Are English majors considered smart?

[Anonymous]

Depends. I know multiple who are now assistant professors or tenure track professors. Very knowledgeable about their field, do fascinating research in obscure literature topics and also write books. And I know some who putter around administrative jobs and can't seem to find anything they're good at or marketable enough for a stable career.

[Anonymous]

The English majors I knew are:

1. four lawyers

2. one tenured academic

3. two teachers

4. two published novelists who aren't making a lot of money because their books weren't best sellers (maybe next time?)

5. two SAHMs

6. three very cultured trust fund babies who never had any intention or need to work

They are all intelligent and articulate people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ellie Kemper was a guest judge on AGT this week. I looked her up in Wikipedia and learned that she has a BA in English from Princeton.

"Kemper was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the second of four children of Dorothy Ann "Dotty" (Jannarone) and David Woods Kemper, a son of one of the wealthiest families in Missouri. Her father was the chairman and chief executive officer of what is today Commerce Bancshares, a bank holding company founded by the Kemper family. She is the granddaughter of Mildred Lane Kemper, namesake of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis, and great-great-granddaughter of banker, insurance man, and railroad magnate William Thornton Kemper Sr."

So a trust-fund baby majored in English...what exactly is your point?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, don't major in anything that has you read a bunch of "books" and learn to "write" and get "smarter". What a waste of time! That's why very few colleges offer English degrees.

Better to learn some pre-professional trade because that's exactly what you will do the rest of your life. Studies show nearly 100% of people work in the field they get their degree in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smart maybe, but not employable.

If you can write, that’s employable.

Yes, McD is always hiring.

I dunno many white collar work that doesn’t require writing. Even at McD, if you want to move up the ladder, flipping skills + being able to write = golden.

DP. If you only have a bachelors, you'll struggle to find a job.

[Anonymous]

I've always thought English majors were people who weren't strong in any other subject area. I didn't consider them "not smart," but I assumed they weren't well rounded, and couldn't "cut it" in a "real major."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always thought English majors were people who weren't strong in any other subject area. I didn't consider them "not smart," but I assumed they weren't well rounded, and couldn't "cut it" in a "real major."

Well since assumptions are almost always right, particularly when they about vast groups of people, yours must be spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always thought English majors were people who weren't strong in any other subject area. I didn't consider them "not smart," but I assumed they weren't well rounded, and couldn't "cut it" in a "real major."

Well since assumptions are almost always right, particularly when they about vast groups of people, yours must be spot on.

OP asked a question and I answered. I didn't say I was correct, just what I thought. If they can get a job that pays well with an English major, then what anyone else thinks is irrelevant. Heck, it's irrelevant even if they can't find a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s like Hispanic students majoring in Spanish because that’s their native language.

Dumbest comment of the year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Not any more than any other non stem major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an English major an am smarter than most. Intellectually more than street smarts. I have an okay job making 150k and enjoy what I do. All of my managers have appreciated my reading, writing and presentation skills. You’d think that’s a minor thing but nope.

What field?

I’m a 32 year old program manager at a defense contractor. I’m sure other will rip my salary to shreds but most of my coworkers are in similar majors

Do you have another degree or is your English degree your only one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s like Hispanic students majoring in Spanish because that’s their native language.

Dumbest comment of the year.

Disagree? Care to state your reasons?

- dp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always thought English majors were people who weren't strong in any other subject area. I didn't consider them "not smart," but I assumed they weren't well rounded, and couldn't "cut it" in a "real major."

Well since assumptions are almost always right, particularly when they about vast groups of people, yours must be spot on.

OP asked a question and I answered. I didn't say I was correct, just what I thought. If they can get a job that pays well with an English major, then what anyone else thinks is irrelevant. Heck, it's irrelevant even if they can't find a job.

Wow.

"I didn't say I was correct".

Well, that sure is helpful.

What other wild speculation you can't defend and has no use or purpose would you like to proffer?

[Anonymous]

I wish the business majors and engineers I work with were as good at writing as the English majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always thought English majors were people who weren't strong in any other subject area. I didn't consider them "not smart," but I assumed they weren't well rounded, and couldn't "cut it" in a "real major."

Well since assumptions are almost always right, particularly when they about vast groups of people, yours must be spot on.

OP asked a question and I answered. I didn't say I was correct, just what I thought. If they can get a job that pays well with an English major, then what anyone else thinks is irrelevant. Heck, it's irrelevant even if they can't find a job.

Wow.

"I didn't say I was correct".

Well, that sure is helpful.



What other wild speculation you can't defend and has no use or purpose would you like to proffer?

You obviously don't understand the meaning of the word "considered." OP asked if English majors are "considered" smart. I responded with how I viewed them. That's what considered means. OP didn't ask for facts backed up with supporting data. My "wild speculation" specifically responded to OP's question. Sorry you have a problem with my direct response to the question posed.