Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Top 5 courses after class 12

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
Confused about what course you should take up... here's help

Do you have it in you to be a journalist or an architect? Youngbuzz.com lists out the top five courses you can take up after your higher secondary school examinations and just what qualities should you have to become successful.

So you're waiting for your class 12 results or are probably staring at it already and are wondering just what on earth you should do next.

Career counsellors from Youngbuzz.com list out the top five courses you can consider taking up after your class 12!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

YoungBuzz India Ltd. is India's Premiere Career Counseling Company working in the areas of Career Counselling, Study Abroad Counselling and Admissions Counselling.

Hotel Management

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
The Taj Mahal Hotel is affiliated with IHM a prominent hotel management school in Aurgangabad

Name of the course: Hotel Management (BHM)

What aptitude should you have: Calm and composed nature, hardworking, problem-solving skills, language skills, peoples skills, and a pleasant personality.

What is the course about: The course makes one aware of the operating-sections of the hotel industry like front office, general operations, sales and marketing, food and beverage, service keeping and catering.

The three-year programme prepares the student with all the required skills, information and approach to competently discharge supervisory responsibilities in the hospitality sector.

Basic qualifications: 10th or 12th from any discipline.

What after graduation: You can do a post-graduate diploma in Hotel Management.

What career options does it throw open: Hotel Manager, Chef, Front office, Food & Beverages manager, Customer Care in hotels, resorts, corporate and hotels. Hotel management job opportunities exist both in the private and public sector.

Institutions you should consider: Ecole Hotelier in Lavassa, Dadar Catering college, Institute of Hotel Management (affiliated with the Taj group) and Kohinoor Institute among others.

The pros: Ability to meet people from diverse backgrounds, practical approach to study and work as compared to other theoretical professions like Chartered Accountancy.

The cons: Erratic work hours; salary will be a constraint for freshers.

Animation

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
Still from 'Up'. Animation is a great career option as more animated films being made than ever

Name of the course: Animation (Multimedia Design Course with Specialisation in Animation)

What aptitude should you have: Artistic and creative ability, tech-savvy, eye for detail, good visualising skills and willingness to work hard.

What is the course about: Enables you to discover and comprehend the creative potential of digital animation.

Practical teaching of core skills offers you the chance to develop industry relevant, animation production skills.

The basic course is three years. You can augment your skills with various other certification courses that may take from 6 months to a year to complete.

Basic qualifications: 10th or 12th from any discipline.

What after graduation: National Institute of Design offers an advanced entry post-graduation programme at NID.

What career options does it throw open: Animator in Gaming websites, Video Game manufacturing companies, Films, Educational CD Manufacturers, Soft Skills Training Industry, etc.

Institutions you should consider: Frameboxx in collaboration with Sikkim Manipal University, MAAC in collaboration with IGNOU University, and many reputable colleges and institutions offer this course in Mumbai.

The pros: Creative fulfilment, good returns, a growing demand for animators, less theory and more practical approach.

The cons: Strenuous on eye, long work hours.

Architecture

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
Want to create buildings like this one... take up architecture

Name of the course: Bachelors in Architecture (BArch)

What aptitude should you have: Good in Maths and Drawing, creative artist with an interest and bent towards designing, ability to sketch, eye for detail, understand legal formalities.

What is the course about: It's a three-year degree course. Further specialization in this field can be in industrial design, urban design, landscape architecture, and a few others. These specialization courses are only open to B.Arch. degree/diploma holders.

What are the basic required qualifications:  12th Commerce or Science with Maths. Clear the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) and then appear for Common Entrance Test (CET) / or AIEEE

What after graduation: Masters in Architecture

What career options does it throw open: One can start an independent practice or join a corporate or an established builder. There is a demand for construction to keep up with the increase in population.

New areas in architecture like Landscape architecture, urban design are coming up.

Institutions you should consider: JJ School of Fine Arts, Raheja, Rachana's, Rizvi and many reputable colleges and institutions offer this course in Mumbai.

The pros: To see one's models come to life, to play an active part in creating imposing architecture that will remain for centuries to come, jobs easily available to deserving candidates.  

The cons: Tedious and long work hours, requires an equally efficient team for any project to be a success.

Psychology

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
Teaching is one one of the options you can consider after doing your post-graduation in psychology

Name of the course: Psychology (MA: Psychology)

What aptitude you should have: Good listening skills, compassionate, excellent communicator, quickly assess and analyse emotions, learn new methods and skills on an ongoing basis, to be interested in the people and in how the human mind functions, emotionally stable, mature, and able to deal effectively with people.

What is the course about: MA Applied Psychology is generally a two-year full-time course. Students need to do projects and internships to complete the course requirements. Normally colleges expect students to complete summer projects by working in different Hospitals or organisations.

What are the basic required qualifications: BA in Psychology with six papers.

What after graduation: Post-graduation followed by PhD in Psychology

What career options does it throw open: Psychologist in Educational institutions, Hospitals, Corporates and you can start your practice or simply join a university as a lecturer.

Institutions you should consider: St. Xaviers, Jai Hind, Mithibai, KC and many other reputable colleges offer MA in Psychology. Only SNDT University in Juhu and Mumbai University offer courses in Remediation.

The pros: Satisfaction at helping others, opportunity to meet people with diverse background.

The cons: May take a toll on your mental health.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier

Mass Media

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 10:50 IST
Today's journalist is no longer the khadi clad underdog. It is one of the most sought-after careers.

Name of the course: Bachelors in Mass Media (BMM)

What aptitude should you have: It's imperative that BMM aspirants should have the following basic skills, which would help them in accomplishing their career goals:

What is the course about: It's a three-year course divided over six semesters with six subjects covered in each semester.

The course offers a specialisation choice in the third year i.e. a student can offer either advertising or journalism so as to be thorough in 12 comprehensive subjects of their specialisation in the last two semesters.

What are the basic required qualifications: 12th from any discipline.

What after graduation: Post Graduation in Mass Communication

What career options does it throw open: 

Colleges you should consider: WLC College (India) Ltd, Jai Hind, Xavier's, KC, Somaiyya and many reputed colleges and institutes in Mumbai offer BMM.

The pros: A very trendy field to work, loads of job opportunity. 

The cons:  Long work hours, outdoor work environment may not be appealing in all seasons, night shifts are compulsory especially in the electronic media.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh