You've done it! Cleared your Class X and are now all set for that big leap into college. Congratulations!

Now come the critical decisions.

Which stream must I choose? Which college is the best? How do I know what my aptitude is? 

In Joining college? What you must know.., we spoke about the various streams. Over here, we tackle the other issues.  

Vocational courses 

If you are not too academically inclined you do have options that offer practical training.

• Minimum Competency Vocational Courses are offered by some colleges in areas like banking, office management, electronics, and travel and tourism At the end of two years, you will have completed Class XII in the vocational stream. 
• There are a host of vocational guidance courses in horticulture, animal science and dairying, electrical domestic appliances, food technology and computer science which can be taken up directly after Class X. These are diploma courses offered at private institutes, which are recognised by the Directorate Of Vocational Education & Training.
• A diploma in engineering and technology can also be pursued directly after Class X. These include specialisations like automobile, chemical, civil, computer, construction technology and management, electronics, electronics and communication etc among many others.
• If you are good with your hands and have a technical bent of mind, you can pursue a diploma course at the Industrial Training Institute, which has branches all across India. You could train to be a mechanic, fitter, turner, secretary, welder, computer hardware expert etc. Post the training, you could get a job in India or even abroad.

Courses available after Class XII to all streams

Even if you have just completed your Class X, keep these courses in mind. You will be able to pursue them after Class XII whatever stream you opt for.

• Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) 
• Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) 
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) 
• Bachelor of Information Technology (mathematics compulsory in Class XII) (BSc-IT)
• Bachelor of Computer Applications (mathematics compulsory in Class XII) (BCA) 
• Hotel management diploma/degree courses
• Fashion design diploma/degree courses

Test your aptitude and personality

Picking up the right career depends a lot on your aptitude and interest. There are two ways to do that.

• Self-assessment: This is a process by which you try and learn more about yourself. Make a list of your favourite subjects, as well as how you fare in them. This will give you a hint in the right direction. 
• Psychometric tests: These can reveal a great deal about your interest and aptitude, as well as your personality traits, which often determine how you will fare in a certain career. These are conducted by career guidance companies and even private counsellors. Designed by psychology professionals, they are highly standardised, scientific tools which test you on various factors like intelligence, aptitude, values, emotions, motivation, personality, etc.
• Career guidance workshops: These expose you to various career options and are usually conducted by career guidance companies. It's a good idea to attend them even after you join college.

The bottom-line: Understand yourself. It's an interesting and enjoyable journey. It also helps to have a mentor to guide you along the way. This could be your school counsellor, a senior student or even a teacher.  

How do I choose a college?

After you are sure of the field you wish to pursue, the next step involves making a choice of the college you wish to join. So what really should one look into while opting for a particular college?

Srividya Subramanian, a career counsellor at Youngbuzz advises:

• Check the optional subjects available in the courses offered. The more variety you have the more flexible is your course, as well as future options.
• Make a note of the eligibility criteria. If your marks don't suit the cut-off mark, looking elsewhere is your only option.
• Take into account the time involved in travelling.
• It is also helpful to note the course options offered by the college after Class XII, in case you do not want to join a professional course like medicine or engineering.
• Talk to current or ex-students about the college and its extra-activities.

Careers and your personality

There are certain careers that suit one personality better than another.

For instance to be a good sales professional, you must have good communication and negotiating skills

College is the BEST time to build up on your personality. How can you do this?

Get actively involved in various extracurricular events organised by your college, which will help you develop core personality skills like leadership, self-confidence, decision making and communication.

Enrolling yourself for personality enhancement programmes or a public speaking course could also help.

All the best! And, yes, have fun.

Part I: Joining college? What you must know...

The author Andrea Gogri works for YoungBuzz India, a career guidance and people development company. For more information contact www.youngbuzz.com

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