If you’re a pre-medical student, many must have warned you of your limited choices for jobs and professions in only medical and biological sciences. This is why many pre-med students tend to spend years of their lives figuring out an admission to a medical school or to other bio-science majors. However, the reality of career options that you may have, is far greater!
For pre-medical students like yourself, there are at least six streams ranging from highly scientific to social science majors. Moreover, you can find highly-paid jobs in Pakistan and abroad through these professions. This article shall navigate through these fields and explore the wide variety of futures that you can chose for yourself. Remember, you are in control of your life and the choices you make will paint your future!
Table of Contents
- Major Streams for Pre-Medical Students
- Management Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Engineering and Computer Science
- Choice of Program And Institution
- Associate Degrees and Why You Should Prefer Them
- Choosing a Profession According to Your Personality
Major Streams for Pre-Medical Students
Some of the major streams that can be opted for by pre-medical students include medical and allied health sciences, biology and life sciences, agricultural sciences, chemistry and material sciences, and as surprising as it sounds, you can also opt for computer studies and information by taking a deficiency course of mathematics after your admission. You can opt for a multitude of degrees at universities across Pakistan according to your merit, choice, and personal circumstances.
Medical And Allied Health Sciences
Pre-Medical students usually aspire to become doctors. However, by pursuing bachelor's degrees in Medical sciences, you can also choose other professions in academia, industry, and research. Your options are vast inside Pakistan and even outside. You can use your degrees to work at different laboratories developing the latest in research and technology in medical sciences. Some of the top university degrees offered in Pakistan include,
- MBBS
- BDS
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Anesthesiology
- Audiology
- Cardiac Perfusion
- Dental Hygiene
- Nursing
- MLT/MIT
- Vision Sciences
- Speech Language Therapy
Since medical sciences and in particular MBBS and BDS are the most sought-after professional degrees in Pakistan, it is important to consider the high merit requirements they have. Typically, the highest merits are for MBBS followed by BDS and pharmacy respectively. If you remain unable to fall in the merits of your dream programs, you shall not be disappointed, rather you can explore a number of other fields leading to prestigious career opportunities for yourself.
114 medical colleges across Pakistan are producing doctors, out of which 40 are public institutions. Some of the most distinguished institutions to pursue medicine and other related professions include King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Agha Khan University (AKU), Lahore Medical and Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, and Rawalpindi Medical University.
Biological and Life Sciences
Another option, that many pre-medical students can find befitting is the stream of biological sciences. The top 10 programs in biological sciences include,
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Food and Nutrition
- Zoology
- Bio-informatics
- Ecology
- Food and Fisheries
- Immunology
- Virology
These courses can help you to gain a deeper understanding of various aspects of research in the field of biology and medical studies. This research can also assist you in solving the most pressing issues prevalent in society. This includes the search for solutions to viruses, the strive for better nutrition, and solutions to life-threatening diseases. Besides being a researcher, you can also engage in academia as a teacher or professor using such degrees. Your career path can also be set to pursue government jobs in areas of public health and nutrition, as well as a clinical technician or process engineer.
The best universities across Pakistan where you can pursue biological and life sciences include NUST, Quaid e Azam University, COMSATS, University of Punjab, NUMS, and Agha Khan University. View list of all programs available in Medical and Allied Health Sciences here.
Agricultural Sciences
In agrarian economies like Pakistan, advancement in agricultural sciences and techniques can help to elevate our society from the economic downfall it faces. Agriculture has the scope for research and growth in Pakistan. Some of the top degrees in agricultural sciences include,
- Agriculture
- Food Technology
- Plant Breeding and Genetics
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Soil Sciences
- Entomology
- Environmental Sciences
- Marketing and Agribusiness
- Plant Pathology
- Veterinary Medicine
The scope of degrees in agricultural sciences is quite vast. Graduates can find jobs in research of academic, laboratory, or industrial nature. They can also pursue employment opportunities in provincial and federal departments for agriculture, agri-based industries, pesticide and fertilizer companies, livestock departments, housing authorities, seed corporations, private farms etc.
Some of the best universities to study agriculture in Pakistan include the University of Agriculture, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Bahauddin Zakriya University, and the University of Sargodha.
View list of all Agricultural sciences programs here.
Management Sciences
Pre-Medical students can also pursue Management science programs. These fields are contrastingly different from the regular scientific majors that have been discussed before Management is an interdisciplinary field that is related to organizational operations and management. Such careers are more prevalent in the corporate sector. The most highly paid of these professions include,
- Project Management
- Logistics, Supply Chain Management
- Hotel Management
- Digital Marketing
- Business Administration
- Human Resources Management
- Sales & Marketing
- Marketing
- Hospitality Management
- Tourism & Hotel Management
- Public Administration
- Human Resources
- Business Analytics
These professions can lead to careers in diverse fields and firms across the globe and in Pakistan. In capitalistic economies and places where businesses and firms are about to start and expected to flourish, these degree programs can lead to highly paid jobs which are also high in demand.
List of all Bachelor programs available in Pakistan in Management Sciences is available here.
Social Sciences
Social sciences are disciplines that include human society and social relationships. These subjects include the study of human behavior, interaction and institutions. You can also choose to study politics, diplomacy and international relations in this domain. Social sciences have a broad range of subjects and lead to careers in research, academia, and diplomacy as popular choices for social science students. The highest-ranked degrees include,
- Law
- Development Studies
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Economics
- Government & Public Policy
Many social science degrees can be pursued in Pakistan. Some of the commonly known institutions for these disciplines are LUMS, NUST, COMSATS, University of Punjab, University of Lahore, Bahria University, and Quaid e Azam university.
Engineering and Computer Science Programs via Condensed Programs
Previously, pre-medical students typically did not have access to engineering courses at universities. Pakistan Engineering Council has recently changed this policy in June 2024. Now pre-medical students can take engineering courses at bachelor's level across Pakistan.
If you wish to make a complete shift from your previous fields and opt for engineering programs, please note that you need to have at least 60% marks in your FSc. You have to take 8-week deficiency courses in subjects like mathematics before you become eligible for entry tests. These courses are referred to as condensed programs. After your entry test, you will then be selected according to the merit position you hold and the subjects you wish to study. The universities will also be conducting separate entry tests for students who have taken condensed programs. A maximum of 40% seats in engineering programs can be offered to pre medical students, and the universities establish their merits accordingly.
A list of all the programs that you can pursue as pre-medical students in Pakistan, along with their scope and university admission details is available at the Programs section of the eduvision website. A list of BSc Engineering programs is available here.
Choice of Program And Institution
The next important question that you may have could be how to make the choice of programs and universities. It is a common myth that a certain degree does not have any scope and you cannot flourish if you study those degrees. While scope is important, the role your personality, and skills as an individual play in your professional success is second to none. Since you are living in times of unique careers and a diversified but equally crowded job market, it is important that you make an informed decision. Some major considerations include the following,
- Aptitude
- Job Market
- Financial Considerations
- Time one can spend on a degree program
Associate Degrees and Why You Should Prefer Them
If you do not afford to take 4 years degree programs and are bound to start employment early associate degrees can be a good choice. You can pursue an associate degree program for two years. In two years, you can get the associate diploma and find employment. At later stages, the diploma can also be converted into a bachelor's by studying the subject for an additional two years. You can choose this option if you have restrictions of merit, time or finances for a full-time bachelor.
Choosing a Profession According to Your Personality
Understanding your personality type can help you choose a career that matches your aptitude and skills. You can take various assessments to understand your personality type and aptitude. However, each person is unique, so a very personalized professional insight into your character, skills, aptitude, and personality is essential for you to make a better choice for your career path.
Understanding your aptitude, personality, values, and skills can be an overwhelming process. Career counseling can also be of great help in this regard. Professional guidance can help you understand yourself, and plan your professional journey accordingly. Choosing the right career is a crucial decision and an expert opinion can be very helpful while making such decisions. Team Eduvision, also provides professional counseling services both in person and online. For further information about counseling services, feel free to contact our team. All the best for your pursuits towards your dream career path.
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