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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the real salary outcome by the US Department of Education.

Harvard English = $64,155
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?166027-Harvard-University&fos_code=2301&fos_credential=3

Compare it to
Boston College Finance = $135,373
Northeastern CS = $149,127

This is 6 year out.

What’s the salary range for people who wanted to study English but were forced to study CS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a great major. There are few better ways to spend four years for both mind and soul. And anyone who can both think and communicate is employable.

+1000

Some of the most successful adults I know are former English majors

This was before AI - it's easy to be a good writer these days. I would worry about this major - maybe double major in math or business or econ or something to have a few hard skills.

Oh gosh. Thank you. I haven't had a belly-ache laugh like that in a long time.

I don't find it "easy to be a good writer these days" and I have an MFA in creative writing and have worked as a writer and as the Editor of a nationally distributed magazine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a great major. There are few better ways to spend four years for both mind and soul. And anyone who can both think and communicate is employable.

+1000

Some of the most successful adults I know are former English majors

This was before AI - it's easy to be a good writer these days. I would worry about this major - maybe double major in math or business or econ or something to have a few hard skills.

Oh gosh. Thank you. I haven't had a belly-ache laugh like that in a long time.

I don't find it "easy to be a good writer these days" and I have an MFA in creative writing and have worked as a writer and as the Editor of a nationally distributed magazine.

I'd love for the AI fearmongers to show me their excellent algorithm's writing! I've yet to see something that make it past a B in a 9th grade English class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a English literature major who makes more than many engineers and others in STEM fields. My husband studied philosophy and is also paid well above those in STEM. Tech professionals get laid off all the time. Some of you all need to get out more and learn about what is actually going on in the economy.

You realize you can’t win the anecdote game, right?

The actual richest people on the planet are all STEM (Zuckerberg, Bezos, Musk, Gates, Ellison, Jensen/Nvidia) or finance (Buffet).

Even Bernard Arnault who is currently the richest and runs luxury retail brands has an engineering degree.

Is running a company a STEM thing now? I wouldn't call CEO the typical STEM path lmao.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I’d support that. I realize I cannot control my children indefinitely and they are independent people with their own interests and passions. Will I provide input and advice? Yes. Will I withhold support just because of their chosen college major? No.

Once they are independent of my money then they get to indulge their interests and passions independently of my wishes.

So until then they are your puppets to control? And what college majors exactly do you deem worthy? Nice relationship!

I don’t control them. They are free to choose whatever they want. And I am free to choose whether or not to pay for it.

Fortunately I raised sensible kids who will not major in anything as idiotic as English Literature.

You clearly know nothing about English as a major. I'm guessing you're STEM or Econ/finance obsessed. I wish the young business and finance majors at my firm had taken more English classes. Their writing and communication skills are seriously lacking.

[Anonymous]

No

we aren’t wealthy enough that my kids can afford to major in something like that. No wealth to pass on to them, they will have to make their own

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the real salary outcome by the US Department of Education.

Harvard English = $64,155
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?166027-Harvard-University&fos_code=2301&fos_credential=3

Compare it to
Boston College Finance = $135,373
Northeastern CS = $149,127

This is 6 year out.

What’s the salary range for people who wanted to study English but were forced to study CS?

?? This is free country. Who's forcing whom???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the real salary outcome by the US Department of Education.

Harvard English = $64,155
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?166027-Harvard-University&fos_code=2301&fos_credential=3

Compare it to
Boston College Finance = $135,373
Northeastern CS = $149,127

This is 6 year out.

What’s the salary range for people who wanted to study English but were forced to study CS?

?? This is free country. Who's forcing whom???

DC's friends parents threatened to cut him off financially if he didn't stay in his CS major (was going to drop it for Stats or something similar from memory). Now, he's underemployed as a recent graduate. Guess not everyone can be Northeastern CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I’d support that. I realize I cannot control my children indefinitely and they are independent people with their own interests and passions. Will I provide input and advice? Yes. Will I withhold support just because of their chosen college major? No.

Once they are independent of my money then they get to indulge their interests and passions independently of my wishes.

So until then they are your puppets to control? And what college majors exactly do you deem worthy? Nice relationship!

I don’t control them. They are free to choose whatever they want. And I am free to choose whether or not to pay for it.

Fortunately I raised sensible kids who will not major in anything as idiotic as English Literature.

English major here. I gasped and clutched my ever-present pearls after I read your cruel words regarding my beloved major.

It has served me well. Every company needs a writer, a proofreader, an articulate communicator and able researcher. Hire me and you get the total package.

I have written and edited government proposals, grants and contracts, complied corporate histories from archival collections, conducted subject interviews, been the face and voice of leadership during a crisis, written speeches and submitted detailed, persuasive reports to enact immediate change.

Ug this sounds so boring and DRY. I'm also an English major and avoided this stuff for the more creative. You don't need an English degree for these speeches and reports, you could equally have taken History or Politics etc.

PP quoted and I’m fortunate and savvy enough to create my own niche and area of expertise in diverse career fields of fed government contracting, corporate recruiting, public health and non-profit organizations. I have creative hobbies.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Why not double major?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! It’s a great way to hone writing and critical thinking skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I’d support that. I realize I cannot control my children indefinitely and they are independent people with their own interests and passions. Will I provide input and advice? Yes. Will I withhold support just because of their chosen college major? No.

Once they are independent of my money then they get to indulge their interests and passions independently of my wishes.

So until then they are your puppets to control? And what college majors exactly do you deem worthy? Nice relationship!

I don’t control them. They are free to choose whatever they want. And I am free to choose whether or not to pay for it.

Fortunately I raised sensible kids who will not major in anything as idiotic as English Literature.

English major here. I gasped and clutched my ever-present pearls after I read your cruel words regarding my beloved major.

It has served me well. Every company needs a writer, a proofreader, an articulate communicator and able researcher. Hire me and you get the total package.

I have written and edited government proposals, grants and contracts, complied corporate histories from archival collections, conducted subject interviews, been the face and voice of leadership during a crisis, written speeches and submitted detailed, persuasive reports to enact immediate change.

Ug this sounds so boring and DRY. I'm also an English major and avoided this stuff for the more creative. You don't need an English degree for these speeches and reports, you could equally have taken History or Politics etc.

DP: So you do what you want. The PP seems to enjoy their job. Point is those jobs are for the taking by anyone who is a strong writer, critical thinker, communicator, etc.

[Anonymous]

Only if it was public university or equally low cost option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely! It’s a great way to hone writing and critical thinking skills.

I do believe that History or PolySci is a better way to hone those skills. But I’d let my kid choose. If they were indifferent, I’d probably steer them away.