I recently asked my Her Campus colleagues about their perspective/declared majors:
Creative Writing. Classics. Drama. Music. Dance. PoliSci. English Literature. Women and Gender’s Studies. Art History. Philosophy. Music AND Dance. Dance AND Drama. English AND Art History. See a trend?
Kenyon College is a school for humanities majors. Not that the sciences are bad here, but nothing quite holds a candle to the English and Arts that we’re so famous for. Want proof? Who are the famous people you know who cite Kenyon as their alma mater? I don’t think Carl Djerassi (developer of the oral contraceptive pill) is the first guy you think of. The famous people who graduated here are mainly writers, actors, and historians. Hell, even Carl Djerassi was a playwright/novelist. Yet still, my Kenyon peers in class love to talk shit on these majors like they were second-class citizens.
STEM elitism is a thing. Don’t think so, my fellow Biochemists and Statisticians? Then read the list of majors above again and tell me you didn’t immediately think of that Avenue Q song:
I’m not a perfect child of God or anything (and I think this way sometimes), but I feel like I respect English degrees more than my average lab partner does.
Business Insider claims that 16/30 of the United States’ highest paying jobs are all in a medical field. There is more money in science, and not so much in humanities.
BUT: Since when were any of us defined by the amount of money we make?
Trust me, humanities majors already know that their major is underappreciated. Actually, one of our lovely writers, Hayley, already wrote about this. This article is more of a personal explanation as to why I admire the humanities majors (and the humanities) at this school.
I can’t write an English essay.
Well, that’s not true, I CAN write an essay, just…not a particularly amazing one. I am a solid B+ writer, and I’m proud of it. I really appreciate people who can turn in a beautiful piece of writing about a book that I would never bother to ATTEMPT to read.
Everything in Science is usually so ordered and unhappy.
A summary of my genetics course: “It’s a miracle we’re not all dead.” Chemistry? “If it doesn’t happen exactly like this, it doesn’t work.” Statistics? “There is no such thing as a perfect study, even numbers can lie.” Calculus? “This, in any other context than physics, is pretty useless.” Look, I love calculus and genetics, but it isn’t colorful. There are rules in STEM, and while I found that order comforting, there was something so great about the freedom a book report allows you to have.
Despite the limited job options, people still go and get the degree they want.
I really get upset with my friends when they make snide comments about people going to school for English. I’m sorry that they’re following their dreams to be artists, how terrible of them. I love their commitment to the craft. I can’t lie, a part of me wants the STEM degree because I think I can land a more high-paying job, which shouldn’t be how I live my life. By choosing to be a writer, you’re choosing your passion over…potential occupation (That comes off as elitist, doesn’t it?).
I can’t help but feel the Arts and Humanity majors chose their college better than I did.
I almost went to Case Western Reserve University, a school that breeds engineers and scientists. I think I’m missing out on what makes Case so famous by going to Kenyon. Science is great here, but Case is just leagues ahead of most colleges when it comes to their STEM departments. A degree in STEM from Case seems more impressive than a degree in STEM from Kenyon. Yet the reverse applies for humanities: an English degree at Kenyon is a lot more impressive than an English degree at Case. I have to appreciate these kids more, because they’re at the right place.
THE WORK AN ENGLISH STUDENT DOES IS NOT EASIER THAN THE WORK A CHEM STUDENT DOES.
Caps necessary there. We’re all getting the same amount of work here: I get labs, while someone like Haley gets papers. It’s different material we have to work on, but it takes the same amount of time. I think a lot of STEM students forget about that.Next time you hear your pharmacists-to-be and prospective doctors gossiping about how bad they have it compared to everyone else, do me a favor and shut them up. And remember, not all of us STEM majors try to be elitist. I like you guys. I have immense respect for those who are good at what I am not.
Most importantly, if your dream is to be a painter or a writer, then good for you. That’s fucking awesome. And no sassy or snide comment from some physics major is gonna change that.