|
humorist-workshop
Major/Career Choice
19/Female
I am currently attending a 2-year college, and working towards an Associate's Degree in general studies. I am transferring to a liberal arts college next year.
I love reading and I have always enjoyed English. I finished my English requirements for college my senior year of high school. Since then, the majority of my transfer classes have been a literature or writing class. I have been so unsure what I have wanted to do with my life, but since I have a profound love for English/literature, that is what I have decided to major in.
I am starting to second guess this decision though. I slacked off in highschool, but I have been an excellent student in college thus far. I hate to think I have been busting my ass (& will more than likely continue busting my ass for another 4+ years) just to end up with a ton of a debt 10 years from now. I am going to college because I want a better life. I want to be able to support my family, while at the same time giving them more than I was ever able to have. Will it be unlikely that I will be able to do this with a degree in English?
I suppose my questions are:
1. Should I continue college majoring in something I love and succeed in, or choose a different career path that offers me a definite, good paying job?
2. What well paying job options are available with an English degree?
3. Could I join an unrelated career with a minor? If so, what would be some good options?
Thanks to anyone who will take the time to help :)
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Colleges & Universities?
My husband was an english major as well (over 10 years ago). He loves reading and books. Some would say he has a mild obsession with print.
Should you continue majoring in something you love? Absolutely. Settling for a program or career choice just for money will likely lead to a less than happy life. Will you become rich? Probably not.
There is an article at CNN Money. It is older; from 2000 but I believe it still holds true today. It gives some good suggesions on what you can do with a bachelor's degree in Englis... namely you go on to get a Master's in something related to english... but NOT english. A few examples are editing, teaching, law, and "business". The aricle (link below) goes into it a lot better than I can. My husband decided to change his major toward end to library science. He got his bachelor's in library science and then went on to get a master's in library science. He is now the branch manager/head librarian of one branch of our library system (21 libraries in total system). He loves his job because he gets to review books, choose which books the system orders/cuts, he gets to host reading programs and other social groups related to books.
Check this article out and then examine what it is about books and reading and literature that you actually love. This cold help you decide if you should be a teacher, an actor, a writer or editor, a lawyer, a librarian. I assure you as a teacher or librarian you will make a decent salary but we are NOT independently wealthy by ANY stretch of the imagination. More importantly, my husband is happy. He was once encouraged by a money hungry relative to be a lawyer... "something the family can be proud of" but he LOVES his job. He can't imagine doing anything else for the next 20 years.
I don't know how to answer your question about the minor... I have a friend who has a master's in early childhood education with a minor in spanish so she is able to teach elementary school. Because of her minor she taught beginning Spanish for 2 years before taking a job at a high school as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher. She loves it. I suppose the question is WHAT is another love of yours that you COULD minor in that could give you a boost to your english degree.
I hope this helps some... deciding what we want to be for the rest of our lives is a difficult and frightening thing to do in our late teens and early 20's. One hasn't experienced enough life at that point to really know... we only know what we LOVE, not necessarily what our true passions and talents are. I dropped out of college 13 years ago for this reason. I just stated back last year because after all this time, I finally have it figured out!!! You may decide in your english studies you love most reading books about animals and their habitats and decide to change to zoology! Happens all the time.
Best of luck. And if you change your mind... it's ok.
]
More Questions: |