Choosing the Right Stream

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While studying to become successful at anything, whether it is law, engineering or journalism, we all have to study at the 11^th standard. Thus, choosing the right stream in class 11^th is extremely important as it sets the path for our future courses in education. Here are some answers to your questions to help you in choosing the right stream.

What are the options available in class 11^th?

Choosing the right stream is one of the hardest choices the student faces. The entire career path and decisions start and depend on this one small choice which has the ability to decide the entire future course. The various options available to students in Class 11^th are as follows-

Science

The science stream includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology with English as a compulsory subject. The optional subjects include Maths, Physical Education, Computers and other subjects depending on the school. The medical group includes biology and the non-medical group includes maths.

Commerce

The commerce stream offers subjects like Business Studies, Accountancy with English as the compulsory subject. The Commerce stream deals with areas like business and trade. The optional subjects include Maths, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Law and other subjects depending on the school.

Humanities/ Arts

Humanities or Arts is the study of human society and the world around. The humanities stream includes subjects like History, Geography, Multimedia, Arts, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Law, Physical Education, Home Science and other subjects depending on the school.

What are the pros and cons of each stream?

The pros and cons of each stream to consider before making the choice of stream decision are as follows-

Science

Pros-

 It deals with the true nature of science and its application in today’s world through various fields like a doctor, engineering, biotechnology, etc. The stream demands a lot of strenuous hours of studying and excellent grasping skills of the subjects like biology and analytical skills for physics.

It opens up magnificent opportunities for well-paying and highly respectable jobs.

Cons-

Science students are put under extreme pressure and stress because of the vast syllabus, complex nature and difficulty level in the understanding of the subject.

Commerce

Pros-

The subject matter deals with the business world, management, accountancy, economics, etc. It is in great demand given the ever-rising businesses and demand for trained people in this field.

It opens global opportunities with high-salaried positions along with the opportunity to start their ventures.

Cons-

The subject demands business, management and economic skills along with the ability to be updated with the recent market or business changes.

Humanities or Arts

Pros-

Humanities or Arts provides various interesting career choices or fields with varied subject availability to choose from. The subjects range from Fine art, physical education, multimedia, history, geography, law, political science, etc. The career opportunities are massive in this field and very diverse too.

Cons-

The stigma of Arts being not the first choice of meritorious students still prevail and many consider it to be an easy choice or way out of studies which completely untrue. The subject or stream decision should be based on one’s level of interest and passion rather than anything else.

Does it really matter?

Choosing the right stream after a thorough evaluation of all the decision-making factors and weighing the pros and cons of a stream, is one of the major decisions a student has to make after clearing the 10^th standard. This choice is the first towards one’s career so it needs to be a well-informed decision.

Every stream deals with a different arena of knowledge and working. Science is associated with true science; Commerce with trade and business; and Humanities or Arts with understanding the human and the human society 

How important is this decision?

The decision of choosing the right stream in class 11th is the first step towards choosing and pursuing your career. It is the most important and crucial step based on which your future career mounts. It needs to be taken with the utmost care and thought. Students can talk to parents, family, friends, teachers or a guidance counsellor to help them understand and make the right decision. These days various aptitude and interest tests are available to help students find their areas of interest, strength, weakness and help them find the most suited career choice and stream for them.

Important Factors to keep in mind while deciding the stream and career choice-

The student should keep in mind the following vital points while deciding the stream in class 11^th–

Strength and Weakness

Students should analyze their strength subjects and weak ones to understand which career or stream choice would be more lucrative for them to follow. The strength subjects help students a lot in the long run and aid in achieving splendid success in that particular field.

Area of Interest

The major factor that determines the stream in 11th class should be the amount of interest one has in it. Interest drives in the passion to get better and follow the particular stream along with the career choices attached to it. If one has an interest in a particular field or area, studying and pursuing a career would never feel burdensome or dull and a passion would ignite in the students towards it.

Scope of Field

In today’s dynamic world the students also need to analyze the scope and opportunities the particular stream offers, and in the long run what would be the growth prospects of pursuing it.

Passion

Another deciding factor is passion. The genuine happiness one can get in life is only when they pursue their passion as a career. According to experts, if one follows their passion as a career, they’ll never get disinterested or tired of doing it in the long run.

TIPS–

• Don’t follow the crowd or what your friend wants to pursue, make an independent and well-informed decision.
• Try talking to a guidance counsellor and taking aptitude tests.
• All the fields provide various interesting and prospering career opportunities, it all comes down to your interest and what you want to achieve in the long run.
• Don’t fall into peer pressure or family pressure
• Talk to guidance or career counsellor for a better-informed decision making and reducing stress associated with the career choice.
• Introspect yourself, think thoroughly and don’t make any decision in a hurry.

Career Opportunities in each stream

Every field or stream offers various different and interesting career choices along with it. A lot of times many students end up doing courses associated with different streams or a combination of two like the recent trend of getting graduation in engineering and then post-graduation in management for better job opportunities and learning multifarious skills. The career choices are plenty but try to opt one which you feel more inclined towards. A few of the most opted career choices as per the stream are as follows-

Science

The career opportunities in Science include:

• Doctor
• Engineer
• Software Developer
• Coder
• IT Sector
• Biotechnology
• Forensic Science
• Zoology
• Radiology
• Agricultural Sciences
• Geology
• Physician
• Pharmacist
• Textile Technology
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Dietician
• Nurse
• Homeopathic Doctor
• Unani Doctor
• Interior Designer
• Pilot
• Scientist
• Aviation
• Chemical Scientist
• Architect

Commerce

The career opportunities in Commerce include:

• Business
• Accounts
• Finance
• Chartered Accountant
• Management Executive
• Company Secretary
• Corporate Lawyer
• Finance Analyst
• Finance Planner
• Investment Banker
• Finance Management
• Banking
• Manager
• HR Executive
• Chief Executive Officer
• Account Executive
• Stock Broking
• Foreign Trade
• Foreign Investor
• Auditor
• Insurance Officer
• Portfolio Manager
• Tax Auditor
• Tax Consultant
• Economist
• Statistician
• MNC’s

Humanities/ Arts

The career opportunities in Arts include:

• Painter
• Designer
• Archaeologist
• Actor/ Artist
• Sociology
• Director
• Animation Artist
• Psychology
• Mass Communication
• Journalism
• Media and Films
• Hotel Management
• Tourism Industry
• Fashion Blogger
• Event Manager
• Lawyer
• Judge
• Activist
• Language Expert
• Lecturer or Teacher
• Counsellor
• Politician
• Historian

Courses available after 12^th under each stream

The list of Courses available under Science after 12th include Bachelors in –

• Medicines and Bachelors in Surgery (MBBS)
• Dental Science (BDS)
• Engineering (B. E.)
• Technology (B. Tech)
• Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS)
• Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS)
• Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS)
• Science (B. Sc)
• Science in Nursing
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Technology
• Architecture (B. Arch)

The list of Courses available under Commerce after 12th include Bachelors in –

• Commerce (B. Com)
• Economics (B. Eco)
• Law (BBA LLB, B. Com LLB)
• Chartered Accountancy (CA)
• Company Secretary (CS)
• Business Administration (BBA)
• Business Management (BMS)
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Finance and Accounting (BFA)
• Business Studies (BBS)
• Event Management (BEM)
• Hotel Management (BHM)

The list of Courses available under Humanities or Arts after 12th include Bachelors in –

• Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC)
• Mass Media (BMM)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) – this includes specializations in history, economics, psychology, etc.
• Animation and VFX
• Computer Application (BCA)
• Fine Arts (BFA)
• Design (B. Des)
• Science in Hospitality and Travel (B. Sc)
• Hotel Management (BHM)
• Event Management (BEM)