No career options except Medicine & BTech in India

[Sumit]

I'm 23, a commerce student. It's so frustrating that commerce seems to have hardly any scope. I chose commerce because I was weak in science in class 10, so I thought it would be a safe bet. Now I regret not taking science, because the only options I see are CA, which I'm not interested in, and I don't want to work in accounting, tax or auditing. My brother is a doctor, and sometimes I think if I had taken science and cleared NEET, I could have become a doctor too and enjoyed the freedom of not having to decide a career path.

I don't want to spend my whole life working for someone else. I want freedom from a regular job, but that scares me. I keep regretting my decisions because I feel I make the wrong choices and never think clearly. Is there anyone who has broken free from this job culture and is earning a good balance in life? Please help. I'm ready to work for another 10 years, but not beyond that. I can't imagine working after that.

Edit: After reading your comments, I think my thinking is wrong or I just can't figure out career paths. I probably have a wrong perception about jobs. Let me work on it mentally. I'm mentally exhausted, which is why my post sounds vague and absurd.

Thank you for your lovely comments and time.

[Ansh]

Very contradictory from start to finish.

[Dilip]

Just start your own business, OP. Begin small, experiment, fail, experiment again, and after a couple of failures you'll get it right – that's how business works. Just don't take huge loans or sell your house to start; begin modestly and get help from others.

[Sachin]

I also regret not taking PCB – PCM is the best stream in India.

[Shalini]

I feel the same.

[Shalini]

There are plenty of jobs for commerce grads, but many of them have already been taken by BTech folks.

[Neeraj]

BTech only pays in IT. Core engineering is not rewarding. People with 10 years experience earn only about 50k/month.

I regret taking science. Commerce actually has more scope, and most BTech graduates end up doing an MBA, which is a commerce field.

[Sakshi]

Whatever you choose, be good at it. It doesn't matter if it's commerce or arts – you need to become a subject‑matter expert.

There is no such thing as like or dislike. Most IT guys don't love their job, but it pays well so they stay. You have to work hard, practice the concepts and gradually you'll improve and start enjoying it. That's how it works. So adopt a positive attitude and look for opportunities you can seize.

I am 46, did BTech in 2001, graduated during the dot‑com bust, worked in a call centre, then faked experience to get into IT after 5 years, went onsite to Singapore and worked there for 16 years, became financially independent and now I'm back in India. Life is chill. Don't lose hope. Zindagi bahut lambi hai, dost.

[Keerthi]

If you don't want a regular job, I don't think doing BTech or medicine will help.

Can your brother quit his medical job in 10 years and become financially independent for life?

You would feel the same even if commerce had more scope.

I think you need career counselling because you're not in touch with reality. Once you have realistic expectations you can decide – maybe go for an MBA and work like most corporates, or start your own business if you have capital. Maybe start small and grow gradually.

[Danny]

Yeah, the country seems run by doctors and developers only. People eat bytes for breakfast and take paracetamol for dinner.

[Pranay]

You're mixing a lot of things up. It would have been tough to go for JEE or NEET, and most people these days say they don't want a job, they want their own business.

Easier said than done. You could try an MBA though – even a tier‑2 institute can give you a decent career.