[UCEED/NID] Class 12 PCM student considering drop year for design and animation career, i Need guidance.
Prepared for jee During Classes 11 and 12 but could not qualify JEE Advanced.
I’m currently very confused about what to do next and would really appreciate honest advice from people who have been in a similar situation.
For the past 2 years, I focused almost entirely on JEE preparation because of family pressure. During that time, I completely lost touch with art and sketching, even though it was always the one thing I genuinely enjoyed and felt naturally good at.
Now that JEE did not work out, I started exploring other career options and got interested in design and animation. I found out about UCEED and NID recently, and for the first time in a while, I actually feel interested in studying something. But at the same time, I’m scared because I would basically be starting preparation from scratch after spending 2 years doing PCM and coaching.
I wanted to ask:
- Is taking a drop year for UCEED/NID considered too risky?
- Can someone realistically prepare in one year if they are restarting art after a long gap?
- How difficult are these exams compared to what people usually expect?
- What should a beginner focus on first: drawing, creativity, observation, aptitude, portfolio, etc.?
- Are careers in animation/design actually stable in India?
- How do I convince my parents that switching from engineering to design is not just a random decision?
I think one reason I’m hesitant is because I don’t personally know anyone who took this path after JEE prep, so everything feels uncertain right now.
Any advice, preparation tips, or personal experiences would really help.