Career Path for a Commerce Student

CASE STUDY

Based on numerous talks with B.com, CA and MBA professionals, the following pros / cons on each have been summarized below with possible career path considerations:

 

B.Com:

• B.com alone is of no value, even if it is from a renowned college like SRCC
• Students normally go for further education (CA or MBA) after their B.com
  • Earlier, it was possible to do B.com and CA together in 5-6 years but now, due to the new rules, doing both these together will take atleast 7 years
  • Hence, going for MBA after B.com makes more sense (5 years)
• If admitted in SRCC, probability of clearing the MBA CAT exam for admissions in IIMs increases due to peer group effect
  • Opting for other niche courses (eg. masters in financial engineering etc.) from renowned institutions in India or abroad requires a student to outperform during B.com, even if it is from SRCC

 

CA:

• If at all interested in CA, one should pursue it immediately after 12th and should not club it with a regular/correspondence B.com course (as it would take atleast 7 years for completing both)
• CA on any day is better than B.com + MBA (non IIMs); MBA from IIMs is always exceptional
• CA, on a broad level, consists of 2 main courses:
  • Accounting: Requires 50% logical / 50% cramming
  • Taxation (toughest): 20% logical / 80% cramming
• One's interest in the above mentioned courses is always helpful but does not guarantee a success in CA, unless if able to cope up with the required amount of cramming

 

MBA:

• Can only be pursued after graduation (regular or correspondence)
• If at all interested in a MBA program, one should only aim for IIMs
  • In case one doesn't get into a renowned graduation school, then it is better to opt for a correspondence course and simultaneously prepare for CAT (for MBA in IIMs)
• But in case one is aiming for running his/her own business and also thinks that clearing the CAT is simply unachievable, then attending college (regular graduation course) is a must to build up one's personality (a big asset which is realized later) and then pursue a non-IIM MBA(India/abroad)

 

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In the end, it all boils down to one decision - CA or MBA?

• If CA - no graduation; start preparing from the word go
• If MBA,
  • IIMs: Do B.com only if getting admission in SRCC and then prepare CAT; otherwise take correspondence course and prepare for CAT
  • Non IIMs: Ok to pursue a non-IIM MBA only if one goes into his/her own business; attending regular college (graduation) a must