<p>as an english major i'm sure you've heard this question a million times</p>
<p>"english?! what are you going to do with a degree in english?!" </p>
<p>i'm starting to get really bummed out now..i just talked to my dad and he was telling me what a waste of money going to UCLA as an english major would since it's known mostly for medicine. he told me i might as well go to a state school and save money. also just turned down UCB for UCLA...was that stupid? I'm starting to second guess all my decisions! </p>
<p>what do you all think? is it really a waste to be an english major? i dont qualify for financial aid so i'd have to take out loans. i know my parents want to me to do something in the sciences so i could be a dentist/doctor since it will "pay off" in the end (plus the bragging rights to their friends, i'm sure)... but i really don't have the passion for that. i want to work in a publishing company or get my master in library science and become a librarian...but i don't know how the job market looks in those areas, so maybe i'm screwing myself over by investing in a degree that might not take me anywhere. </p>
<p>i guess what i'm wondering is, what do all of you plan to do after you graduate with a bachelors in english? do you ever feel guilty for pursuing your dreams rather than doing something considered more "practical" by the general population?</p>
<p>english majors are the second most employed college graduates (after business majors). I get really confused whenever people say english is “worthless,” because to me, it opens more avenues than any other humanities major. I’ve considered publishing, and worked for a literary agent this past year who majored in english and makes a LOT of money, so you can definitely argue to your parents that it’s possible to make cash money money, if that’s what you’re after. and in LA (I’m going to UCLA too!) I’ve already got an interview at New Line working in development and script reading, and am thinking about going into the entertainment industry (haa…). there are a million other things you can do: law school, politics, teaching, anything, really. I personally want to work either in publishing or as a producer/at a movie studio/at a production company/who knows.</p>
<p>Im in the same position you are…Im not receiving any financial aid and will be taking out loans and my mom hounds me about majoring in english…I too am interested in library school…I had to talk to my mom and convince her that a bachelor’s in english can help me in different fields because it requires such an analytical process…I’ve been reconsidering my major for a long time but realize english is my strength and I love to read so why not? like CKG said, there are a lot more jobs for english majors than people realize…</p>
<p>email me if ur transferring to UCLA in the fall, we seem to have similar interests: <a href=“mailto:cdr4377@ucla.edu”>cdr4377@ucla.edu</a></p>
<p>Studying literature and writing about it is one of the most valuable tools that any human being can do. I get sick of hearing people say the purpose of going to college (or for education in general) is to get a well paying job. To me, that is false. The point of education is to make you a better human being. Better human beings makes better societies. They make better decisions towards equality. When I first started studying literature I began to see from other people’s perspectives, and I understood people much better, even those that were vastly different. But I also understood that people from a different society, and time, go through the same **** that we do. The study of literature, in addition, allows us to better understand ourselves. I could keep going. What good is money if you are bitter? depressed? regretful? </p>
<p>I say, go to UCLA and study English. It is a wonderful thing.</p>
<p>I use to be an English major until I realized I am terrible at grammar. It’s actually very useful if you plan to do anything academic. Truth is, most majors aren’t that useful unless you hit grad school. English is extremely desirable since you can’t do most anything if you can’t express yourself. No one in a court room, or office building wants to get a memo saying “I think you idea is very good two because it helps them over their” or some other nonsense. </p>
<p>Some of the best job fields for an English grad:
Law (Where I plan to go - every lawyer I know says English is the best major)
Marketing
Any form of Journalism
Public Relations
Professor</p>
<p>Your parents are stupid. UCLA is a great school for any major. Their medical school is outstanding, but any field you go into is going to be at a much higher level than a CSU. I am somewhat inclined to agree that it is a waste if you do not plan to go to grad school. The pay difference and job availability between a CSU BA and a UCLA BA is not enough to justify the vast cost in difference considering you won’t be making that much with just a BA in English. Then again, it is only like 25-30k more over 2 years. </p>
<p>If you do plan to go to grad school, you can get into much better grad schools (which lead to much higher paying jobs) out of UCLA than a CSU. The 150k or so in debt you may have after your BA and Grad school isn’t that big of a deal depending on your field. My brother and his GF both graduated from UCLA and went to UT Austin for Law school. While he had money saved up and got scholarships and will graduate with no debt, she is going to graduate with around $125k in debt. This isn’t a big deal though since they both have job offers between 150k-180k/yr after passing the bar. Her BA is in English.</p>
<p>The other fields generally aren’t as financially rewarding, but still will allow you to pay off all debts within 5 years easy. </p>
<p>Hope that helps somehow!</p>
<p>On a side note: My dad is a doctor who still teaches classes once in a while at UCLA, and he constantly tells college kids (outside of UCLA of course) not to go into medicine. He keeps saying “it’s not what it use to be”</p>
<p>I’m so encouraged by this thread!
Thanks OP for opening it, you asked everything I’ve been wanting to :)</p>
<p>I don’t qualify for Financial Aid either so I’m going to be ~50k in debt w/ student loans + ~10k more for interest… I definitely can’t afford grad school - my parents will have heart attack.</p>
<p>With my English major at UCLA, I plan to go into journalism or scriptwriting/producing (minoring in Film). But the most practical option would be to work under Sony or Samsung…etc. since I can speak Japanese and Korean. So definitely consider ALL of your abilities aside from English, like foreign languages or speech/debate. Those “hidden talents” can DOUBLE your income instantly. (Several job recruiters let me in on this detail)</p>
<p>Dude your parents dont know anything. English is one of the most highly selective majors at UCLA! Not only that but most people in the nation who go to Law school or grad school indeed have english degrees. Its great for anything with law, any state job, any teaching job, any publishing or writing job, and if your good at computers like me its a very vital tool to have an english degree because you can put together kick ass business presentations which makes you highly marketable in the business world.</p>
<p>Secondly, you should have taken the UCB offer. It is the absolute best school in california hands down. Granted UCLA is not that far behind infact its in the top 25 in the nation, but personaly I would have taken the Berkeley offer. Some of those prof. are crazy world reknown.</p>
<p>Not only is UCB the best (public) school in CA, their (graduate) English program is #1 in the entire nation.
Yet I’m ecstatic to see so many fellow English majors @ UCLA!!!</p>
<p>I’m majoring in English because I want to be a better communicator. Although I think I made a good choice, I do get worried about working at Starbucks after graduation. I will also have to take out student loans, which I will not be able to pay back if I really do end up working at Starbucks.</p>
<p>Oh, I turned down B also. Unfortunately, it was just too expensive. UCLA is also in a better location for me since I’m interested in Advertising.</p>