Career Options for Students After 12th: Science, Arts, & Commerce

If you are about to graduate high school, the question that could be keeping you up at night is what to do after the 12th. The world is fast-paced, and there are many career options and different streams to choose from. Although this is a boon, it could also be quite confusing for a student. This blog is aimed at helping you gain clarity about your options after 12th.

What next after 12th?

Just because your cousin is a Banker doesn’t mean you will be one too. Just because your friend is studying Chemical Engineering after the 12th doesn’t mean it is also your calling in life. Choose a career option according to your ease and needs. It will help you reap benefits in the future.

If you want to help others but do not want to be a doctor, you can be an IAS/IPS Officer who works for the country’s people. Or you could be a social activist, working for women, animals, or child welfare. Or, if you want to explore a hobby and monetize it, you could work as a freelancer. The career options after the 12th are endless- you only have to be flexible and self-aware.

What to do after 12th- Science

If you are a Science enthusiast, you can either study specialised courses like Engineering or become a Doctor. Appear for the JEE exam for Engineering and the NEET exam to study medicine. But these are hardly the only fields available for Science students. You can study Bachelors of Science in a particular subject like Physics, Chemistry or Computer science.

If you like Computer Science but do not want to become an engineer, do BCA and MCA after the 12th. You will be well placed in the field. Or get a BSc and an MSc. While BCA and MCA deal with the ‘applications’ aspect of computers, BSc and MSc deal with the ‘science’ behind it all.

If you want to study something different after the 12th, go for Aeronautical Engineering or Biochemistry. You can also do Engineering in Sound. There are various traditional and non-traditional fields in Science you can choose from according to your preference.

Following are some of the most popular courses available after 12th Science:

1. Engineering (B.E/ B.Tech)

If you enjoy the idea of being rewarded for being creative and innovative, then engineering can be the best fit for you. Are you uncertain about which engineering field would be the best fit for you? There are many categories or specialisations in which you can pursue a variety of careers. If you are interested in space, Aerospace Engineering is the field for you. If everything about fashion fascinates you, Fashion Technology is the place to be. You can study Marine Engineering if you enjoy ship voyages and if you like the idea of inspecting computer software systems for flaws, you can study Computer Science.

2. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)

For students who studied Science as a stream in Class 12, the Bachelor of Science, or BSc, is a common undergraduate degree option. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology, Botany, and Mathematics are among the subjects covered in a three-year BSc programme. The programme is wide, and the specialisations you can pursue are endless, for instance, if you enjoy nature and want to learn more about how it works, you can pursue a Microbiology specialisation. A specialisation in Food Technology and Agriculture may be the ideal place for you if you’re interested in food and agriculture. Biochemistry and bioinformatics may be a good fit for you if you enjoy researching and innovating. Electronics could be the ideal specialisation for you if you enjoy keeping up with emerging technical advancements.

3. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

If curing people and helping them stay healthy is the ultimate goal for you, then you can choose to become a doctor. Although you might have a general idea of what a doctor does, the term ‘doctor’ itself is very broad. There are several fields or specialisations like gynaecology (Women’s health), orthopaedics (bone health), cardiology (heart health), etc. There are also different methods through which doctors practice, like surgery, oral medication, physiotherapy, radiology, etc. You can enrol in an MBBS programme to learn more about these fields and procedures. It is a 5-year, 6-month undergraduate professional medical course that leads to a career in medicine. To get admission into a medical college for MBBS, you need to pass an entrance test. The most common medical entrance exam is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The eligibility for this test is at least 50% in your class 12 exams with physics, chemistry, and biology as your subjects.

4. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)

With the increased awareness about oral health, the profession of dental surgery is booming, and if you’re interested in becoming a dental health expert, you can pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. It’s a professional course governed by India’s Dental Council that will prepare you to perform dental surgery and other oral healthcare procedures. This programme lasts five years, including a year of internship.

What to do after 12th – Arts

If you are an Arts student, you can go for a Bachelor of Arts. You can study History, Geography, Languages, Political Science, Sociology, to name a few. On the other hand, if you are interested in law and order, you can do LLB, which is a course to become an advocate. Appearing for CLAt will make you eligible to become a Judge too.

If you are interested in fashion, appear for the NIFT entrance exam and get into India’s top fashion designing colleges. You can not only become a fashion designer at NIFT but you can also pursue a career in fashion technology.

You can also Major in Classical Dance or Singing if that’s your forte. Or, you can study Mass Communication and become a journalist or a news reporter. Studying mass communication and media sciences can also help you become an editor or a graphic designer.

Following are some of the most popular courses available after 12th Arts:

1. Bachelor of Arts (B.A)

A Bachelor of Arts, or BA, is a typical undergraduate degree option for students who studied Arts as a stream in Class 12. It’s a three-year undergraduate degree with specialisations in English, Hindi, History, Journalism, Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology, among others. This course has the advantage of being able to be pursued full-time or part-time. A bachelor of arts is the place to be if you’re seeking for a course that will help you gain a deeper understanding of a subject.

2. Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM)

Do you get a thrill out of uncovering scandals and reporting on crime? Do you appreciate staying up to date on the newest political developments and celebrity rumours? If you seek a Bachelor of Mass Media, you can do all of these as part of your job. It’s a three-year undergraduate programme that gives you a thorough understanding of the dynamic and diverse field of mass communication. This course covers everything from advertising to journalism to new media to film.

3. Bachelor of Legislative Law (L.L.B.)

Do you enjoy taking part in debates? Do you often stand up for your friends during an argument? Would you like to help people fight for their rights? If your answer to any of these questions has been a resounding “yes”, you should consider pursuing an L.L.B. to become a lawyer. It is a three- to five-year undergraduate law degree that is known as the foundational course in law and will teach you about all of the legal procedures used in the profession.

4. Bachelor of Fashion Design

Do you have an eye for fashion and want to learn more about how the industry works? Then a bachelor’s degree in fashion design might be the right choice for you. It’s a three-year undergraduate programme designed to give you hands-on experience in the glamorous yet challenging world of fashion.

What to do after 12th – Commerce

Commerce students go on to become entrepreneurs, accountants, investment bankers, market analysts, tax consultants and business strategists. You can study Bachelors in Commerce or do a BBA. You can pursue Chartered Accountancy as a professional course. You can apply to many colleges in India. There is no particular entrance exam for B.Com, but the cutoff for some colleges are very high. Preparing with a goal in mind and staying invested in your path can lead you to immense success in this field.

Following are some of the most popular courses available after 12th Commerce:

1. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

For students who studied Commerce as a stream in Class 12, a Bachelor of Commerce, or B.Com, is a common undergraduate degree option. Accounting, Taxation, Economics, Auditing, and Business Law are all covered in this three-year undergraduate programme. This course serves as a foundation for more advanced courses such as Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary.

2. Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF)

Do you love solving maths problems and coming up with easier solutions to them? Would you be interested in working on ways to save money and increase profits? If so, you might be interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. Accounting, taxation, market systems, financial institutions, banking, and risk management are all covered in this three-year undergraduate degree programme. A BAF can provide you with a diverse choice of professional options.

3. Bachelor of Banking and Insurance (BBI)

Are you a natural mathematician who enjoys budgeting? If this is the case, you can pursue a BBI. It is a three-year undergraduate degree programme that will expose you to market reforms, banking, and insurance policies in depth. The programme is designed to provide you with an overall expertise for managerial positions in the banking and insurance industry.

4. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Imagine being in charge of a firm and working with individuals who believe in what you’re doing to make it a success. You can pursue a BBA if this sounds like a dream come true for you. It’s a three-year professional undergraduate degree that can lead to work in a variety of fields, including sales, marketing, finance, and more. BBA provides the foundation for building excellent managerial and leadership skills.

Best career options after the 12th

You can change your course after the 12th. If you are a Science student but want to study business, choose B.Com or BBA. If you like to fly, join the aviation course to be a pilot or a management and hospitality course to enter the hotel business.

Further, you could become a chef with a BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management) in Culinary or aim to join the Reserve Bank of India with a Bachelor of Science (or Arts) in Economics. You could very well choose to be an art student or a pupil of music.

You can get an MBA after your undergraduate degree and enter a leadership role in India or abroad. If you have an idea that you know will sell, you can establish your own startup right after your 12th. The country is full of examples of young entrepreneurs who started young and became global icons by their mid-20s.

 There are many other unconventional roles that you can take up. Remember Farhan from ‘3 Idiots’? You could become a wildlife photographer like him by chasing your love for animals and photography. Or, you can become an engineer like his talented friends- Rancho and Raju! What is important is, you should choose what you are good at and what drives your passion.

Conclusion

Having many career options after the 12th is normal and so is getting all wrapped about it. We at Mentoria help you untangle some knots with our career counselling and mentoring sessions. Our experts judge you not only based on your strengths and weaknesses but also based on your interests and enthusiasm to pursue them. Our goal is to help you thrive in life, no matter where you are and what you choose to do.