It is quite common in Indian household to have a preference for science as a subject in 11th grade. Well, some might do it out of choice and some might do it out of pressure. Either way, any science student usually aims at clearing one of the toughest exams in India i.e, JEE/NEET/NATA. However, there are lakhs of other students who aim for the same goal and only a few get selected.
After immense hard work, sleepless nights and tons of anxiety, it is natural to be heartbroken for not being able to clear the exam or get into the desired college. But you must remember that there is a whole world out there that goes beyond the mainstream careers. And surprisingly it is booming more than we know. But before we get into that, it’s best we first understand the intricacies of the reportedly tough exams.
What are JEE/NATA/NEET Exams?
The JEE/NATA/NEET exams are considered one of the toughest exams in India. Students usually start preparing for these as early as 8th grade. The IIT-JEE exams are held for engineering, NATA for architecture and NEET is for medicals. Based on the marks scored in these exams decide the college the students would be pursuing their education in.
IIT-JEE exams are given by over 10 lakh students from all over the country. The exam is conducted by Indian Institute of Technology for approximately 11,900 seats distributed across 23 IIT colleges.
Similarly, for NEET a.k.a National Eligibility, cum Entrance Test for medical is also given by thousands of students for over 600 colleges all over the country. Marks scored in this further determines the streams of medical studies the students would be pursuing.
Lastly, NATA a.k.a National Aptitude Test in Architecture is for students who are aspiring to be architects. Although it doesn’t have negative marking like the JEE exams, it covers both technical and drawing skills of the students.
With an ever-increasing number like these and limited seats, it makes it impossible for even fifty percent of the students to be able to crack these exams. After years of struggle, it wouldn’t be surprising if the aspirants find it difficult to be able to handle the pressure. Earlier this year, The Hindu reported that approximately 28 students in India die by suicide in a month. While there are many reasons for such a shocking number, one of the primary reasons is the feeling of failure and fear of rejection.
Entering The New “Normal”
As disheartening as the experience would be, it crucial to remember that all hope is not lost yet. There are multiple courses apart from the mainstream ones that you can get yourself enrolled into. For generations, our society has put engineering, medical and architecture on a pedestal. But times are changing now. There are more opportunities for you than ever before.
Companies don’t need just need engineers anymore, they are looking forward to people who can think. They want people who can go beyond the “normal”. In this new digital wave and startups opening at the blink of an eye, they need people who can design for them. Someone who can come with something so unique that they would be able to make a mark on social media, investors and clients. And it doesn’t have to be designing posts, it includes many other aspects like product designing, game development, web designers, app developers and so much more.
If you are wondering how to hone your creative skills and enter a different field, the answer would be UX Designing. The best part of a career in creativity and technical skills is the very fact that it is ageless.
UX Design As A Career Option
The basic idea of User Experience Design is to ensure that the customer gets the most-hassle free usage they possibly can. The reason why UX Designing is growing in our country is because of technological advancements. The more people come in contact with technology and smartphones, the more this industry will grow.. The only thing this industry requires is out-of-the-box thinking and a constant will to learn and upgrade.
Contradictory to the popular opinion, design career actually have a salary cut and the opportunities are endless. LinkedIn even listed some of the companies that hired UX designers and the average pay scale was 20 lacs per annum. The statistics even show that the opportunities will grow further as we progress
UX Design Institute
Well, we at ImaginXP collaborate with many renowned universities like Chitakara University, DIT University, Jagaran Lake University and many more. These courses are available at both Under Graduation and Post Graduation level.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s important to realise that you are the one who is going to stay in a career for the next 30–40 years. Having a career that doesn’t let you explore or work to your fullest potential can be very frustrating. The shock and the pain that you are currently facing for not being able to crack some exam isn’t something that is going to last forever. But you can rather use this time to evaluate your future options. Keep in mind that the career you choose should always challenge you to grow as your progress.