More than 10 lakh students are appearing for their class 12 board examinations this year. The number increases with every batch. Besides preparing for the boards they have to plan in advance and study for numerous entrance exams, which puts them under tremendous stress. Fresh out of school, they also have the responsibility of charting out their future. A student on an average spends two years preparing for exams that will be done in three hours, but takes less than a week when it comes to choosing what to do after class 12. A lot depends on that one decision. Should students opt for a great college and compromise on the course or should they stick to a course they are passionate about? Often daunting, this decision can be simplified if one considers multiple options and weighs all the pros and cons. Taking time to assess interests, aptitude and personality type can go a long way towards identifying one's potential.

Liberal arts

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the lopsided growth in the education sector as a result of overemphasis on certain courses and careers. A number of institutes are now combating this by providing state-of-the-art courses in liberal arts.

Education in liberal arts has very diverse attributes, says Devi Singh, Vice-chancellor, Flame University, Pune. "Through liberal education, students gain confidence to take initiative, solve problems, and formulate ideas. They develop skills in language, learning, and leadership that are important to succeed professionally and emerge as well-rounded individuals," he says.

Most popular specialisations

"Economics, psychology, literary and cultural studies, international studies, environmental studies, sociology, public policy, and applied mathematics are among the most popular subjects," says Singh.

Skills needed to succeed

"Liberal education lays emphasis on inculcating skills such as writing, communication, teamwork, leadership and ethical conduct. It is an education for life rather than 'just' training for a particular job," says Vineet Gupta, Pro Vice-chancellor, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana.

Career prospects

"Liberal arts graduates can work in international relations, public policy, as human resource specialists, law, and journalism among other fields," says Singh.