Hi sir, I am from Chennai. My son is in 12th std. (CBSE) and studying PCMB. He is not interested to write NEET or JEE. Also not interested to join any engineering courses. I believe that he will score above 85% in his board exams. He has good analytical skills. He also writes well (mostly fictional stories till now). As of now, he doesn't know what he anted to study. What are his options if he is not interested in medical and engineering?

Ans: Before making a decision on educational or career direction, the most effective and personalized approach is for your son to undergo a psychometric assessment. This scientifically designed evaluation will identify his natural aptitudes, interests, personality traits, and career preferences. Armed with these insights, he can confidently select courses or paths best aligned with his strengths, ensuring long-term satisfaction and success. Taking a psychometric test offers clarity amidst uncertainty by narrowing down options that best suit his unique profile and comparative advantage, laying the foundation for a truly fulfilling educational and professional journey. Value added information/answer to your question: Students completing 12th grade with PCMB who are strong analytically and enjoy writing have a wealth of non-medical, non-engineering pathways align with rigorous academics, practical training, strong faculty, modern infrastructure, industry engagement and reliable placement outcomes. Bachelor of Science degrees in disciplines such as Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Genetics or Statistics provide deep research foundations and laboratory exposure at institutions like IISERs (BS-MS) and top BSc colleges (BHU, DU, JMI) offering 75–90% placement rates and faculty-led projects. Interdisciplinary BSc programmes in Data Science or Bioinformatics emphasize advanced mathematics, computing and analytics, supported by AI-enabled labs and internships with 80–85% graduate employability. Mass Communication and Journalism (IIMC Delhi, Xavier Institute of Communications Mumbai, SIMC Pune) combine creative storytelling with multimedia labs, ethical reporting modules and 85–95% placement consistency at leading media houses. Integrated Law programmes (BA LLB) develop argumentative writing, legal research and moot-court skills, with sustained campus recruitments in top law firms. Degrees in Psychology, Economics or Hospitality Management blend conceptual coursework with industry practicum and yield 70–80% placement across clinical, corporate and service sectors. Across these options, accreditation by UGC/AICTE, experienced PhD faculty, outcome-based curricula, active industry partnerships and track-record placement cells ensure robust career pathways for students with strong board performance and versatile skill sets.

Recommendation:
For a blend of analytical rigor and creative expression, BSc Data Science at IISERs offers cutting-edge labs, research mentorship and high placement consistency; Mass Communication at IIMC Delhi provides multimedia facilities and robust media industry tie-ups; Integrated BA LLB develops legal writing and courtroom training; BSc Biotechnology at BHU ensures strong research infrastructure and industry internships; Psychology at DU fosters critical analysis and clinical practicum.

Alongside these programmes, admission requires success in specific entrance examinations. Admission to IISERs BS-MS/Data Science is through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), testing domain knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology over 60 objective questions in three hours. Entry to IIMC Delhi’s Mass Communication PG Diploma is via the IIMC Entrance Exam, a three-hour online test with 100 multiple-choice questions covering General Knowledge, Aptitude and Media Awareness. Integrated BA LLB programmes admit through national law tests such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT-India and SLAT, assessing English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Ability and Current Affairs. BSc Biotechnology at BHU requires the CUET-UG exam, evaluating subject-specific and general aptitude sections for Sciences. BA Psychology at DU follows CUET-UG, with components in General Psychology, Reasoning, English and Quantitative Aptitude, though some seats are allotted on the basis of class 12 merit and cutoffs. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.