Commerce or Science – A tough choice to make

After clearing class X Board exams, students face the toughest question of their academic life. What now? Commerce, Science, and Humanities are considered to be the Holy Trinity of choices among Indian students. Soon after finishing High School, the students are in a dilemma on deciding which stream is their best bet.This marks the beginning of their new life, as this decision decides their future.

Commerce and Science are two distinct streams for students who are highly ambitious and wish to pursue higher studies. Both come with their own set of challenges and rewards in the long run. While Science opens up the doors of technology for them, Commerce prepares them for a flourishing career in the business world. The key is to methodically approach each stream and look at its nuances and the details in order to make an informed decision.

Science

Going by popularity, Science is the stream a majority of students opt for as it leads them on the path to two highly coveted career options in India, Medical and Engineering. It won’t be wrong to say that Science offers more opportunities, the presence of multiple options for under graduation degree and peer pressure. Science is, undoubtedly, a great career choice but one must choose wisely, keeping in mind various important factors associated with it. One must consider the fact that everyone who takes Science cannot become a Doctor or an Engineer, as these are very niche career choices. one needs to compete with a large number of students and competitive exams have to be cleared for getting admission to elite colleges like IITs, NITs and AIIMs etc. However, if one has a technical bent of mind and Science is what he really wants to study then there is no dearth of excellent career options for him.

Some of the most popular career options that Science can offer are:

• Medicine: A student who completes MBBS is awarded a Doctor’s degree. A Doctor is a licensed person who can practice medicine, as a Physician, Surgeon, Dentist, or Veterinarian.
• Tech.: Highly popular due to rapid development of IT industry, this is probably the most popular career path for the students with non-medical background.
• Sc.: B.Sc. degrees have the immense scope and career options. This is a three to five year (depending upon the university) course which has the research-oriented and interdisciplinary courses to choose from.
• Architect:Arch. is a five-year degree course that leads one to become an Architect. An Architect is a professional who creates designs of buildings, bridges and other structures.

Commerce

Commerce stream is steadily gaining popularity among students in India with most students feeling that opting for Commerce stream will offer them a wide range of career opportunities after their completion of class 12. What most students don’t consider is that just like Science stream, a student also needs to have a certain inclination towards Commerce, to become successful in it. Most students opt for Commerce because they want to take the next step in business and follow strategies to be successful.  A Commerce Student has to study subjects like Economics, Business Studies, Mathematics, and Accountancy. If one has a keen interest in working with numbers and analyzing numerical data and if he aspires to make his name in the business world, then Commerce is the right choice for him.

The various career options for Commerce students are:

• Com/B.Com (Honours): This is a 3-year degree course that serves as a good base if one wishes to go forward in the corporate sector or pursue higher education.
• B.A. /M.B.A.: This degree serves as a great platform if one wishes to make a career in business development and management sector.
• Bachelor of Finance and Accounting (B.F.A): This is an industry-oriented 3-year course providing one expertise in the said stream.
• Chartered Accountant (C.A.): It is one of the most sought-after and challenging courses in our country provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
• Company Secretary (C.S): It is a professional course provided by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, which is open to students after 12^th

Overall, it’s important that a student must make a choice after considering all the alternatives. It is best to avoid the chaos that arises in one’s mind either due to lack of knowledge or drifting of interest.