What are the Alternatives to B.Tech CSE?

Now that your class 12 exams are over and the results are out, you must be wondering what’s next on the platter. Of course engineering is an excellent choice if you have a mind technical enough. But to get into an engineering college there are more than one hurdles – the primary ones being the all India entrance exams, AIEEE and JEE. You may work really hard and crack the entrance exams with flying colours. However, there are always ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. What if your percentile falls short and you miss the cut-off by a few points? Don’t panic. These are just assumptions. But there is nothing wrong in covering all bases. Moreover, that is what smart people do, isn’t it?

What are the Alternatives to Engineering?

Like we said, if you are a techie a B.Tech in Engineering is great for your career. But there are several other courses for science students that are known to offer some of the brilliant career opportunities in the technical field. With these courses, you can easily launch your career in the industry. Let us find out what these courses are.

Bachelors in Computer Application

The best course to get into if you want to pursue an Information Technology-related course which is not exactly engineering is a Bachelors in Computer Application or BCA. It is the closest thing to engineering and a great choice for students who want to learn about computer languages and IT at the same time.

BCA is a full-time, 3-year undergraduate programme, with exams happening semester-wise. The entire program is covered in 6 semesters. It lays the foundation in software development and computer applications. It is considered to be as par with a B.Tech degree and is one of the best options for an IT career.

The basic curriculum of BCA focuses on database management systems, operating systems, software engineering, computer architecture, web technology, and languages such as C, C++, HTML, Java etc.

Eligibility for BCA

Although eligibility criteria are different for different colleges, there is a commonly accepted criterion. To join a BCA college, you need to pass the 10+2 examination in any stream with a minimum of 45-50% marks from a recognized board (cut-off percentage may vary). Many colleges take admission based on merit. However, a few colleges also conduct personal interviews and/or written exams to further screen the candidates.

It is better if you have Physics, Chemistry, and Maths in your 10+2. But students pursuing Arts and Commerce in 10+2 can also join the course. Just that an Arts student would have to to work harder.

Skills Required for a BCA Candidate

If you are thinking of a career with BCA degree, you need the start working on developing the following soft skills.

• Analytical thinking
• Communication skills
• Reasoning ability
• Presentation skill
• Creativity
• Team work

Popular BCA Courses Offering Specializations

BCA with specialization is even better than a normal BCA degree as it offers complete mastery over a particular on-demand domain besides all the other things that are being taught in a BCA general programme.

Here are some of the popular BCA programmes from different colleges across the country.

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science or B.Sc is the most popular choice amongst class 12 students. It is a full-time or part-time undergraduate programme. Exams are held on a yearly basis and the entire course is covered in three terms.

B.Sc is a good choice if you have a strong background in Science and Maths and want to pursue an inter-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary career.

A vast number of courses are available under the umbrella term of B.Sc. Due to its vastness, a B.Sc degree can lead you to different career paths – which can be much different from the one you actually had in mind. Therefore, you need to be extra careful while choosing a B.Sc course.

First, do not forget that your actual objective was a B.Tech degree. Look for subjects that are common in a B.Tech course and the B.Sc program. You can make these comparisons through respective brochures or through Apps like CollegeNinja.

There are many B.Sc courses that are similar to an Engineering programme as far as the subject is concerned, although the practical or lab experience in B.Sc is different from that in a B.Tech program.

Here are some of the best B.Sc programmes that offer specializations in new-age technologies.

Eligibility for a B.Sc Degree

You must meet the following criteria to join a B.Sc programme. (Minimum percentage required may vary from college to college.) You need to pass in 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Mathematics, and English as compulsory subjects along with Computer science / Chemistry /  Biotechnology / Biology / any technical vocational subjects as optional subjects with a minimum of 60% marks (55% in case of SC/ST) taken together in Physics, Mathematics, and any one of the optional subjects.

Skills Required for a B.Sc Candidate

Having a set of good set of soft skills would help you in every go of life. But the following skills will work wonders if you go for a career with B.Sc course.

• Observational skills
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical skills
• Research skills

Difference Between B.Tech, BCA, and B.Sc Computer Science Programs

The basic difference between the three courses is the area of focus. While BCA focuses on the applications of computers, B.Sc Computer Science deals with the concepts of computer science and B.Tech CS concentrates on intensive programming and software/hardware knowledge. Here is a list of topics that are broadly covered in the three courses. Note that this is just the gist and the curricula are subjected to change as per the policy of the college.

Conclusion

Now that you have a precise idea of what other alternatives for engineering are available, you should not be worried about admissions. Just make a list of all the courses and check them up. Search for colleges through online prospectus or brochure. Consider all the factors before making any choice. And, voila, you are ready.