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What being an English Major is really like

Advice for first year students

By Jessica HarveyPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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What being an English Major is really like
Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash

Choosing to pursue English Literature as your major has its pros and cons, just like any other area of study. However, most of the cons are due to external factors and not due to the study or work itself.

When I first decided to study English I was confident in my choice. It was my parents and peers who questioned the logistics of success I could achieve with the major. A lot of people will tell you that print is a dying trade and a degree in English is worthless, but I beg to differ. While print is losing its traction, online platforms and methods of promoting are more prevalent than ever before. What people fail to consider is other job options you may be going for and how lucrative these jobs really are. So, if you’re confident and passionate about your major DO NOT change your goals based off the doubts others try to instil in you.

Here are a few job that require or prefer an English degree: Taecher or Professor, journalist, freelance writer, publisher/agent, editor, author, and many more. I won’t lie, getting your foot into most of these industries will take time, dedication, and effort. Although, if you love the craft than these obstacles won’t hold you back.

English Literature is more than enjoyable for me, but don’t let the naive belief that English is an “easy grade“ subject fool you. Studying English requires a lot of time and hard work just like any other area of study. With that said, I couldn’t have enjoyed my first year as an English major more.

Generally, students tend to think about university and picture strict professors who don’t care about you and large classes that are easy to get lost in. However, my classes were nothing of the sort. All of my English’s classes consisted of seminars which meant that there were no more than 25 people in each class. The classes consist mostly of analysis of any given text and precise analytical essay writing, and formatted vastly different than that of high school essays. Since these classes are so small all of them require good attendance and participation. In high school I was shy and never raised my hand to share ideas with the class, So, when twenty percent of my grade relied on exactly that, I was nervous. However, as the semester and school year progressed I became more comfortable and enthusiastic about sharing with the class. The atmosphere of th classes were usually laid back and more like having a creative conversation with friends rather than being graded for a class. Additionally, the classes are small enough that it’s easy to create a bond with your professor and get quality help if you need it. English’s classes rely mostly on analyzing characters, plot, and literary devices in the literature we studied. In some ways it feels like doing the work of a psychologist when trying to decipher text, which is one of my favourite aspects of the Subject.

While going for an English degree is great, I’d recommend minoring or getting a concentration in other subjects. For example, I am minoring in Philosophy and getting a concentration in creative writing. To minor or do a concentration in a subject usually requires anywhere from 4-8 classes throughout the four years of your study. This doesn’t cost extra money, at least not at my school, so it’s a smart way to utilize your tuition money for optimal use. This way, you don’t have to worry about too many extra electives and you’re not wasting any of the classes and time slots your given. Additionally, this opens up a surprising amount of doors when it comes to future careers, so research different minors that compliment your degree and then try out one class to see if it interests you!

Finally, here’s some advice that helped me a lot in first year.

1) If your first few marks are not what you hoped for, don’t panic! Many students struggle in transitioning from what high school teaches and expect versus what university teaches and expects. It’s just the beginning and you have so much to learn! Love the process of improving and don’t give up.

2) Utilizie whatever writing and editing services your school offers! They may be able to give insight and advice, not only with grammar and punctuation, but with the bigger picture and blend of the essay or writing pieces.

3) Attend your professor’s office hours for any reason you can! If you have questions, need help, or want some light editing talk to your professor. This will show them that you care for and are putting in a lot of effort into the work you’ve been given and it’s never a bad thing to have a bond with your professor.

4) Universities are often filled with a diverse set of people! Explore and make friends in your classes. This not only gives you people who you share interests with, but it also gives you a study buddy who can help bounce ideas and edit work with too.

5) If by the end of the year you’re not sure you wish to continue in English, take a step back and analyze what you truly want to pursue. I met many people in different majors who were ecstatic and excited about their major. However, by the end of the year they realized it was not at all what they expected. It can be disillusioning to have a set plan and to think you know what you want, only for it to fall short. But, the future is ever changing so don’t be afraid to start over.

Good Luck!

student
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About the Creator

Jessica Harvey

✨💫Aspiring Writer💫✨

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