Can't decide between CA or CFA

Advice/Guidance

(this will be long so pls read till the end)

I'm a commerce student and i recently got into bcom in a reputed college of Delhi university.

Now, ever since i decided that I'll take commerce in 10th grade, i knew i wanted to do an MBA. So, My plan was always like I'll get into a top DU college and do an MBA(as a fresher). The problem started when i fked up my 10th grade and realised my grades are not going to be the strongest point in MBA. So i decides I'll do a job to gain some work ex then go for an MBA. Even in my 12th i borderline missed the 90 mark by 2 percent only. And getting a job as fresher especially from bcom background is hard. I know i can work on my skills, build a good CV and give my all in placements but i think its very uncertain—depending on college placements. So i came to a conclusion that I'll pursue a professional degree (like CA or CFA).

I researched and found CFA aligns with me really well. Like I'm not the kind of person who would like to stay in their pg/hostel and constantly study (like required in CA). Im the kind of person who wants to take part in extracurriculars, join societies, go to case competitions, do internships— basically i want to have a life. Not like those CA aspirants who spend all of their college years inside their houses without any social interaction and gaining any exposure (no hate to any CA aspirant, i highly respect yall but this lifestyle is just not for me).

But after looking into the CFA curriculum, I realised its very much related to stock market and investment etc, which are not THAT interesting to me. Like dont get me wrong—i did find the study material interesting, i understood everything clearly and was also able to solve the questions. But i was really doubting if this is what i wanna do as work? Do you get me? So this all made me realise that im actually into Corporate finance not core finance that CFA actually teaches you about. I'm also into analytics so that pushes me into roles like FP&A which require accounting degrees in India.

So my question would be should i go for a) CA? which im interested in, but i know I'll end up hating it because, even though i like accounting, after some time I'll have burnouts (Like i was having during my 12th board Accountancy exam—bc even after studying i kept forgetting everything). And also CA will make me really depressed (by no social interaction till CA articleship, uncertainty and fear).

b) CFA? which im not that sure im interested in.(L1 was very interesting to me though) But it really aligns with me well and side by side i can also do the things that i like as CFA L1 isnt that hard to crack. Also cost will a problem here because I'll be coming to delhi via some loans that my family will be taking so idk how taking another loan for CFA would turn out for me.

Or c) No professional degree. Just hustle through college, building a good profile, a good CV, Internships etc and then (hopefully) land a job and then MBA.

PLS help me as i feel like my time is running out and i might be late to things that i could have done earlier.

Posted Jul 27, 2025, 4:02 PM UTC

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