When you hit the crossroads
A few times in our life, we find ourselves standing at a major crossroad where we have to make an important choice. For a K-12 student, this juncture of life is the final days of 12th grade. In this article, Education Today attempt to list few interesting courses from a myriad of options available for 12th PCM Students.
PCM stands for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Students who had taken PCM in their 12th grade have a plethora of options to decide from. In addition, a PCM student has the privilege to opt for courses in Arts as well as Commerce field.
Knowing your passion is the very first step while choosing a course or career. You should also contemplate seriously your aptitude, educational qualifications, and ability to cope with the subject and above all the financial commitments that is necessary during the course. Remember… Choosing the right college and course is a crucial decision in one’s life. It plays a vital role in shaping both, your professional and personal life.
Below is the list of some career-oriented courses available in India, which one can pursue after completion of the 12th PCM.
Engineering remains one of the most sought-after undergraduate courses in India, as per the researches. The many institutes that offer under-graduate courses offer either B.E (Bachelor of Engineering) or B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology). The B.Tech course is somewhat more practically intensive than the B.E course which is more theoretical.
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and Bachelor of Engineering (B.E)
These undergraduate programs in engineering/technology are of a duration of 4 years. Few major fields in this sector are Information Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Mining and Mineral Engineering, Production Engineering, Power Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering etc.
Admission procedure: Any state or national level engineering entrance exam
Colleges: IITs and NITs at different places in India; BITS Pilani; School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun; SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai; Lovely Professional University, Phagwara; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal; Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore; RV College of Engineering, Bangalore.
Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
B.Des degree is a full-time four-year course offered in various specializations such as Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Accessory Designing, Textile Designing and much more. Over the years, the B.Des degree has evolved and now offered in various design specializations such as Graphic Designing, Multimedia Designing, VFX Design, Visual Communication, and Game Designing.
Admission procedure: Aspirants have to appear for Design Entrance Exams comprising written test, drawing test and interviews.
Colleges: IITs and NIFTs at various places in India; Indian Institute of Art and Design; Vellore Institute of Technology; MG University, Kottayam; Delhi Technological University; IIITDM, Jabalpur.
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
This five-year full-time undergraduate degree program in the field of architecture is a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge for students to learn the art of planning, designing and constructing physical structures of various kinds.
Admission procedure: Entrance examination
Colleges: IITs; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka; Chandigarh University, Chandigarh; Rizvi college of architecture, Mumbai; Anna University, Chennai; JNAFAU, Hyderabad; IPS academy, Indore; AMITY University, Lucknow
Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)
Bachelor of Computer Application is a 3-year undergraduate program that renders an in-depth understanding of the basic application techniques in the computer. The course enables students a platform to develop their programming skills and learn application packages. Programming languages and much more.
Admission procedure: Entrance test or merit list
Colleges: Presidency college, Chennai; Mount Carmel college, Banglore; Loyola College, Chennai; Madras Christian College, Chennai; Christ University, Banglore.
Bachelor of Science/Baccalaureus Scientiae (B.Sc)
This is the most popular three-year degree course and offers graduation in a variety of subjects which includes the study of physics, chemistry, maths, astronomy, forensic science, forestry, aquaculture, geology, statistics, industrial chemistry, nautical science, home science, nutrition, clothing and textile, extension and communication, environmental science, human development and family studies etc.
Admission procedure: Merit-based admissions; few institutes conduct entrance exams.
Colleges: IISc at various Indian cities, Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi; GD Goenka University, Haryana; St Stephens College, Delhi; Loyola College, Chennai; Christ University, Banglore; Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
Bachelor of Forensic Science
If you have a knack for solving or investigating crimes, then you should go for forensic science. Also known as criminalistics, it has aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, social sciences, etc. There are various specializations that one can take up while opting for Forensic Science.
Admission procedure: Merit-based admission
Colleges: National Forensic Science University, Gujarat; Parul University, Vadodara; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Calicut University, Kerala.
National Defense Services
The NDA offers only a full-time, residential undergraduate program. Cadets are awarded a Baccalaureate degree after 3 years of study. The Science stream of NDA offers studies in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Admission procedure: National level NDA exam.
Railway Apprentice Exam
The selected candidates get trained for four years, not just in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering; they are also groomed to take up leadership positions in the Indian Railways as Class 1 officers.
Admission procedure: All India Special Railway Apprentice Exam by UPSC.
Commercial Pilot Training
In India, there are various pilot training Institutions that provide various training courses. The training courses that are offered by the institutions are given here. You can pursue for these training courses after the 12th.
- Student Pilot License: The duration of this course is six months.
- Private Pilot License: It is a one-year duration course.
- Commercial Pilot License: The duration of this course is three years.
Through these training courses, you can only allow flying as a co-pilot. If you interested to fly as a captain then, you have to need an Airline Transport Pilot’s License.
Admission procedure: IGRUA Entrance Test
Conclusion
There are a wide number of options after your 12th PCM and it’s impossible to enlist all those in a single article. Apart from all these subject-specific courses, there are certain Vocational Courses that are provided by Vocational Training Institutes of some state-owned institutes of technology. There are many diploma courses that have wider options than engineering. Not to forget courses like sports management, merchant navy, or hotel management that offer you a completely different set of experiences that engineering students are completely aloof with!
Consider your choice based on your advantage or limitations. Choose wisely, choose best to set your career in pace.
– Compiled by Mahesh Kallayil
References
https://www.indiaeducation.net/engineering/about-engineering/difference-be-btech.aspx
https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-be-btech-colleges-in-india
https://www.shiksha.com
https://www.sarvgyan.com