Ways to Make A Career Without JEE Main
Content Curator | Updated On - Sep 9, 2024
After the Class 12th board exams, IIT- JEE Main is the next big hurdle that most of you want to cross. The dream of completing your B.Tech in Engineering from an IIT has mesmerized you forever. Even your parents have wanted to see you holding that IIT degree. Hours of dedicated study, sleepless nights, and lots of effort have been put to make this dream come true. And when you finally get that perfect qualifying score, your happiness knows no bounds.
What to do if a bright and confident aspirant does not make it into an IIT? Lose hope and sit back contemplating the purpose of life. Absolutely not! If not one of the 23 IITs, a student can surely get admission to one of the 31 NITs or 25 IIITs, or 28 GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutes). The yardstick for applying to NITs and IIITs is the same, 75% in aggregate in the Class 12 examination. The Standard of education in these institutes is on par with an IIT.
Always remember the words of Mickey Rooney, “You always pass failure on your way to success.”
You should always keep the following points in your mind:
- A degree from, say, NIT or IIIT will not slacken your capability. Employers look for logical, persistent, divergent-thinking, talented candidates.
- Many private institutes have seen placements going as high as 30 LPA.
- The scorecard is considered just for the namesake. Being a non-IITian in no event makes you less worthy.
- It does not deprive you of a hotshot career. Yes, you read that right! Still don’t believe us? Try reading some real-life examples below!
The Successful Non-IITians of India
- Satya Nadella:
- Satya Nadella, the present CEO of the tech giant Microsoft, attended Manipal Institute of Technology (then part of Mangalore University) and not any IIT.
- He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering and then traveled to the US to study for a Masters in Computer Science.
- Before holding the post of CEO, he was the Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise group, which was responsible for developing and running the company’s computing platforms, developer tools, and cloud computing services.
- Kalpana Chawla:
- The first female of Indian origin to go to Space, Kalpana Chawla had failed the IIT-JEE exam.
- She pursued a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College and then obtained a Master of Science degree in the same from the University of Texas in the US.
- Moreover, she joined NASA and later, flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
- In the second mission, unfortunately, she lost her life in the tragic event known as the ‘Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster.
- Vinod Dham:
- ‘Father of the Pentium Chip’, Vinod Dham was a graduate of Delhi College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.
- He also failed the JEE Exam.
- Later, he moved to the US to study for a Master's in Physics (Solid State).
- Dham is known for the development of the world-famous Pentium processor of the Intel Company.
- He is also an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist.
- Indra Nooyi (Chairperson of PepsiCo), Shiv Nadar (Founder and Chairman of HCL), Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry in 2009), and many others have made it big in spite of not being from an IIT. It all depends on the perspective.
Career Options Other Than Engineering
One must understand that engineering is not the only course that you can pursue after graduating from the Science stream. Tons of other courses can set you toward a great career path. The scope and average income in these courses are sometimes even higher than what engineering offers. Candidates can get admission to these courses with a 10+2 aggregate.
Let us take a look at various courses other than engineering-
| Courses | Details |
|---|---|
| B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering | This is not a core engineering course. The scope of education spans aircraft, satellites, spacecraft, etc. Vast job opportunities in the public and private sectors are present due to low competition. |
| Diploma in Nautical Science | This one-year course on Nautical Science can help you get admission to the Indian Naval Institute to work in the field of Naval Science, Port Operations, Weather Forecasting, etc. |
| Bachelor of Design (Product) | This course is for you if you are interested in art. Product Designing is not just limited to designing an outfit or dress. It could be about designing software or hardware or any particular industry product. Average packages for freshers range from 4 to 6 lacs! |
| Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) | This course is something which is mostly considered by Commerce graduates. But there are no such criteria that limit this to Commerce students only. Product Managers, Business Analysts, and Human Resource Managers are a few posts that can be bagged by a BBA degree holder. |
| Bachelor of Fashion Technology | This course might seem not as lucrative due to the low starting salaries. But once the experience in this particular industry grows, there is a good appraisal. A job in Fashion Technology requires knowledge of good designing software. |
| Ethical Hacking | This course is generally pursued by students of B.E/B.Tech in Computer Science or related fields. Ethical Hackers are required in top government agencies and private organizations to think outside the box and find flaws in security systems. This course does require programming knowledge but is not specific to only software engineers. Even a commerce graduate can become an Ethical Hacker with the right knowledge. |
| Bachelor of Science (Honors) | A B.Sc Honors course can be pursued in various domains such as Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Forensic Sciences, and even Computer Science. Depending on the domain, graduates have opportunities in their respective fields. For example, a B.Sc in Economics graduate can easily make a career in Data Analytics or Data Science. |
| Merchant Navy | As the name suggests, Merchant Navy is a field for the administration of international trade via Sea routes, ports, etc. A merchant navy officer is responsible for managing various activities which could range from administrative roles at a large cargo ship to an international trade port. The only downside of this job is less to no contact for several days with your family. |
| Diploma in Aviation | Aviation is still a growing field in India. Due to the low per capita income of the country, multiple aviation companies have fallen into bankruptcy. But the jobs in the aviation field are growing at a large pace. With the expansion of airports in the country, the aviation industry is growing. Commercial Pilots are required for airlines and cargo planes. They also need a separate license to fly an airplane. |
Do consider the courses mentioned above. Never limit your options to just engineering. It could be possible that you could be interested in a completely different course but are unaware of it. Know that it’s never too late!
Students often have a large gap after their 12th graduation to take admission into a college course. You still have time to consider what is the right career path for you. Consult a career counselor or take an online test that can help you find what is the right path for you!
Other Entrance Exams: Alternatives to JEE Main
There are various government and private universities that conduct entrance tests for admission to their respective engineering colleges. We are discussing some of these exams below.
State-level Entrance Tests
- Some states in India have devised their own engineering entrance exams.
- Apart from giving weightage to JEE Main score, a considerable number of state universities judge students based on the marks secured in the state engineering entrance exams.
- To keep more and more options open, it is advisable to appear for these tests as well.
| Exam Name | Courses Offered | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) | Engineering and Pharmacy courses | Candidates should have cleared Class 12 examinations with a minimum of 45% marks (reserved category students should have at least 40% marks) with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English as compulsory subjects. |
| Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) | Medical, Dental, and Engineering | Candidates must have passed the higher secondary examination, i.e. 10+2 or equivalent with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks (40% mark for SC, ST, and OBC categories). Physics and Mathematics have to be their compulsory papers in the 10+2 level. |
| West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) | Engineering and Medical | Eligible candidates in the general category should have a minimum of 60% marks and reserved category students should have at least 55% to get admission to Jadavpur University, or otherwise, a minimum of 45% marks (40% for reserved category students) for admissions in other colleges. Exams are held in offline mode. |
| Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination (UPSEE) | Engineering and Other Professional Courses | Students should secure at least 45% marks (40% marks for reserved category) in the qualifying examination of 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with Chemistry or Biotechnology or Biology or Technical Vocational subjects to apply for admission to B. Tech courses. |
The list of state-level engineering entrance tests is quite long. Only a few of them have been noted here. Qualifying in these exams gets you into most government colleges, so fees are pretty affordable. That is a bonus point!
Private Universities Entrance Tests
Reputed private universities across India also conduct engineering entrance tests for admissions to the first year in their colleges. Some of them are as follows.
| Exams | Courses Offered | Eligibility | Salary Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| BITSAT | Engineering and Architecture | Candidates are eligible to give this test only if they have cleared 10+2 or will be appearing for the Class 12 Boards Examination with PCM as their subject. At least 60% in each of the three subjects and a minimum of 75% in aggregate has to be secured by the students. | 1.3 Crore p.a (highest salary paid by Google) |
| VITEEE | Engineering | Students must have at least 60% aggregate marks in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or Biology in Class 12. Boards appearing candidates in the current year can also apply. | 41 lacs p.a |
| KIITEE | Engineering | Candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination or will be appearing for Class 12 Boards can apply for B.Tech courses. A minimum of 60% marks in PCM taken together is a must for the students who have cleared 10+2. | 39 lakhs p.a |
| SRMJEEE | Engineering | Students eligible to apply for B.Tech programs must have passed their Higher Secondary Examination with PCM as a major subject. A minimum of 60% aggregate in PCM is required for applying for Kattankulathur, Ramapuram, and Vadapalani campuses, and at least 55% aggregate in the majors is necessary to apply for NCR-Delhi campuses. | 41 lakhs p.a |
You surely wouldn’t want to miss out on applying for these exams as well.
Or… Begin Something From Scratch!
If you have decided to take up engineering as your career and have innovative, mind-boggling ideas which can survive in the competitive world, then channel your strength and follow your passion. It will lead you to success for sure. In the present-day scenario, unemployment rates are pretty high and very often people are laid off. In such conditions be your own boss. Start your own venture.
The Government of India is enabling young entrepreneurs to get the right funds for a startup. With Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in almost every sector, Venture Capitalists can also fund your business. There’s a lot to learn of course, but the good part is, aspirants have ample time to learn! You can be a savior of your and many others’ dreams.
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure“
-Paulo Coelho.
Working hard to fulfilling your dreams is the only mantra. There is no shortcut to success. You have to make your efforts count and if you fail, giving up is not an option. Learn from your mistakes, stand up and fight again. Success is what you will get eventually. All the best for your future!
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.