/lit/ - Literature

top is way cringier

>>16590

I majored in English, BA, MA, PhD (fairly recently for that last one).

I would be happen to try to answer any questions you might have.

I chose it after first studying STEM because, while the subject matter was interesting, the work (or prospect of a professional life as such) was so unappealing to me that I was willing to risk the benefits of STEM to study English and pursue my love of words.

There was and is a stigma about English degrees, but of the humanities degrees, it is one of the most useful and versatile. Yes, law schools loves them, but it seems like every time I see a new doctor at urgent care, their BA was in English. CEOs study English. It can teach you to think, read, and write very well. If you have another area that you’re talented in, or are entrepreneurial and a self starter, most anything can match well with an English degree.

The politics of English departments vary from moderate left to radical left, but there are conservatives here and there. It’s navigable. Plenty of the people are reasonable and are teaching literature because they love literature. Most of them appreciate the western canon, to some extent or another.

English is a weird degree because it gives out what you put in more than most other degrees. You can take easy courses and work it to just get by. But if you really get to know the major, work on projects with future goals in mind, and actually work hard, you can have a rewarding (intellectually and/or financially) career.

If you really want to get the most out of your time studying English, talk to faculty. Go for office hours to extend the conversation, but also to start conversations. Show them you are interested, and they reciprocate. If you want to keep studying English beyond a BA, this is the best way to do it. But even if you just want to learn more, they are a great (often untapped) resource who have a lot to share on their own and who can point you in a variety of directions and towards a variety of texts.

Remember that you are responsible for your education. It is up to you to learn. Don’t just do what is required; go to the library and get some more books. Actually do the readings assigned, and don’t do them because they were assigned (don’t have that mentality, anyways).

OP: Why do you want to study English?

>>16673

Thanks a lot for the advice.

I've always been a reader. My passion for literature coupled with my analytical mind are part of the reason I'm pursuing English. A less noble reason for pursing English is that I am sick of college and a BA in English with a History minor is a relatively easy degree to get. My writing skills as well as my basic knowledge of grammar are subpar. May I ask what college(s) you went to?

>>16590

bump

>>16677

My school combo would dox me, so let’s go with a SoCal Catholic Uni for the first two and a southern R2 public university for the third (which was more Catholic than the actually Catholic school I went to first—and that’s the clue I’ll give).

Grammar is a grindstone game. Writing is best improved through practice and imitating good writers (at first). My academic writing was crap until I went back for grad school and the faculty whipped me into shape. They gave me some books to read on academic style and conventions. I wish I could remember the title so that I could tell you. One of your teachers should have some good suggestions. A quick read with guidelines and suggestions.

Unless you’ve got a plan/pathway set up for after graduation, I’d recommend at least working on your writing. People will expect it of you, and it’s one thing you should be able to deliver. Granted, most writing you might do outside of academia will be straightforward enough that you’ll seem more than sufficient as you are now.

>>16682

OP here. Thanks again for all the advice. What have you done with your degree?

>>16683

I worked in vendor relations (wining and dining IT managers) for a while, then I took a job at a private high school that pays more. Whatever degree you chose, you should be asking your professors for additional readings.

>>16695

Hey, long time no see. OP here and I was wondering if you'd like to correspond via email, anonymous chat or some other platform. See as how I'm graduating soon and that you're an active professional in the field, I'd love to hear more about what you have to say about the relevance and application of an English. Of course, if you're rather chat here that's fine as well

>>16590

Advice? Drop out.

I'm not majoring in English because it didn't look like a good path at the time to get a job. I enjoyed improving my English in my English courses and sometimes like to learn about linguistics and etymology, but I don't know if I would've been satisfied to work as an editor or technical writer. English to me looks somewhat boring as a major despite its interesting aspects because there is philosophy and the sciences to choose from instead. This also gives me a wider range of knowledge that I can draw upon if I ever decide to write fiction.

Did you get any dual-major, minors, or certificates to go with your English major?

What were your electives like and did you enjoy the other required core courses?

Is there something you feel you gained as an English major that other majors miss out on?

>>16825

I've entertained the thought that I should have majored in STEM. I have a minor in history. I have taken courses in history, philosophy, botany, and classics and have enjoyed them.

Is there something you feel you gained as an English major that other majors miss out on?

An education

>>16824

Too late

>>16826

Excuse me, I meant to say that I missed out on an education. Writing is a skill but I feel as if going through most universities to learn that skill is a mistake.

>>16827

You do have more freedom though for elective choices, so in a way, that's more of an education because you can spread out across different subjects without having to get too technically involved in certain subjects. I think what I really had in mind is how STEM has more specific requirements in the workplace, whereas writing jobs outside of teaching and big companies can be obtained more loosely. I have this idea in my head that English majors are mostly made up of people that want to be a teacher or those that want to become an author, but I don't know how accurate that is. I never knew anyone that was an English major.

I feel like I missed out on philosophy and the classics by not taking them, even if I do read some of them on the side. If I ever decide to continue my education after my undergraduate degree, I'm thinking of changing my major to philosophy, religion, or anthropology. These are the typical majors people point out as having no jobs but I've come to see that they are my true passion now. One author I like got his undergraduate degree in geography, philosophy, and English literature (I'm not sure if this meant triple-major though), but ended his PhD in classics. So it's funny to see that he too came from geography and now he translates/interprets ancient and medieval manuscripts. Maybe I can find a stable job first and invest in pursuing my passions later. I've thought of writing articles for science websites as this might be the right kind of niche for me to fill into and there seems to be no shortage of websites, just not many that pay well.

>>16590

I already did. Not the worst thing to do. I'm working my way through law school and think I'll focus on IP. The thing about an English degree is that it's not a trade degree like a lot of STEM stuff, you have to find your own niche and hustle to get your foot in the door. After that, you'll probably going to have an easier time climbing the ladder than most.