Anonymous
04/16/2025 13:37
Subject: English as a major
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
04/16/2025 13:27
Subject: English as a major
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
04/16/2025 13:21
Subject: English as a major
Read a bunch of novels and write about them, easiest possible path to collect a four year degree.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 13:13
Subject: English as a major
I loved English as a second major.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 13:07
Subject: English as a major
Nobody give a f_ what you studied or where. What they do care about is can you add value to the organization.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:45
Subject: English as a major
Anonymous wrote:An english major from a T20 university or SLAC will be fine. An english major from Frostburg less so.
The degree doesn’t matter. I have hired dozens of English majors in comms roles. Clips and writing samples, internships, experience, social management, AP style mastery, this is what matters. I’ve hire Millersville over Harvard due to the quality of the clips and the resourcefulness of getting good interviews.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:43
Subject: English as a major
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.
I make six figures and a comms director, and well after I was employed in comms, I happened to get a free master’s degree as a benefit of working at a university!
How long ago was this? I think it's pretty different today.
There's a reason why English majors are shrinking in colleges, and even LACs are offering degrees in business and CS.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:41
Subject: Re:English as a major
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
The exact same jobs that everyone graduating with a bachelors in business administration would be eligible for.
Really? When I look at "business" related jobs in linkedin (and I have looked at a lot), they all seems to want a business degree, not an English degree.
That’s just a default. They’re entry level jobs. If the candidate is smart, articulate, trustworthy and put together well they’ll be fine, no matter the major. Most entry level jobs in business are either sales or ground level management.
AI will probably look for certain degrees. Not sure "English" is one of those degrees.
A lot of companies want people to hit the ground running, so having a rudimentary understanding of business concepts is helpful.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:39
Subject: English as a major
Anonymous wrote: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?
I was an English major and credit it with teaching me how to think critically and creatively. I ended up being a Writer and Creative Director in Advertising and make great money. I also founded my own company. I would do it again assuming they still teach the classics and didn't pivot too hard to only modern works. For example many decolonization efforts aim to remove Shakespeare, Chaucer, etc. You can NOT be an English major without studying Shakespeare because he is so foundational and referenced throughout the rest of the canon. So I would take a look at the department and teachers. It also helps to take some logic and rhetoric classes as well as philosophy.
+1
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:38
Subject: English as a major
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.
I make six figures and a comms director, and well after I was employed in comms, I happened to get a free master’s degree as a benefit of working at a university!
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:38
Subject: English as a major
Anonymous wrote:What do they think they're going to be when they grow up with a degree in English?
Stupid answer from a stupid person
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:37
Subject: Re:English as a major
Anonymous wrote: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.
The exact same jobs that everyone graduating with a bachelors in business administration would be eligible for.
Really? When I look at "business" related jobs in linkedin (and I have looked at a lot), they all seems to want a business degree, not an English degree.
That’s just a default. They’re entry level jobs. If the candidate is smart, articulate, trustworthy and put together well they’ll be fine, no matter the major. Most entry level jobs in business are either sales or ground level management.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:36
Subject: English as a major
An english major from a T20 university or SLAC will be fine. An english major from Frostburg less so.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:32
Subject: English as a major
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?
I was an English major and credit it with teaching me how to think critically and creatively. I ended up being a Writer and Creative Director in Advertising and make great money. I also founded my own company. I would do it again assuming they still teach the classics and didn't pivot too hard to only modern works. For example many decolonization efforts aim to remove Shakespeare, Chaucer, etc. You can NOT be an English major without studying Shakespeare because he is so foundational and referenced throughout the rest of the canon. So I would take a look at the department and teachers. It also helps to take some logic and rhetoric classes as well as philosophy.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 12:31
Subject: Re:English as a major
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
The exact same jobs that everyone graduating with a bachelors in business administration would be eligible for.
Really? When I look at "business" related jobs in linkedin (and I have looked at a lot), they all seems to want a business degree, not an English degree.
Those rules don't apply if you are at private T20.....plus get the minor/double major in econ etc and you are good (or HOD at Vanderbilt or LOC at Northwestern).
I see.. so an English major needs to either double major or go to grad school to get a good paying job.