Would you support your child in pursuing a degree in English Literature?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why or why not?

While a noteworthy pursuit, I would be concerned about career prospects unless he/she wanted to go to law school.

Absolutely. Yes law school. Or do a phD in same field and become a professor. Will need a new generation to teach the English courses.

Doing a humanities/qualitative social science PhD is 4-10 years of indentured servitude followed by the almost total certainly of underemployment. Let your kids major in what they want, but didn't let them go to grad school in it!

[Anonymous]

Yes because it’s their major, their life, not yours. No matter who pays. IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No trust fund and DC does not want to go into Law, so short answer is “no”.

We would be perfectly happy with a minor in English, our house already is overflowing with books, and DC is a voracious reader.

Spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study.

Serious question...what do English majors study?

It takes one or two minutes to Google. But you have no interest in the actual answer, is my guess.

Well, you are the one that said that PP had "spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study"...now, we are supposed to Google it.

I figured you could give a better answer than a general Google search.

Why do you think a Google search won't provide good answers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No trust fund and DC does not want to go into Law, so short answer is “no”.

We would be perfectly happy with a minor in English, our house already is overflowing with books, and DC is a voracious reader.

Spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study.

Serious question...what do English majors study?

It takes one or two minutes to Google. But you have no interest in the actual answer, is my guess.

Well, you are the one that said that PP had "spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study"...now, we are supposed to Google it.

I figured you could give a better answer than a general Google search.

Why do you think a Google search won't provide good answers?

Again...it's fine if you are lazy and/or don't know what an English major does. Neither do most of us.

Seems like anyone that claims knowledge about it could write an answer fairly quickly....but I guess not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is a great way to say you know nothing about AI.

Agreed.

x 1000

To be a great AI, you need a great writer.

This will be true forever, because software never gets better. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes because it’s their major, their life, not yours. No matter who pays. IMO

Sure, they can do what they want.

Doesn’t mean you have to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We would be perfectly happy with a minor in English, our house already is overflowing with books, and DC is a voracious reader.

If you love books and reading, that doesn’t mean majoring or minoring in English is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No trust fund and DC does not want to go into Law, so short answer is “no”.

We would be perfectly happy with a minor in English, our house already is overflowing with books, and DC is a voracious reader.

Spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study.

Serious question...what do English majors study?

It takes one or two minutes to Google. But you have no interest in the actual answer, is my guess.

Well, you are the one that said that PP had "spoken like someone who doesn't know what English majors study"...now, we are supposed to Google it.

I figured you could give a better answer than a general Google search.

Why do you think a Google search won't provide good answers?

Again...it's fine if you are lazy and/or don't know what an English major does. Neither do most of us.

Seems like anyone that claims knowledge about it could write an answer fairly quickly....but I guess not.

PP posted the question instead of doing a Google search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I’m paying for a music major so I don’t see why not. In fact, I think humanities majors will have much less competition now that all these parents are forbidding their students from it.

I think the question is what kind of job can your kid find with just a humanities undergrad degree.

Most grads don't come from family money. They need to find a job and pay the rent. Look how many millennials are living with their parents after graduation. It's expensive to live on your own and financially take care of yourself.

I get that, but young people aren’t widgets. My kid was born to be a musician and it’s the only thing he’s ever wanted to do. He won’t (and shouldn’t) turn into a computer science major just because I ask him to. If not for music he wouldn’t be going to college at all.

Sure, but will he be able to pay his rent, cell phone bill, buy groceries and get health insurance after college?

I know plenty of music majors who do just that and have for 30+ years. They love their careers and are extremely happy. Do they live in a McMansion and drive the newest luxury cars? Nope. But they live in a nice house, all expenses covered, they are paying for their kids college without loans and are set for retirement. Life is about doing what you love. Do they have a 9-5 schedule? Nope, but you don't go into music expecting that (even music education means after school events from time to time). They perform, they teach, they enjoy their jobs immensely.


Now the "most successful" who have not landed a professional major symphony job have one member of the household in Military band. You get good benefits, good pay, and are set for retirement if you do 20+ years. And yes, I know several musician couples, as many music majors tend to gravitate towards similar people.