English Majors

[ArTkY_]

Let's discuss how awesome we are with impeccable grammar. Go!

But yeah, I'm an English/Creative Writing major at UH.

[cris545]

I wish I was majoring in English...

[ArTkY_]

You're majoring in sexy.

[OveriseFan]

I appreciate English majors - and I will probably be one.

People around these parts already think I am. :shrug: (and by people, I mean it was once joked about in a thread, my "English major" humor.)

[ArTkY_]

James, I don't think you're cut out for it.

[Sventhegreat]

You're majoring in sexy.

*Your majoring in sexy.

kidding.

[ArTkY_]

*Your majoring in sexy.

kidding.
I see what you did there.

[OveriseFan]

James, I don't think you're cut out for it.

Fo' Real?

[ArTkY_]

Fo' Real?
Naw, jus' kiddin'.

[Sventhegreat]

I see what you did there.

Yeah I was being one of those 'funny guys' you hear so much about.

[cris545]

You're majoring in sexy.
It's hard work I tell ya.

[agloriousruin]

I have an English degree, with a concentration in Creative Writing from George Mason University. One word of advice: figure out what you're going to do with it now and finish all the school you'll need to do that once you graduate. Otherwise you'll be stuck working full time at Applebee's desperately trying to finish your master's degree so you can do what you put off doing all along.

But honestly, I'm glad I got my degree, I just wish I had got my master's/teaching license earlier.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

i'm a sophomore english major at villanova, yet the school hasn't allowed me to take an english class yet. my school sucks.

[NickLopez]

I respect English majors because that's so much more writing than I want to do ever.

[ArTkY_]

I have an English degree, with a concentration in Creative Writing from George Mason University. One word of advice: figure out what you're going to do with it now and finish all the school you'll need to do that once you graduate. Otherwise you'll be stuck working full time at Applebee's desperately trying to finish your master's degree so you can do what you put off doing all along.

But honestly, I'm glad I got my degree, I just wish I had got my master's/teaching license earlier.
This is very good advice, there's not really jobs everywhere for an English major, haha. I plan on going into law school after my undergrad.
i'm a sophomore english major at villanova, yet the school hasn't allowed me to take an english class yet. my school sucks.
That's really weird.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

That's really weird.

yeah. i was in an english class this semester that involved beat poetry and bob dylan (my favorites), but i had to drop it because my advisor never knows what she's doing ever.

[ArTkY_]

yeah. i was in an english class this semester that involved beat poetry and bob dylan (my favorites), but i had to drop it because my advisor never knows what she's doing ever.
That sucks tremendously. Hopefully you'll get to take it later? The only English class I'm in right now in a poetry workshop, next semester I'll be in a fiction writing workshop and a literature class.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

That sucks tremendously. Hopefully you'll get to take it later? The only English class I'm in right now in a poetry workshop, next semester I'll be in a fiction writing workshop and a literature class.

yeah, by next semester i should be finishing up basically all of my core requirements, which means i'll only be taking english classes and one more french class (i only need one more for a minor) from next semester on. i guess it's better that way. what exactly do you do in the poetry workshop?

[thespearkid]

English majors pwn at life. Our essays are always the best.

[ArTkY_]

yeah, by next semester i should be finishing up basically all of my core requirements, which means i'll only be taking english classes and one more french class (i only need one more for a minor) from next semester on. i guess it's better that way. what exactly do you do in the poetry workshop?
That's cool. I'll pretty much be taking political science, English, and Arabic classes after this semester. We write poems and read and critique fellow classmates' poems, haha.

[i breathe music]

i'm a double major in secondary education and english literature... so i'm all set. my school has a really awesome education program that makes it pretty easy for us to double major.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Love it. I started as a bio major... yeah, that wasn't for me.

[ArTkY_]

Love it. I started as a bio major... yeah, that wasn't for me.
Wow, same here.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Wow, same here.Coolio.

Biology classes = pure memorization of boring facts. On one test I studied a bunch and received the highest grade in the class (something like 104). I blew off another test and my grade was under 50, haha.

[ArTkY_]

Coolio.

Biology classes = pure memorization of boring facts. On one test I studied a bunch and received the highest grade in the class (something like 104). I blew off another test and my grade was under 50, haha.
Hahaha, yeah. I love biology though, in all honesty. Especially microbiology and genetics.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Hahaha, yeah. I love biology though, in all honesty. Especially microbiology and genetics.Cool man. I actually got into biology because I was interested in zoology. You know, science you can observe/study with your own eyes. Anything found under a microscope (or smaller) doesn't really catch my attention academically.

[Chancetobe]

Yeah, so, I'm an English major, but, I have horrible spelling and grammar. I break all sorts of molds.

[ArTkY_]

Yeah, so, I'm an English major, but, I have horrible spelling and grammar. I break all sorts of molds.
Howww

[Chancetobe]

Howww
Well, I don't actually have horrible grammar. Just horrible spelling. And to answer your question, if only I knew...

[ArTkY_]

Well, I don't actually have horrible grammar. Just horrible spelling. And to answer your question, if only I knew...
The joys of spellcheck.

[Chancetobe]

The joys of spellcheck.
You can say that again. It's saved my life on a number of occasions.

[dtrzcin]

I love/hate reading other people's papers.

[NickLopez]

I just got an A on my first essay in my Expository Writing class. Out of 17 people, only 3 or 4 get As in the class, so this is encouraging.

[ArTkY_]

I just got an A on my first essay in my Expository Writing class. Out of 17 people, only 3 or 4 get As.
What a bad ass.

[NickLopez]

I should change my name to Brock.

[Rawrr]

I really want to major in English/Journalism.

[ArTkY_]

I should change my name to Brock.
There was this dude named Brock in my high school when I was a Freshman... biggest bro ever.

[NickLopez]

I'm amazed at the amount of bros there are out here in Oklahoma/Texas.

[lightupthesky]

I'm amazed at the amount of bros there are out here in Oklahoma/Texas.

This is making me laugh. It's true, though. OK-TX: A Place For Bros.

I can write a mean essay, but I have horrible time-management and organizational skills, so a reading/writing-intensive major isn't really for me. I'm more into the linguistics aspect of English (and other languages, obviously).

[mattmatumbo]

i'm an english major and its busting my balls!

[Poe-tryGirl]

Umm. I'm not in college yet. I want to major in English though. Cross your fingers for Wake Forest!!! I'm the next Poe.

[ArTkY_]

This is making me laugh. It's true, though. OK-TX: A Place For Bros.

I can write a mean essay, but I have horrible time-management and organizational skills, so a reading/writing-intensive major isn't really for me. I'm more into the linguistics aspect of English (and other languages, obviously).
True that. Linguistics seems pretty cool, though I don't know completely what it entails. Also, what school do you go to?

[dtrzcin]

The Linguistics course I'm taking is pretty much opposed to English as we have learned it. It's pretty interesting, but totally weird at the same time. There are a lot of unnecessary things I have to learn in that class...

On a separate note, I work for the university paper, even though I'm not going into journalism. In fact, I just finished an article about fifteen minutes ago.

/me staying on topic

[lightupthesky]

True that. Linguistics seems pretty cool, though I don't know completely what it entails. Also, what school do you go to?

Right now I'm at community, because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and didn't see a point in going to a serious university that specialized in something I may or may not want to do.. At that point I thought I wanted to major in computer engineering, which is a long way off from linguistics, so I'm glad I didn't end up at Florida Institute of Technology or something like that. I'm not sure where to apply to transfer now, as I'm not sure what schools have good linguistics programs. Ehhh.

Linguistics basically is the study of words.. syntax, semantics, etymology, phonetics, relationships to other words/languages, how languages change over time, etc. At least that's what I've understood it to mean. If it's even anything slightly like that, it's for me.

[lightupthesky]

The Linguistics course I'm taking is pretty much opposed to English as we have learned it. It's pretty interesting, but totally weird at the same time. There are a lot of unnecessary things I have to learn in that class...

On a separate note, I work for the university paper, even though I'm not going into journalism. In fact, I just finished an article about fifteen minutes ago.

/me staying on topic

What school do you go to?

[jeremyfromva]

I'm an English/Communication major...I don't mind all of the writing it entails, but what I do mind is the reading. Remind me never to take another lit course...painful

[cris545]

this is making me want to switch majors again, I need to cover my eyes, quick!

[Broken Parachute]

I wish I were majoring in English...Fixed.

[Broken Parachute]

this is making me want to switch majors again, I need to cover my eyes, quick!Holy shit, it's really you! Hahaha. I assumed this thread was really old. Have you been posting a lot lately? I was just asking someone about where you went because I haven't seen you in so long.

[cris545]

Holy shit, it's really you! Hahaha. I assumed this thread was really old. Have you been posting a lot lately? I was just asking someone about where you went because I haven't seen you in so long.
Haha yep, it's me! I had stopped posting for a long while. I'm back but I haven't been posting in General, I have too much work this semester. How have you been?

[Broken Parachute]

Haha yep, it's me! I had stopped posting for a long while. I'm back but I haven't been posting in General, I have too much work this semester. How have you been?I've been alright. Ya know, the usual. How about you? How's everything?

[cris545]

I've been alright. Ya know, the usual. How about you? How's everything?
Same, but I guess this semester has been better than most so I'm happy. I have 5 classes, 3 of which are insanely easy :-) Mmmm the lazy life.

[dtrzcin]

What school do you go to?

University of Toledo.

[Chancetobe]

I'm an English/Communication major...I don't mind all of the writing it entails, but what I do mind is the reading. Remind me never to take another lit course...painful
I feel the exact same way. The lit courses make me want to kill myself (I feel like most of it is just analysis via bullshit), but, I LOVE all my writing courses.

[ProfessorForbes]

Im at the community college here in my hometown getting my Associates and then I plan on transferring to either App State or UNC Charlotte and majoring in English with a minor in Film Studies. I've taken 4 literature courses (World Lit 1, American Lit 1, British Lit 1 and 2) and am in World Lit 2 and American Lit 2 as we speak. I've always been able to write well and I was pretty indecisive in my major but I finally figured out I want to teach (hence the user name). I prefer Literature classes to Creative Writing (which I've taken both 1 and 2 of also) because I prefer a prompt about something rather than "write a 50 line poem". What I like about English is how much its really about your interpretation of something aka your own bullshit. In every other subject its all about proving yourself with definitive evidence but in English you can take a quote and write your own take on how you view it. I like that.

[JayPnay]

Love it. I started as a bio major... yeah, that wasn't for me.
Wow, same here.

I used to be a bio major, as well!! haha. I switched to English Literature. I just didn't want to have to deal with organic chemistry, so I bailed before I got to that point.

I can't say that I'm an English zealot, but I've always had an interest in the subject. I'm simply amazed how great writers are able to construct such beautiful amalgamations of words. Plus, there's no better feeling than getting an A on an essay, at least for me...I don't know why.

Compared to other English majors, I don't think I've even come close to the amount of reading that others have done. I mean I do all the required reading, but I'm not as fluent in the works of the great figures such as Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, etc... I've been working on it, though, but it's just so difficult and there's only enough time to get through the whole canon of English Literature.

I hate that people automatically assume that English majors are going to end up as teachers or writers, in terms of careers. I can't blame them, though, since a lot of English majors do end up with those careers, and that's what the major gears its students for. I would also hate to be a literary critic or theorist, because I think it's just a waste of time making frivolous arguments on the "correct" methods to analyze literature. I mean, in the end, I really do feel that people are entitled to their own interpretations, just as long as they could back it up. I guess it's what you make out of the major. I'm hoping to get into law school, study copyright law, and get a career in music/entertainment law or music publishing.

[saofan_315]

I'm technically a "Literature" major. At my school, they don't like to call it "English" because we often read texts that weren't originally written in English but are in fact works of Literature. Personally, I prefer it being called Literature, but what do you all think?

[Poochemist]

I'm technically a "Literature" major. At my school, they don't like to call it "English" because we often read texts that weren't originally written in English but are in fact works of Literature. Personally, I prefer it being called Literature, but what do you all think?

I don't mind the Lit major distinction. At Ohio Wesleyan, there was a division between departments... basically if you were an English major, you would only read texts originally written in English. Any works in translation would be taken through the Humanities/Classics department. Luckily I was able to take several Humanities classes while I was an English major, but the distinction between the two departments left some limitations. While I read some great works in college and developed my writing skills, I wish I had the opportunity to read more canonical works in translation.

Also, the English major had 3 different concentrations: Literature, Creative Writing, and Non-Fiction Writing. I was able to finish with all 3 concentrations, although I only needed to complete one. Being an English major could mean a lot of things at my alma mater.

Either way, my experience was great. I got burned out from doing so much work, but I'm hands down one of the best readers and writers in my graduate classes. I'm currently focused on Health Promotion Management. Kind of a career change, but in any position where you're required to articulate your arguments or explain something, an English/Literature/Classics/Humanities/Writing major can come in handy.

[fishingthe_sky]

I don't mind the Lit major distinction. At Ohio Wesleyan, there was a division between departments... basically if you were an English major, you would only read texts originally written in English. Any works in translation would be taken through the Humanities/Classics department. Luckily I was able to take several Humanities classes while I was an English major, but the distinction between the two departments left some limitations. While I read some great works in college and developed my writing skills, I wish I had the opportunity to read more canonical works in translation.

Also, the English major had 3 different concentrations: Literature, Creative Writing, and Non-Fiction Writing. I was able to finish with all 3 concentrations, although I only needed to complete one. Being an English major could mean a lot of things at my alma mater.

Either way, my experience was great. I got burned out from doing so much work, but I'm hands down one of the best readers and writers in my graduate classes. I'm currently focused on Health Promotion Management. Kind of a career change, but in any position where you're required to articulate your arguments or explain something, an English/Literature/Classics/Humanities/Writing major can come in handy.
I'm pretty jealous. While it's a very strong program, English at Boston University is pretty limited in scope. I would say that 3/4 of the classes are focused on stuff prior to the Modern era, which really leaves people like me (who are much more interested in Modern and Contemporary literature) s.o.l. We also have one of the best graduate creative writing programs in the country, yet there's only 1 class per genre (poetry, fiction, plays) offered to undergrads, and you can't take any more than once. It makes me wish I would have known I wanted to be an English major prior to coming so I could find a program that's more suited to my tastes. Oh well, only one semester to go.

[Poochemist]

I'm pretty jealous. While it's a very strong program, English at Boston University is pretty limited in scope. I would say that 3/4 of the classes are focused on stuff prior to the Modern era, which really leaves people like me (who are much more interested in Modern and Contemporary literature) s.o.l. We also have one of the best graduate creative writing programs in the country, yet there's only 1 class per genre (poetry, fiction, plays) offered to undergrads, and you can't take any more than once. It makes me wish I would have known I wanted to be an English major prior to coming so I could find a program that's more suited to my tastes. Oh well, only one semester to go.

Hey, if the program has left you thirsty for more, there's nothing wrong with hitting up the MA or MFA!

Of course that's quite an investment...

[fishingthe_sky]

Hey, if the program has left you thirsty for more, there's nothing wrong with hitting up the MA or MFA!

Of course that's quite an investment...
That's the plan. But an investment it certainly is. Time and money are both stretched pretty thin.

[speakhandsforme]

By nature, I am bound to be an English major because of a protruding literary talent and a lack of investment in mathematics. However, I hate the incredible amount of mindless douche bags that largely comprise the major. It seems like every one of them clings to the ideal of being "intelligent" as a way to offset the fact that they were outcasted in high school. I wish numbers were my strong suit.

[erringtonavenue]

haha.. im an english major at the university of Dayton. they really do no have many interesting classes to take in English except a poetry workshop class. i am alittle dissapointed..worse comes to worse after college ill just go kerouacing for the rest of my life.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I recommend I'm an English Major - Now What? (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co m%2FIm-English-Major-Now-What%2Fdp%2F1582973628%3Fie%3DUTF8% 26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1231202184%26sr %3D8-2&tag=httpwwwabso04-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) by Timothy Lemire to everyone here.

[Andypeebs]

I will be studying English Literature next year at University. So excited.

[mittensss]

I have a degree in English with a concentration in Modernist literature. I work in the mall right now.
I'm applying for a MLIS for the fall though. I hope to blind everyone with library science.

[SureAsRain]

Yeah, so, I'm an English major, but, I have horrible spelling and grammar. I break all sorts of molds.

right on
I'm a English major in California at ULV and i would die without Spell check and the synonym feature.
I think this issue really reflects us as a generation rather than individual handicaps. microsoft word has killed our ability to fend for our selfs

[Chancetobe]

right on
I'm a English major in California at ULV and i would die without Spell check and the synonym feature.
I think this issue really reflects us as a generation rather than individual handicaps. microsoft word has killed our ability to fend for our selfs

True dat brother!

[mittensss]

SureAsRain, I'm glad you made that post with an error just to reinforce your point
:-d?

[The Personist]

They call us Literature majors down here at American University, but inside we all know we're English majors.

[Adrian Villagomez]

They call us Literature majors down here at American University, but inside we all know we're English majors.How unfortunate - 'Literature' is even more useless to the workforce than 'English'.

[The Personist]

How unfortunate - 'Literature' is even more useless to the workforce than 'English'.

Same major, different name. I wanna be a writer anyhow, so I don't think I'm concerned with being useful to the workforce, necessarily, unless they like reading. Which I hope they do.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Same major, different name. I wanna be a writer anyhow, so I don't think I'm concerned with being useful to the workforce, necessarily, unless they like reading. Which I hope they do.I was being facetious. What kind of writer?

[The Personist]

I was being facetious. What kind of writer?

I love the word "facetious? more than is perhaps appropriate.

I'm not entirely sure. I've never aspired to write a novel, though I do like short stories and personal narratives/essays. I enjoy writing poetry more than anything else, though, and I'd like to eventually publish a book of poems or something.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't really care what I do to make money at first, so long as it allows me time to work on my writing and develop that enough to make it my life.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I love the word "facetious? more than is perhaps appropriate.

I'm not entirely sure. I've never aspired to write a novel, though I do like short stories and personal narratives/essays. I enjoy writing poetry more than anything else, though, and I'd like to eventually publish a book of poems or something.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't really care what I do to make money at first, so long as it allows me time to work on my writing and develop that enough to make it my life.If you don't mind writing at work as well, technical writing, journalism, and book publishing could make writing your 60 hour a week job/hobby.

[The Personist]

If you don't mind writing at work as well, technical writing, journalism, and book publishing could make writing your 60 hour a week job/hobby.

Yeah. I've definitely considered all of those, especially journalism. I wrote a review of a play for our school paper, and am hoping to do more stuff like that. I also wouldn't mind an op/ed column of my own, since my opinions tend to run rampant in my writing anyways.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Yeah. I've definitely considered all of those, especially journalism. I wrote a review of a play for our school paper, and am hoping to do more stuff like that. I also wouldn't mind an op/ed column of my own, since my opinions tend to run rampant in my writing anyways.Acquiring clips while you're in college is a fantastic idea if you're considering journalism. If you're interested, try to cover a range of topics - from financial news to sports. Versatility will make for a strong portfolio.

[lightupthesky]

Fixed.
even though it was about 3.5 months ago, that correction made me smile. the subjunctive mood is dying. :-(

[exploration #4]

English major at Northeastern!