Hi everyone, I’m a Class 12 PCB student and feeling quite confused about what to do next, so I’d really appreciate some honest guidance.
My_qualifications: Class 12 PCB (boards recently given; expecting ~90 in Biology, ~75 in Physics, and similar in Chemistry; 90+ expected in English and Psychology) Also gave CLAT in December (just casually) and secured an AIR ~15k with around 75 marks.
I’ve been preparing for NEET for the past 2 years (11th and 12th), but I never managed to score well in mocks (I was enrolled in Aakash Institute). With NEET just a week away, I’m not very confident about clearing it. My prep also took a hit because I shifted focus to boards around mid-September. Over time, I’ve realized that I’m actually more interested in biotech, bioinformatics, and research-oriented fields rather than pursuing MBBS. That said, after my CLAT result, I’m also considering law as a backup ( B.Sc. LL.B. at places like National Forensic Sciences University), though it’s not my primary interest.
My current situation/options Applied for BTech Biotechnology at University School of Biotechnology (USBT) Recently gave IPU CET Have VITEEE Also preparing for CUET (targeting institutes like National Dairy Research Institute) Got acceptance letters from a few US universities for BS Bioinformatics, but the total cost is around $100k, which is quite high for me Also, I’m a national-level chess player with a FIDE rating (~1500 range), so I might have a realistic chance through sports quota in USBT/IPU.
Long-term goal: I’m aiming for higher studies after my bachelor’s—especially in areas like AI in healthcare, bioinformatics, or drug discovery—and I’m open to going abroad for my master’s. Where I’m stuck: Being from a PCB background, I feel like I have too many different directions and don’t want to make a wrong choice.
My questions: Is pursuing biotech/bioinformatics in India a good option, or is going to the US worth the cost? Does getting into USBT/IPU via sports quota make it a strong enough choice? Is taking a drop for NEET even worth considering in my case? With a good CLAT rank, should I seriously consider law as well? For someone aiming for research/innovation (AI + biotech/drug discovery), which path makes more sense long-term? Would really appreciate advice from anyone in biotech, bioinformatics, law, or who has faced a similar situation.
Thanks in advance 🙏