Cue the sass. Yes, I am already rolling my eyes.
First off, let me make it clear that this article is in no way meant to imply that the English major and its career paths equate to guaranteed smooth sailing and bliss. No majors do. I also wanted to make it clear that I don’t disapprove of your decision to major in chemistry, economics, business, or any other of the more practical, so to speak, majors. Good for you. I mean that sincerely. You will have stability. You will likely have the “American Dream”: a lovely house, a reasonably sized family, and an enviable income that does not limit you to buying food at the discount section of Woodman’s and hoping for the best outcome nutrition-wise.
My world is different. My career goals are different, but that does not make me of any lesser value to you. I chose the English major, specifically a creative writing track.
You guessed it: I want to be a writer. Professionally. Speaking for both myself and other English majors, it is high time to address the misconceptions surrounding it, as well as the people pursuing the major and career paths in the English and writing realm.
1.) All you can do with an English major is write or teach English
Let me begin by saying that one’s major does not dictate the career. A Spanish major, for instance, could end up working in healthcare. This was the case for one of my best friends. A math major could be a journalist. A business major could be a musician, and so forth. While it is definitely sensible to assume and plan your life to an extent around a college major, it is also safe to say that you are not bound to the career listings under the English major description on your school’s website.
An English major, therefore, can have access to innumerable careers, from a range of practicality to actually being in the field, writing. It really depends on the person and what they want to do after graduation. What a lot of people do not know is that the English major can lead to careers in the realm of public relations, television, radio, or communications—to name just a few options. Because the English courses you take are applicable to an array of disciplines, someone in the major is in no way limited to just one career path or educational framework.
2.) Writing is not a suitable career path
Hold it right there. What if someone told you that teaching was not a suitable career path? Music? Sociology? Law school? Exactly. I don’t think you would appreciate that too much, so please stop with the pointless career bashing. Yes, writing is a competitive, make-it-or-break-it industry. However, the benefits of writing outweigh the uncertainties. There are few things greater than seeing your name in print and being able to share your message with the world. It’s extraordinary, and nothing can compare for a writer. That being said, yes, the stereotype of the starving writer certainly has some truth to it. It is difficult to make it as a professional writer, but it is possible.
Freelance or fulltime positions are both options, but, unfortunately, it can take literally hundreds of applications to secure a dream job, let alone an unpaid internship or entry-level position. Do not give up and keep up the drive and dedication. Eventually, an interview will turn into an internship, and the internship will turn into a job. It will take time, but the end result will be worth it. Keep calm and write.
3.) The English Major is Easy
It really isn’t. The thing about being in college is that none of the majors are easy, and all require a fair amount of work. Specifically, the English major requires countless texts to read and several writing projects, ranging from literary analysis papers to in-depth essays and stories. Moreover, the term “easy” is subjective. What might be an easy subject for some might be a more difficult subject for another person. As long as you are challenged in college while finding a major that gives you passion, you are doing everything right academically and personally.
The consensus can be drawn that college is far from a simple endeavor, and requires countless hours of dedication and goal setting. The English major is no exception to this. Receiving far too much stereotyping and not nearly enough credit for their academic path of choice, it is time for English majors to get the respect and recognition they deserve. Ignore the judgment and lack of awareness from others. Know that you made a wise decision to study English and pursue its careers after graduation.