English as a major

[Anonymous]

Nobody give a f_ what you studied or where. What they do care about is can you add value to the organization.

[Anonymous]

I loved English as a second major.

[Anonymous]

Read a bunch of novels and write about them, easiest possible path to collect a four year degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and it served me very well. Strong writing and textual analysis is part of the reason I did well in law school, got a coveted clerkship, and got offers from top law firms. Incidentally, being a strong writer also requires being a strong thinker. While it's a fairly generalized skill, it's one that many employers covet. Also, I enjoyed being an English major. It was a lot of work--so much reading--but it was usually a labor of love. I'm still an avid reader to this day.

Anyhow, I don't know where the world is going with AI. Nobody does. But I certainly wouldn't assume that CS, engineering, and other STEM fields are somehow safe from our future AI overlords.

so once again, an undergrad in English requires a graduate degree.

Do you really think your kid is going to get this great job out of undergrad and that’s that? I think of undergrad as a stepping stone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and it served me very well. Strong writing and textual analysis is part of the reason I did well in law school, got a coveted clerkship, and got offers from top law firms. Incidentally, being a strong writer also requires being a strong thinker. While it's a fairly generalized skill, it's one that many employers covet. Also, I enjoyed being an English major. It was a lot of work--so much reading--but it was usually a labor of love. I'm still an avid reader to this day.

Anyhow, I don't know where the world is going with AI. Nobody does. But I certainly wouldn't assume that CS, engineering, and other STEM fields are somehow safe from our future AI overlords.

so once again, an undergrad in English requires a graduate degree.

Do you really think your kid is going to get this great job out of undergrad and that’s that? I think of undergrad as a stepping stone.

of course, but getting onto that first stepping stone is easier for some majors compared to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:English is a solid major if you are a creative thinker. You will have to do something to position yourself in the work force, but there are a lot of jobs where you just need a degree, need to be able to think coherently, and need good organizational skills. If your kid is a person who can think strategically, he or she will be fine. And, lots of jobs need a graduate degree, so there is time to specialize later.

Assuming OP's DC graduates in 2026 to 2028, what job would they be able to get with just an undergrad degree in English? Most people who majored in English in undergrad do end up getting a graduate degree to get a good paying job. So, OP is shelling out $$$ for undergrad, and then even more for graduate because of the degree choice.

Double major or minor in econ and get a consulting job. A lot of consultants were English, Comms, Public Policy type majors.

Agree English is a great double major, for a lot of things. If possible a double major in English or STEM will actually get you extra looks in the STEM field.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? I am an English major/ creative writing, and throughout college people (mostly alumni) tried to talk me out of it and how low paying. I was also editor of lit journal and etc.

Follow passion! Writing is a skill that can be useful in many contexts. I went to law school and now run a thought leadership biz and make much more than most of my classmates.

If my kid, i would apply to college, then encourage them to defer for a year to join a writers colony (Iowa Writers workshop, or some other group), then go back and double major in English/writing PLUS another major. I did biochem with mine.


Maybe after the writing year, they will be more passionate about writing or lose interest; come back with more clarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and it served me very well. Strong writing and textual analysis is part of the reason I did well in law school, got a coveted clerkship, and got offers from top law firms. Incidentally, being a strong writer also requires being a strong thinker. While it's a fairly generalized skill, it's one that many employers covet. Also, I enjoyed being an English major. It was a lot of work--so much reading--but it was usually a labor of love. I'm still an avid reader to this day.

Anyhow, I don't know where the world is going with AI. Nobody does. But I certainly wouldn't assume that CS, engineering, and other STEM fields are somehow safe from our future AI overlords.

so once again, an undergrad in English requires a graduate degree.

Not really. I had an offer from a consulting company in Manhattan but chose law school instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and it served me very well. Strong writing and textual analysis is part of the reason I did well in law school, got a coveted clerkship, and got offers from top law firms. Incidentally, being a strong writer also requires being a strong thinker. While it's a fairly generalized skill, it's one that many employers covet. Also, I enjoyed being an English major. It was a lot of work--so much reading--but it was usually a labor of love. I'm still an avid reader to this day.

Anyhow, I don't know where the world is going with AI. Nobody does. But I certainly wouldn't assume that CS, engineering, and other STEM fields are somehow safe from our future AI overlords.

so once again, an undergrad in English requires a graduate degree.

Do you really think your kid is going to get this great job out of undergrad and that’s that? I think of undergrad as a stepping stone.

of course, but getting onto that first stepping stone is easier for some majors compared to others.

This doesn’t really answer the question on stepping stones, just a generic graphic on majors/enployment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it undersubscribed at private T25?

For a kid who likes creative writing, has awards, published book. But also literary mag at school and newspaper. Also interested in publishing, media, and journalism.

Uncertain about major choice.

Thoughts?

Generally not undersubscribed, especially if DC is female.

Published book? Kudos to the college counselor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:English is a solid major if you are a creative thinker. You will have to do something to position yourself in the work force, but there are a lot of jobs where you just need a degree, need to be able to think coherently, and need good organizational skills. If your kid is a person who can think strategically, he or she will be fine. And, lots of jobs need a graduate degree, so there is time to specialize later.

Assuming OP's DC graduates in 2026 to 2028, what job would they be able to get with just an undergrad degree in English? Most people who majored in English in undergrad do end up getting a graduate degree to get a good paying job. So, OP is shelling out $$$ for undergrad, and then even more for graduate because of the degree choice.

I’m an editor for an international consulting firm with only an undergrad degree - and most of my writer/editor colleagues also only have undergrad degrees (not all in English, although most in communications-related fields. We also have a geology major, though.)

[Anonymous]

It's been a while, but my first job after graduating with a BA in English was at a financial services consulting firm. I was specifically told I was hired because I could think analytically and write well...a large part of the job was producing reports, and they could teach me what I needed to know about the numbers. While I eventually went back to school and changed career paths, I could absolutely have stayed in that job for a long time and there was definitely room to move up as I learned more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do they think they're going to be when they grow up with a degree in English?

Educated, with critical reasoning, analytical, and writing skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it undersubscribed at private T25?

For a kid who likes creative writing, has awards, published book. But also literary mag at school and newspaper. Also interested in publishing, media, and journalism.

Uncertain about major choice.

Thoughts?

My niece graduated from NYU as an English major. She has had great jobs since graduation. She has been mostly recruited by tech companies. There seems to be a pretty big demand for English majors.

The family has all been surprised at how well she has done and we were particularly surprised at the good pay. She received from her first job after graduation.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, but what high school student has published a book? Vanity press paid for by parents? What is the deal here.