A large number of aspirants taking engineering exams is a testament to the popularity of engineering as a lucrative career. If you too are one of the many aspirants thinking of becoming an engineer, you must be wondering ‘Is engineering right for me?’

Before plunging headfirst into engineering, you need to evaluate whether you’ll enjoy studying engineering or not. You can start by asking yourselves these questions:

  • Do you like problem-solving?
  • Are you curious about how things work?
  • Do you enjoy maths and science?
  • Are you good with computers?
  • Do you always want to do things in new and better ways?
  • Do you want to improve people’s lives and find a solution to global issues?

If your answer to half or more of these questions is ‘yes’, then you are on the right path and should continue exploring engineering as a career option.

To secure good institutes and colleges for engineering admission, students appear for various engineering entrance exams like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, SRMJEE and VITEEE. But most of them lack the knowledge of the various career options available in the field of engineering. 

Engineering courses after 12th are aplenty. Finding out what sparks your interest and making a selection on that basis proves beneficial in the long run. Wrong course decision can result in low work satisfaction at the engineering jobs you undertake in the future. Hence, it is necessary to take the right decision at the right time as it will lead to the path of success in career and life. It is important to give priority to the engineering courses over colleges. After deciding on your best-suited course, list down the pros and cons of all colleges that fit your criteria and select the one best-suited for you. 

The field of engineering has evolved in today’s world. Apart from basic disciplines, new disciplines are being added to the field of engineering due to scientific and technological advancements. Let us look at the various engineering branches that can help you evaluate and decide on the one apt for you.

Choosing the right engineering course and college after 12th

It is important to be aware of the various engineering branches and their scope in order to make the right selection based on your interests. Below is the list of engineering courses that are popular:

Mechanical engineering:

It is one of the oldest engineering branches. It is concerned with the design, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems. You can specialise in manufacturing, transportation systems, nanotechnology and robotics to name a few.

You should choose this branch if

-You are curious about mechanical devices and how they work.

-You want to improve existing mechanical technologies and make new innovations.

Chemical Engineering:

This branch of engineering deals with the use of chemical and biological processes to produce utilitarian materials. You can specialise in chemical reaction engineering, transport phenomena, plant design, process design or process engineering.

You should choose this branch if

-You have a strong background in chemistry and mathematics

-You possess an analytical mind.

-You are interested to dissect the chemical processes used to produce everyday items.

Civil Engineering:

This branch deals with designing and developing infrastructure projects. You can specialise in structural engineering, architectural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering and hydraulic engineering.

You should choose this branch if

-You are keen on designing and building things by applying mathematical and scientific methods.

-You would like to advance your design skills.

Electrical Engineering:

Electrical engineering focuses on applications of electrical power. You can specialise in power generation and supply, communications and media, computer systems and robotic systems. 

You should choose this branch if

  • You like to pick apart electrical devices and know how they work
  • You want to improve existing electrical devices and systems and bring new technological advancements.

Aeronautical Engineering:

This branch of engineering concerns with the research, design, development, construction and testing of aircraft. You can specialise in aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, composites analysis, avionics, propulsion to name a few.

You should choose this branch if

  • You are interested in the history and methodology of flying machines
  • You want to understand the mechanics of flight travel.

Computer Engineering:

This branch concerns with the design and development of computer hardware and software. You can specialise in microprocessor/microcontroller systems, computer architecture and VHDL (hardware description language) design.

You should choose this branch if

  • You’re interested in mathematics, science and computers and want to learn more.
  • You want to produce new products and systems and bring advancement 

Choose an engineering discipline that aligns with your interests and goals and then narrow down the best engineering colleges on the basis of courses offered, facilities, faculty, accreditation and campus placements. Due to peer pressure, PCM students after 12th science think that engineering is the be-all-end-all for them. But this is far from the truth. Contrary to popular belief, there are many other options apart from engineering after 12th science that can provide a promising career to students.  

There are many courses after 12th science other than engineering for those who opted for Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) subjects. The list of non-engineering courses is as follows:

  1. B Sc – Bachelor of Science
  2. MBBS – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
  3. BHMS – Bachelor of Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery
  4. BAMS – Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery
  5. BDS – Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  6. B Sc AH (Animal Husbandry) – Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences
  7. B Sc Microbiology – Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
  8. B Pharm – Bachelor in Pharmacy
  9. B Sc Agriculture – Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
  10. B Sc – Nursing

You can also take up courses other than engineering like Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), Law, Fashion Designing, Mass Communication and Journalism and Hotel Management to name a few.

Why career counselling is essential?

It is necessary for parents to understand the importance of career counselling. The role of a career counsellor is to explore  students’ passion and interests and identify the right career path that leads to a fulfilled professional and personal life.

. At Vedatma, our team of certified practitioners provide career counselling for students using globally acclaimed career assessment tools like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) and Strong Interest Inventory® (Strong) and help discover a student’s unique natural potential. We delve deep to analyse and identify the best-aligned career for the student. To know more, check out our process here: https://bit.ly/2FlAMsg .Become your best with Vedatma.