Career Options In Biology Other Than Medicine
My daughter is a Class 12 student of physics, chemistry, maths and biology in Noida. She is also taking 
coaching for her medical entrance test. She is good at studies but is losing interest. She says that she won't be able to get through, so does not see any point in studying. She says she forgot all she learnt in Class 11. She seems very disturbed. Please help.
- Ruma
The halo around the medical profession makes it one of the most sought after careers, but getting into a medical college is possibly the toughest for students. The selection is rigorous and the course extremely challenging, requiring many long years of dedicated study. If you believe this is the right career choice for your daughter, and she is genuinely keen on it, then she needs to prepare to sit for at least 8 to 10 pre-medical tests (PMTs).
However, it is good to keep in mind that you must have an alternative option to fall back on. If your daughter wishes to get into the medical field, she can also consider other careers. There are various paramedical courses at the bachelor and postgraduate level that train students for careers like radiology (taking X-rays, CT Scan and so on), medical technology (performing laboratory tests essential for detecting and treating diseases) and ophthalmic technology and optometry (concerned with evaluation and improvement of vision). These are three-year degree programmes available at most medical institutes, and there is ample scope for future growth.
Pharmacy is another important option, offered as a four-year programme. The eligibility requirement is Class 12 with physics, chemistry, maths and/or biology. There are pharmacy colleges in practically all states.
Further options include food processing, for which she can do a BSc programme in food technology or home science and work in the food processing industry. Catering, nutrition and dietetics, and hotel management are other fields open to her. There are good training facilities for all these courses, and job opportunities for professionals with skills in these areas. Of course, she can also take up any other subject of her liking.
Much depends on her abilities, her interests and the kind of person she is. There are so many career options available to young people that your daughter must not feel stressed or pressured into only one career choice. Guidance from a career counsellor can help her proceed in the right direction.
Author: Usha Albuquerque (HT Horizons)
Date: 25th February, 2011
For further details about related courses and colleges please click below:
