Course selection and career options

Unlike a decade or two ago, students today are faced with multiple and diverse career options. These days the competition is very high and that is evident from the marks the students are scoring in the 10th and 12th Grade examinations. The toppers score is over 99% (various Education Boards in India). 

The students who pass the the 12th-grade board examination can be classified under 3 bands with respect to the marks they score compared to the cut-off percentage for the course of their choice.

STUDENT SCORE BANDS

1. Top Band: Score is higher than Cut-off %.
2. Middle Band: Score is in the vicinity of the Cut-off %.
3. Bottom Band: Score is below the cut-off %.

Students in the Top Band, don't have to worry too much about their career choices because they tend to get admission to the courses of their choice, whatever that may be. 

For students in the Middle Band, owing to the extreme competition, there are a large number of students who are in the border-line and most times miss the cut-off percentage by a few marks. These are the students who face what I call, a career decision dilemma. 

At the bottom of the pyramid or the Bottom Band, are the students who have not been able to secure sufficient marks to qualify for a course of their choice.

The band in which the student finally falls into is a matter of chance and possibly luck. It is also important to note that the band where the student falls in eventually, in no way determines their capability or how they will perform in their careers in future.

Further, it is also important that a student must not blindly choose a course that they qualify for. If they do, then they are preparing to be played at the hands of the system and that may or may not work for them in the long run.

Instead, a student must make a course selection and career choice based on the following

1. Determine what subjects you are really interested in.
2. Choose a qualification that helps you acquire the required skills in your area of interest.
3. Define the Plan A, Plan B and possibly Plan C - the Plan A is your first or best choice of course or career. Plan B is your second best choice of course and so on.

For those students in the Middle Band - those who are facing the Career Decision Dilemma and even those who are in the Bottom Band, it is not a big deal if you do not qualify for a course of your choice (Plan A). Pursue Plan B and if that does not work, shift your focus to Plan C. As long as you are deeply motivated by a subject, you can and will get there eventually.

Refer to the picture Course Selection & Career Choices below and choose a course that is nearest to your area of interest. This picture will be helpful for you to define your Plan A, B, C and so on.

COURSE SELECTION & CAREER CHOICES

I came across the above picture through a forward some time ago and truly believe that it articulates various courses and the related career options available today. I believe the picture will serve as a guideline for students who are at a decision-making point in their lives where they have to make a choice of their careers.

Note: 

1. Copyright of the picture belongs to respective owners.
2. I do not claim that the picture says it all, but it does highlight most of the available career options at the Graduation stage.