years (Gets 2 degrees, B Tech and M Tech).
Architecture
Architects design structures and give a physical face-lift as well as provide functional utility, safety and economy.
The job of and architect is not limited to designing corporate offices, rather they design houses, apartments and colonies, industrial complexes, hospitals, hotels, airport terminals, stadium, shopping and commercial complexes. Architects focus on how to make living easy and comfortable.
Most popular Architecture institutes in the country use the scores of NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) for admission to their 5-year B-Arch course.
It measures the aptitude of the applicant for architecture.
The test measures drawing and observation skills, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking ability, that have been acquired over a long period of time, and that are related to specific field of study.
NATA is offered over major part of admission season at designated Test Centres located at colleges/ schools of architecture in India.
As per Council of Architecture regulations, only the candidates who have qualified the aptitude test in Architecture and have secured at leat 50% marks in 10+2 with Maths as a subject are eligible for admission into the first year of the B-Arch course.