There are many socioeconomic factors that influence students as they are choosing their college majors. Since some degrees can determine the type of career the students will have for the rest of their lives, there is a lot of pressure to choose a major they will be passionate about. However, not every student has a single interest they are truly passionate about. Luckily, there are other degrees that emphasize providing students with the tools they would need to create their own place in the business world. Like many other liberal arts degrees, a Bachelor’s Degree in English focuses on developing a solid base of critical thinking on which a student may build their career or decide to further their education. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s Degree in English can prepare students for careers in education, law, publishing, journalism, public relations, business, management, advertising and writing; all of which, I have expressed an interest in at one time. Although there are many other degrees that support my …show more content…
interests, a Bachelor’s Degree in English would combine all of the things I am passionate about and open up many new job opportunities. It is argued that an English degree does not provide students with the necessary skills necessary to be successful in today's economy. Nevertheless, despite what many people think, there are numerous careers for students who graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Many English majors became highly successful businessmen, government officials and Supreme Court Justices. For example, journalist and co-host of The View, Barbara Walters graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a Liberal Arts Degree in English (Hammond). Another example is the former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and current Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, Carol Browner, who was an English and Law major (Stone). Finally, CEO of Bain Capital and former presidential candidate, Mitt Romney majored in English before going on to Harvard to get his Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate (Bowers). These examples prove that a formal education in English can lead driven students to success. Perhaps one of the most inspirational of these successful English majors is Andrea Jung, a Princeton University English graduate and Former Avon CEO. Jung provides inspiration for myself and countless other young women who are interested in what they can do with an English major. Not only is Ms. Jung a member of the Board of Directors for the General Electric Company, Apple, Inc. and Daimler AG; she also serves on the Committee for Economic Development which makes her consistently rank among Fortune’s "Most Powerful Women in Business" and Forbes’ "Most Powerful Women in the World" (Grameen America). What I find most respectable about Ms. Jung is the way she views women in the business world. Unlike many other feminists, Ms. Jung acknowledges the importance that feminine traits play on our country’s socioeconomic state. In an interview for Newsweek, Ms. Jung encourages young women to enter the business world as she did: “When a woman earns a dollar, the payback is higher. She'll invest in her children, in their education, health care and basic needs. The impact of a woman's role in the economy benefits society at large and that has probably never been more important than it is now” (Newsweek). Clearly, Ms. Jung’s success proves that a simple English degree can prepare students like myself for powerful and meaningful careers that utilize critical thinking and communication. Before pursuing an English degree there are several things potential English majors need to be aware of. Not all English programs are built the same and to become an effective CEO, teacher or writer, it is important for students to be able to customize their educational plan to help them reach their goals. Not only is it important for students to be able to stand out among their peers when looking for a job, but the degree also builds upon their personal skill set. Noting that “many employers and graduate programs are most interested in the quality, rigor, depth and intensity” of the educational program of your choice, Stanford University and many other schools allow English majors to customize their degrees to suit their personal needs (Stanford). This customization allows students, like myself, to develop a well-rounded academic experience that will attract the attention of future employers and hopefully qualify them for a variety of careers. Instead of simply building a degree, this type of personalization would allow students like myself to build a skill set that could be applied in a variety of careers, including business, teaching and law. Another difference between collegiate English programs is the cost.
Professor Angela Fidger at College of the Canyons advises her Paralegal Studies class not to go on to get a bachelor’s or graduate degree until they are absolutely certain that they are ready for the investment. She goes on to say: “I will be paying for my law degree my entire life. Many people think attorneys are well payed, but in reality almost all of my money goes to paying off my college loans. I think I would have been happier with a lower level job since there is less stress and I would not have all of these college loans to pay off” (Fidger). In other words, Professor Fidger is saying that it is important for students to consider the economy, their personal finances and their own happiness when choosing a college major. Not only do potential English majors have to consider the cost of their choice, but they also have to consider the cost of the individual school they decide to go
to. Although successful English majors come from a multitude of colleges, two universities stand out among the crowd. Ranked as the ‘Second Best University for English Majors’, Stanford University in northern California offers a range of English degrees, including a new joint major in Computer Science and English as well as more customized programs with minors in Philosophy and Art (Stanford). However, the cost of attending such a prestigious school is nearly five times the price of the national average for four-year colleges at $46,320 per year not including housing, utilities and food (The College Board; Us News). As an alternative, students like myself may consider Brigham Young University located in Provo Utah which has a base cost of only $5,150 per year (collegesource). Brigham Young University, more commonly known by the acronym BYU, is the alma mater of the former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. In 2014, Mitt Romney addressed the student body of BYU to discuss life lessons: “Romney said he felt doomed as an English major without a clear career goal in mind because self-help guides claimed success came from a clear goal and relentless work” (Universe). However, Romney concluded by crediting his faith and BYU for his success (Universe). Due to their proven success, both Stanford and Brigham Young University are among my own top choices if I choose to transfer. Role models such as Ms. Andrea Jung and Mitt Romney, exemplify how a Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree in English can provide students with a sufficient base for any career that sparks their interest while remaining general enough to allow students the opportunity to personalize the degree to fit a variety of needs. As a socioeconomic choice, an English degree is ideal since it incorporates many interests without the need of additional schooling. Therefore, a Bachelor’s of the Arts in English is an ideal major for students struggling with choosing their major. After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that liberal arts or mathematics degrees are more advantageous than most people consider them to be. Although I have not decided whether I will actually pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in English, I have a new found respect for the degree.
One statistic that Owen and Sawhill presented was “Hamilton Project research shows that 23- to 25-year-olds with bachelor’s degrees make $12,000 more than high school graduates but by age 50, the gap has grown to $46,500 (Figure 1). When we look at lifetime earnings—the sum of earnings over a career—the total premium is $570,000 for a bachelor’s degree and $170,000 for an associate’s degree. (Owen, Sawhill pg 641). Owen and Sawhill also mention that “with tuitions rising faster than family incomes, the typical college student is now more dependent than in the past on loans, creating serious risks for the individual student and perhaps for the system as a whole, should widespread defaults occur in the future. Federal student loans now total close to $1 trillion, larger than credit card debt or auto loans and second only to mortgage debt on household balance sheets” (Owen, Sawhill pg 642). Basically, what the authors are saying is college is expensive, but for some career paths, the training and education received in college is necessary to have that job and the benefits outweigh the costs. With a high paying career where a college education is necessary, paying off student loans is no problem. On the other hand, people who go after low paying careers that don’t necessarily need a college degrees,
“Majoring In Fear” by Mark Shiffman analyzes a shift in the attitudes of today’s youth. He claims that students are choosing more practical pathways out of fear, sacrificing their genuine passions and interests in order to attain a safer career. Shiffman believes this sacrifice is detrimental to students because a liberal arts education catalyzes introspection and spiritual growth. By leaving behind opportunities for such growth, the youth of today lack the capacity and resources for reflection on their lives. Shiffman further illustrates this idea with the claim that students who initially show an interest in the humanities later choose to further their education in Economics or Spanish (Shiffman 5).
In the past several years, there has been a growing trend in the number of college-bound individuals getting two-year degrees from community colleges or earning certification for their desired career field at vocational schools. Such schools certainly seem to have some valuable qualities: all boast of having lower costs than other colleges, of their absence of student loans, of allowing people to make more money quicker, of being narrowly focused so students don’t have to take classes they don’t need. They attempt to point out apparent weaknesses in liberal arts colleges as well, claiming that such an education is unnecessary in today’s world. However, for every reason to go to a community or two-year college, a vocational track, or an apprenticeship, there is another, stronger reason for going to a traditional, four-year college, and the liberal arts degree gained at four year colleges far outstrips the degree gained at a two year school or through a vocational track.
Over the past few years, people have begun to see going to college as a way to achieve the American Dream through career-readiness. People used to go to college, hoping to get a better well-rounded education. For most the well-rounded education, it usually came with the courses required for a liberal arts education. The courses would provide a level of analytical and in-depth understanding that would prepare the students for both life and whichever career path chosen. No matter the amount of money paid, parents would be willing to gi...
The benefits and burdens of a college education are not one to be taken lightly. The value of getting a college education is greatly debated among society today. This is due to the rising costs of tuition and decreasing availability of jobs. In consequence, graduates are finding it harder today to find employment in the jobs they earned their degree in all while struggling to keep up with their student loan payments. Yet, despite the misfortunes, all that hard work does not go to a waste. This is supported through a college graduate named J.D. Roth, claiming that, “I earned a B.A. in Psychology… (with a minor in English Lit…). What have I done with this degree? Almost nothing. Yet I do not regret the money and years I spent working to earn
In Caroline Bird’s “College is A Waste of Time and Money”, it’s argued that there are many college students who would be better off if they were to begin working after high school graduation. Colleges and universities can no longer ensure that one will go on to get a better job, getting paid more than they would have without a higher education. However, high school seniors still stress about where they will be attending college, how they’re going to pay for it and what they’re going to study for the next four years. Bird points out how college has changed over the past few decades and how, in turn, it has set many young adults up for disappointment, if nothing else.
A former English major- for nineteen days that is; by the name of Mark Danner, gave a commencement speech to a graduating class of the Department of English at the University of California. Starting off with a familiar and dreaded question, he asks the students “What are you going to do with that?” A question that has been repeatedly asked by anyone that knows you are an English major. Retorting to his own question, he states that by striving to be an English major, they will do questioning of their own, but also be questioned. In today’s society everyone hustling for a college degree is pursuing fields that will grant instant satisfaction in the job field, upon graduating. Unfortunately, for Liberal Arts or English majors, the options do not come quite as abundantly.
A college education gives a person the opportunity to be successful in life, either financially or morally dependent on the goals that they set for their life. They will choose a college that offer programs for the major of their choice, where they will specialize and receive a degree. The decision to pursue a higher education will give the opportunity to earn a better income over someone who does not have a degree. College is more of life preparation course that will help make sure a successful career. If a person pursues a career in engineering, physics or mathematics their curriculum would include more liberal art preparation courses, in order for them to earn their degree, so someone pursuing a degree in these types of careers are attending college for job preparation. On December 10, 2009 at Hamilton University in Clinton, New York, college professors debated current college curriculum (Liew). They talked about how their college could make a leap from being good to being great. At the 22nd American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges conference held in Long Beach California on November 14, 1996 the topic of changing curriculum was discussed (“Mich”). The University of Louisiana, Lafayette, is eliminating its philosophy major, while Michigan State University is doing away with American studies and classics, after years of decline in enrollments in those majors (Zernike). The purpose of a college education is to meet the student's liberal art’s needs so that they can compete and understand the connection between a degree and a job that will enable them to compete with other world economies, give them a well-rounded education that will enable them to earn a higher income, and retain a lifetime full of knowledge.
Zac Bissonnette, “Your College Major May Not Be as Important as You Think”. New York Times. New York Times. 03 November 2010. Web. 05 Mar. 2014
These eighteen year olds who had virtually no say in what they wanted to study in high school are now ask “ what is your major?” or better yet “what do you want to do for the rest of your life?” This is a big question, and most have no idea what they want to do. So, in a state of confusion they instinctively choose to study in a field that will benefit them economically when they graduate. Is this what a higher education means, to go through college fixed on the money? Or, is there a deeper meaning to it all, if so how can it be obtained? These are the sort of questions that need to be asked when considering going to college.
Making a decision for the future can be hard, but it can be even harder when people are torn between their passions and meeting other’s expectations. In today’s generation, most students are expected to have their career chosen by the time they are out of High School. They are trained to plan and map out their entire lives. Yet, college students still end up having an undecided major by the time they start their freshman year in college. A huge issue that is present in today’s society is that college students chose their major for the wrong reasons. Parents pressure students to pursue careers in business, medicine, politics, and law; however, unless practiced with passion, those careers are pointless.
A Public Relations worker’s media pay is: $57,550. An Event Planner’s median pay is: $45,260. Of course, last but not least, a person working in sales will make anywhere up to $87,000 (onedayonejob.com). The fact that there are articles written on this topic of what we can do with a major not in the classical fields tells me that there are huge problems at hand. Students are entering school with the hopes of becoming fulfilled with what they learn from these pricey schools but end up graduating with a huge
Reading “I am an English Major, Now What?” written by Timothy Lemire was an interesting discussion to explain to the students that their careers can be successful with English majors. This book was designed to help academic students understand the purpose of English skills and communication with the proper techniques to enhance achievements. The English major involves a variety of reading and writing, but people can find real jobs to help them achieve happiness in their life. In addition, the student needs to know who they are, what they can do, what they want, and where to look for opportunities. Colleges and universities around the world has a different set of requirements for the major in English, but to earn a degree in English, the student should be able to at least read two three-hundred page novels and write a five-page paper about the novel. According to Lemire, “There are English skills that the student should learn at a bare minimum, such as proper grammar, manage deadlines, and
In “Should Everyone Go to College?” there are multiple figures depicting the return of investment on different Bachelor’s degrees. Among the lowest ROIs include the majors of liberal arts, literature, and the arts (215). These are majors which on average, don’t pan out well for those who invest in them. As we often forget, college is an investment in a future career, and so there are certain majors which just aren’t good ones to make. Other majors, such as engineering, computers, math, science, and business, are fantastic investments based on the work-life earnings on different careers pertaining to these majors. These are the ones which are the best ones to invest money in if someone’s looking for a college route, and if they are having trouble finding a way to pay for it, they should consider looking to methods such as doing some time in the military, applying for scholarships, or going to a community college, in order to help them achieve their
It's no secret that choosing the right college major will be an important decision students make during their academic lives. And with tough economic times and enormous amounts of debt to deal with, students have never been more worried about which major to choose, and it seems like college-related pressure has never been greater. Though economic realities can be discouraging, student decisions regarding which major to choose usually should not be affected by economic conditions. What students will need to consider is what they are interested in, what field of study they would succeed in, and their debt situation. They should also remember that there will many careers available to them regardless of their major.