I have three younger cousins. They don't want to code. They have their clarity. They don't want to pursue any particular engineering stream as well.
They want to get a decent paying job. Let's say 6-8 lpa start with a path to 15-20 lpa in 4-5 years.
I tried advising them to not invest a lot of money and four years of time in engineering. Their family is average middle class financially. I told them that I'll advise you what all to learn like content writing, seo, data analytics etc. So do a simple course, save money and rather invest in something that matters for job.
They did listen but did not get confidence to act. All three went for engineering stream. These are private colleges with tier 3ish names. Now they don't get time to put a lot of time because 8-4 is usually college time. Unlike tier 1,2 college where you get campus and a lot of freedom, the colleges usually have a lot of classes and compulsory 80% type attendance.
Did you face similar situation? What did you advise? Do you think I was giving them right decision?
Your advice is misleading. You don't become a best in class data analyst if you can't code. SEO is a shady business and there isn't growth. Even a PU graduate can do content writing or SEO. Engineering is like a passport. You use the degree to make your career. The number of people earning 20L with 5 yoe with a non engg degree is pretty low. I empathize with the 8-4 struggle. I have seen such people, but they are still better off by doing engineering than anything else. There are other core engineering career options in non-software industry, but you will have to be competitive to secure a decent job even there. There are banking, insurance etc. Even these require people to be competitive. There is no free lunch. May be in European nations, but these won't last long.
Interesting perspective. I see an attribution problem in your argument. Eng who earn more than 20 lpa in 5 YoE in non coding roles like biz ops, marketing etc do not do so because they did engineering. Infact they need to learn new skills which has got nothing to do with engineering. And, if they learn those directly, they could have saved both time and money.
Secondly, I see you have clubbed all engineering into one engineering identity. The question has specifically highlighted a situation. IIT, nit, bits etc are different leagues then tier 2 and 3 names. Engineering from any college is not a passport. It is the misinformation that is being fed to people unfortunately.
The point is you need to learn skills in a field and if it is not coding you want to do AND no interest in any technical field then why pursue engineering stream for the heck of it. Eventually you need to learn skills so learn those instead esp if this guidance is available.
Fyr engineering ≠ CS/IT There are many streams that do not require coding.
And if you don't practice those stream in your job then what's the point of enrolling in a course for the heck of it?
Life doesn't always pan out based on graduation degrees. There numerous cases where people did one course and then took an entirely different path
No one appreciates free advice, herd mentality gets to people. You tried and that was your duty. Let them make their own mistakes and figure things out too.
Well put advice
Most horrifying is the 2nd statement from top - "They have their clarity".
This is not only toxic it's heart wrenching.
Shying away from grind and fight is not "clarity".
It's very easy to get these type of clarity when you are a student and dependent on your parents and elders.
Once the situation reverses, when people want to be dependent on you, you will feel the heat why you didn't develop fighter spirit.
Fighter spirit is never developed without loosing battles.
I've observed people who seed psychological comfort in high cost college fees for a hope to get easy route to job and financial freedom, can't be forced to learn to be smart, they will take their own sweet time to find their fight, loose some in the process and realise later.
It's impossible to short circuit the path, unless you (who is advising) is also the money spender.
The one who spends money dictates terms.
Why does everyone should have fighting spirit to learn coding? I am surprised with your take. It is alright if someone says they want to build career not doing coding.
Why fighter spirit is being mixed with someone's desire to not code.
Oh shit, you also don't have clarity.
I never talked about coding, it's in general.
I believe money can be made in any field as long as you are good at it.
Engineering gives a safe charted out path to earnings in ways other courses don't, for eg, I don't know what a BSc graduate can do apart from going for MSc, or what kind of non-IT job options are available post BSc.
Coming to the advice, I believe it's easier to flow with the tide than against it. In India, it's common to have a B.Tech/B.Com degree, it gives you a wider base of people to be able to connect to, so why not have that advantage instead of trying to play it smartly by doing irregular courses.
Sure, if anybody has the guidance/knowledge to do those courses, it should be taken up as an addon, but seeing how India is not very equipped to deal with "special" cases in education, it pays off to do whatever everybody is doing.
Coming to your specific problem, I don't think 8-4 or 80% attendance is the problem. They're college students, they're bound to be flaky and non committed. You cannot force discipline on people who think they don't require it. They'll invest time when they feel the need for it. Until then, all you can do is wait.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts @human
Are you talking about B.Sc general or B.Sc Specialization like B.Sc Computer Science ? I have a triple major degree in B.Sc Computer Science, Maths & Stats & working as a junior dev. So, yeah, roads are pretty much open to b.sc cs graduates too imo.
My cousins have done BBA as I advised them against engineering as they weren't good at stem.
Now they are working at Apple store, international kpos and earning quite well ❤️🩹
It's upto swot analysis
Not all can be Engineer and earn like 25lpa straightaway
Absolutely!
Did I hear they are not financially well off and want to secure high paying jobs but don't want to work hard and learn engineering and get a degree and a job?
No you did not read correctly. They don't want to code. Working hard does not mean learn engineering.
First of all computer science engineering is not mainly coding, it is mathematics. It is the easiest of all the branches to get through. Even otherwise why not do engineering in others?. Are you saying 4 years not worth it? It is the best investment for the future including for matrimony. Every Govt job requires a degrees. They don't ask for college tier to be eligible.
All the skills you mentioned are the flavor of the season, once they fade away they will have to switch to new ones. Who will hire a non graduate without the skill they match years down the line?
A couple of decades back desktop assembly and software installation was considered hot job just like digital marketing, do you know anyone who makes a good living out of it? A few years back there were jokes about cab drivers and company freshers. Not anymore.
BTech is similar to old times BSc degree now. Kind of basic. If you are not financially well off, most other career options are even more risky. Most young students reject coding as career imaging it as some weird nerdy stuff. But, it is like old times typing or steno skill. Even to become a good in analytics or seo, understanding algorithms/code is advantageous.
Very interesting perspective
same story, had advised younger to go for social science courses (econ, stats etc) but they failed to choose these and went for engg now placed in a story as usual for non tech branches
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