An Overview Of Career Options After 12th Science

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Deciding what to do after 12th Science can be a difficult task for many students. While some Science students are sure of what courses after 12th can be pursued, others are more inclined to explore a range of career opportunities. Unlike other courses in 12th, Science students do not have any limitations in choosing a career path. 

Due to so many available options, choosing the right career path can be a cause of confusion. After all, among so many available decisions, it’s not easy to decide which one will be right for you. 

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Why Science?

12th-grade science usually comprises Physics, Chemistry, and a combination of other subjects such as Computer Science, Biology, Mathematics, etc. With these subject combinations from the science stream, students can appear for different entrance exams for professional courses in the engineering or medical field.

Alternatively, they can also go for regular degree courses in Science or Humanities like B.Sc. or B.A. Besides, Science students also have the option to go for non-traditional popular courses, such as Mass Communication, or Hotel Management. In short, the options for science students are many, and they have the freedom to explore a host of different courses after class 12th. 

How To Choose the Best Career Options After 12th Science?

Know Your Options

Choosing the right career option after Science in 12th depends on several factors. The two most important among them are the aggregate marks one obtains and the performance in the various entrance exams. The eligibility criteria for any course after 12th science is usually dependent on either one or both of these two factors. However, at the same time, the inclination and career goals of the student also play an important role in this choice. 

Choose Your Subjects Wisely 

To an extent, the choice is also influenced by the combination of core subjects and electives that a student opts for in 12th. For example, if you do not have Biology with Physics and Chemistry, it would be difficult to go for entrance examinations for various medical courses. As a result, considerable attention must be paid to the choice of core subjects and electives in 12th. 

Select The Right Entrance Exams

In the case of regular degree courses, students passing class 12th will have to witness a major change this year. The central universities will have a Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to B.Sc. and B.A. and other regular degree programs. For students who want to pursue a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, or Biology, appearing for the CUET will be the gateway to some of the best universities in India. On the other hand, engineering students will have to appear for the JEE Mains, while medical students have to appear for the NEET exam.

But what are the different streams and courses that students can explore after 12th Science? Here are some popular ones: 

1. Engineering
2. Medicine (MBBS/BDS)
3. Architecture
4. Computer Science/Information Technology
5. Biotechnology
6. Pharmacy
7. Mathematics and Statistics
8. Physics
9. Chemistry
10. Biology (Botany/Zoology)
11. Environmental Science
12. Geology
13. Astronomy/Astrophysics
14. Agriculture/Horticulture
15. Forensic Science
16. Bioinformatics
17. Nanotechnology
18. Marine Biology
19. Food Technology
20. Forestry

These are just a few examples, and there are many more specialized and interdisciplinary fields that students can explore after completing 12th-grade science. The choice often depends on individual interests, aptitude, and career goals.

You can find below a list of courses that can help you pursue a strong career in the different domains of Science.   

Engineering

Engineering is easily one of the most preferred options for students who pursue 12th in Science. In order to go for engineering, a student should ideally have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in 12th. These are compulsory subjects from which questions in the engineering entrance examination are asked. 

Usually, the entrance examination for engineering courses is of two types. Either it is a common examination conducted by a body, such as JEE Main, or conducted by an institute for admission into that particular institute only. Once you have cracked the entrance exam with a good score, you need to select the right engineering stream to go with.

Top Courses In Engineering

Let's look at some of the choices available to students who want to pursue an engineering degree after 12th Science. 

• B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering
• B. Tech in Civil Engineering
• B. Tech in Computer Science Engineering
• B. Tech in Biomedical Engineering
• B. Tech in Pharmaceutical Engineering
• B. Tech in Power Engineering 
• B. Tech in Food Technology

Opportunities After Engineering

Engineering courses are so popular because of the huge demand for engineering graduates in the job market. There are numerous job opportunities for engineers in the private sector as well as in various PSUs and government bodies. As an alternative option, they can also go and pursue an M. Tech.

However, the demand for engineering graduates from different streams also varies considerably. For instance, recent reports have observed through data how Civil Engineering placements in many of the IITs have been consistently low over the last 10 years. On the other hand, the placements for software engineers have been consistently high. 

Medicine MBBS

In order to pursue MBBS or Medicine, one should have Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Life Sciences (PCB) as core subjects in class 12th. Usually, a degree in Medicine from Indian universities is a 5-year course and once it's completed, students can become doctors and be part of the healthcare industry.

The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing an MMBS degree is qualifying in the NEET exam. Medical seats are allotted on the basis of a candidate's score in the NEET exam. Even though close to 15 Lakhs candidates appear for the NEET examination every year, only 50% to 60% manage to qualify for it. As a result, MBBS is easily a top choice career in science.

Top Colleges For Medicine In India

• All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIMS)
• Christian Medical College Vellore
• Madras Medical College, Chennai
• Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata
• B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
• Seth G. S. Medical College, Mumbai

Opportunities After  MBBS 

As one of the most popular streams after 12th Science, the job of a medical professional is one of the most difficult. A seasoned medical professional must have a good knowledge of the human body and minor mistakes can prove to be fatal in both short-term as well as long. After degree holders in medicine have a plethora of opportunities in the healthcare sector.

Usually, they start as Junior Doctors followed by growth in the hierarchy. They can also pursue alternative careers, such as hospital management and medical writing. Private practice as a registered physician is also a respectable and well-paid career choice after MBBS. 

General Degree Courses In Science

Even though general degree courses are not as popular as engineering or medicine courses, they can be dynamic and come with a variety of options. Usually, these are three-year program in India and are offered by all colleges both big and small. On top of that, there are always numerous courses to choose from here.

Due to the wide array of courses available in this domain, it is hard to generalize them. For starters, the eligibility criteria and core subjects also vary from course to course. In the first stage, you will need a minimum aggregate mark to apply for the course, followed by an entrance examination. In some cases, the merit list may be prepared based only on the marks obtained.

Top General Degree Courses

• B. Sc in (Physics, Chemistry or Maths)
• Bachelors of Computer Application (BCA)
• BSc Nursing
• BSc Design
• B. Arch (Architecture)
• B. Sc in Forensic Science
• B. Sc in Actuarial Science
• B.  Sc in Food Technology

Pursuing a general degree course is a great option after 12th as it offers a plethora of career options to choose from. Many of these courses can be pursued irrespective of 12th in PCM or PCB. However, in some courses, such as BSc Nursing and B.Sc in Food Technology, PCB is preferred over 12th in PCM. The average starting salary after these courses is also highly competitive and promises a bright future after graduation.

Some Other Science Stream Course Options

Students who graduate with an academic background in 12th with Science PCM can also go for courses that are purely professional. Science stream graduates can explore career opportunities here, but there will not be any connection with the subjects that have been taught in the science stream. However, there are a plethora of career options in fields like management, hotel management, hospitality, etc.

Let's look at some of these courses that are most popular with science stream students.

• Program in Travel and Tourism
• Programs in Event Management
• Courses on Tourism Business Management
• Courses on Hotel Management
• Short-term courses on the Stock Market
• Courses on various branches of Management
• Bachelor's In Business Administration (BBA)

Tips For A Career After 12th Science

• When choosing a career after science, especially for Indian students, peer and family pressure acts as a very important influence. More often than not, what family or friends say is not backed by any research or analysis and is based only on hearsay. The most important tip that students graduating in science must remember is not to fall for such traps. Do your own research and come to the right conclusion before making a choice.
• Listen to your heart! Listening to your heart is very important if you want to have a successful career in any field. For example, there are obviously more opportunities for computer science engineers compared to architecture and civil engineers. Still, if you find that designing buildings and structures fascinates you, then you should go for the latter. 
• The choice of career after 12th Science will have a long-term impact on your life, and it's natural to be under pressure. It is also natural to feel that decision-making is hard under the given circumstances, and handling the situation alone will be difficult. As a result, if necessary, take help from career counselors and any other source of guidance you might have at hand. 
• Remember that in today's market, dynamism and flexibility are rewarded. Don't be afraid of switching streams, thinking that it's not a productive choice. If you feel you can succeed in a particular field, go all in for it. If you're good at it, you can be successful no matter which career you choose.

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