Poll: I need help with my Major!

[staika]

Okay Escapists' I am at a loss at what to do with my major and I would like some opinions on what to do. The current major I am in is the Intelligence Program at my college and it is a very sought after major with a 95% rate of people getting jobs right out of college. The problem with it is that I just don't like it, I find it boring and it is a very hard major and they expect us to keep a 3.5 (an A and B average) GPA and I am having trouble attaining that mark.

Now my real passion is writing, I enjoy writing stories and I have been told I'm really good at it. I have been contemplating changing my Major to English, Minor in Creative writing and maybe minor in another language. The problem with this is that I don't know that many jobs that English majors can get and I am afraid my major might be useless to me out of college.

So my question to you is What should I do with my major?

If this helps here is the Link [http://english.mercyhurst.edu/programs/english-major/] to my School's English program. Also heres a Link [http://intel.mercyhurst.edu/] to my School's Intelligence Program for those that are curious.

 

[Lilani]

Do what you like to do. I mean, you're sort of kicking off the next major stage of your life, here. Why would you want to set yourself on a path you know you don't enjoy?

So just do what makes you happy. You'll find a way to get money out of it :3 Good luck!

 

[MrAkuma201]

Same as Lilani Do what you like. If you don't like doing a task or job then it's hard to stay motivated and perform at you'r best. Wish you the best of luck 8D

 

[Tanakh]

This will sound a little stalkery, but what are your economical assets?

Can you live on the average or below wage for a English mayor? (last time i checked it was a peanut and some toothpaste a month, it might have changed)

Will you be happy with such a lifestyle? Writing for you and the 10 people in the world that will read and love your books? Being totally constrained in money? Not being able to give the girl (or whatever) you love what she deserves? Writing notes on the news or something about how interesting is the moss to make ends meet?

If not, then FOR SURE don't change. And... well, i don't give a crap either way, but you better be dead honest about the answer to those questions.

I am not saying you won't make it big, but honestly? You (99.9% sure) won't make it big.

Edit: Damn, i didn't meant don't change, i meant don't go into English mayor. Go and squeeze that noggin to find someway to do what you want and get the life you want.

 

[Fbuh]

I would stay in the program and work on your writing in your spare time. After all, some of the greatest authors did not have their careers in literature. That way, it also gives you a fall back option and a steady career in case your writing doesn't take off like you want. It also gives you a wider array of knowledge to work with.

 

[funguy2121]

Okay Escapists' I am at a loss at what to do with my major and I would like some opinions on what to do. The current major I am in is the Intelligence Program at my college and it is a very sought after major with a 95% rate of people getting jobs right out of college. The problem with it is that I just don't like it, I find it boring and it is a very hard major and they expect us to keep a 3.5 (an A and B average) GPA and I am having trouble attaining that mark.

Now my real passion is writing, I enjoy writing stories and I have been told I'm really good at it. I have been contemplating changing my Major to English, Minor in Creative writing and maybe minor in another language. The problem with this is that I don't know that many jobs that English majors can get and I am afraid my major might be useless to me out of college.

So my question to you is What should I do with my major?

If this helps here is the Link [http://english.mercyhurst.edu/programs/english-major/] to my School's English program. Also heres a Link [http://intel.mercyhurst.edu/] to my School's Intelligence Program for those that are curious.

I was going to say "Just talk to your privates!" after reading the thread title. Give me a second to stop giggling.

Ok.

Now.

So. . .

I don't understand what's so hard about getting a 3.5. It's an A-B average. Study more and you'll do fine. Except that you seem to not want to do this. Is the schoolwork boring or do you think you'll be bored whenever you're doing...whatever.

If you get into writing as a degree and a career path you are very likely to go absolutely no where, and you may be tremendously talented.

Pragmatism isn't always fun but damn if it doesn't make you feel like a man. I say find something realistic that you also enjoy doing.

 

[FuzzyRaccoon]

Ahhh, I'd go with what some other's are saying. You might want to cultivate a lot more options, by doing a Creative Writing minor since you like writing so much. At the same time, what I'd recommend you do is you keep on your Intelligence major for a little while. So it'd be like this: 6-9 Credits in your major, 3-6 credit Creative Writing Classes, 3-6 credit alternate classes in courses you find interesting, totally up to 15 credits, which is the normal workload for graduating in four years. This will give you the opportunity to begin exploring creative writing, AND other courses because I don't suggest you go the full on english route. Take some classes in it, see how much you ACTUALLY like it, and if you find a fallback Major you equally enjoy you can do that Major and the Creative Writing minor.

Don't think about doing a general english major unless you ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea of writing tons of papers and doing tons of readings on whatever the hell those english teachers feel like assigning you reading on.

 

[Stall]

Stick to the intelligence program and just write in your spare time. An English major just isn't worth the debt nowadays, especially in this economy. Major in what will get you a job and let you support yourself, and eventually a family. English might be your passion, but is it actually going to get you anywhere in life? Probably not.

 

[Phlakes]

Well, the only job for an English major is teaching English.

Anyway, I'd guess the best thing to do is major in what you're really interested in and minor in something that'll get you some secure work.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

Choose what makes you happy but don't become a teacher unless it's for a college. I honestly don't know why my teachers became teachers.

 

[SckizoBoy]

I was going to say "Just talk to your privates!" after reading the thread title. Give me a second to stop giggling.

You're a bad, bad man!

Still agree though.

OT: Pretty much what [user]funguy2121[/user] here said. While you may enjoy and be good at writing, do like me. I do it as a hobby and that way I still view it with a great deal of fun. Having it as a job requires a lot of luck (and most likely a lot of rejection letters from publishers) and the pressure to write what people want to read, which may not necessarily be what you want to write. Unless you can self-publish it's not really worth the effort to get a degree just to do it. It also depends on your writing style(s) and scale.

Now, a 3.5 average shouldn't be that hard to maintain, so what I'd recommend is stick with the current major, get a job associated with it, and while you're working/getting 'adult stuff' sorted out, continue getting words on the page and do some part-time courses (if you so desire) or just start throwing manuscripts at publishers. (I throw stories at the Black Library every so often... sure they haven't published anything, but that's sort of the point I'm making.)

 

[Evil Top Hat]

Major in subjects you don't like -> Job you don't like -> A life that you don't like as much as you could do

Who cares if you don't get a job straight away? You need to play to your strengths and do what you enjoy. Happiness is WAAAAY more important than money. If you have a job you don't like, you'll spend half your life being bored and miserable.

 

[Stall]

Major in subjects you don't like -> Job you don't like -> A life that you don't like as much as you could do

Who cares if you don't get a job straight away? You need to play to your strengths and do what you enjoy. Happiness is WAAAAY more important than money. If you have a job you don't like, you'll spend half your life being bored and miserable.

Yes, and if you get a job you DO like but it pays like shit (which are most jobs you'll get as an English major), then you'll spend all your life living impoverished, miserable, and barely being able to provide for yourself, let alone a family.

This isn't like picking between Physics and Electrical Engineering or something. This is deciding between a major that will most likely get the OP a very good and secure job, or one that has significantly less job security, as well as no where near as good initial or even long term pay. Happiness might be nice, but is having a job you like truly worth potentially living as a pauper?

It's not just as simple as "do what you like".