OK I'm asknig this question because I ran into one of my professors today, and we had a little discussion. You see I'm not fully sure what I should major in (in the past I have thought about History and English), and since I couldn't decide I was just doing to do a two year program such as X-ray tech certification, so I would have a job with a decent source of income until I could find out if that is what I wanted to do with my life or if I wanted to go back to school. Well Tonight when I ran into my prof. (who is my enlgish prof btw) he said that I should major in English, without me even mentioning that have thought of it before. He told me that I have a gift in Literature and writing, which I have been told by my old freshman comp teacher. Basically my question is if you would major in somethign that a professor of yours told you, you have a gift in, and that you enjoy?
2006-09-28 17:42:29 · 8 answers · asked by ithek_thundervoice 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I majored in English, minored in History, Physics, Anthropology and Biology. (Yes it WAS a grind.) History and biology were the most useful. English was helpful. It enriched my life. But for the job market, it's pretty lame.
Most reporters I know (and I was one) majored in History. Most writers I know (fiction, poetry, essays) majored in anything but English. They had a natural gift which could not be suppressed.
This is my experience. But you should study what you enjoy. You never know where it will lead.
Perhaps the best way to figure out what to major in is to decide what you want to do with your life (if possible), find a person who is doing that, and ask them what they would study.
Good luck.
You sound like a smart kid.
2006-09-28 17:49:09 · answer #1 · answered by Ignoramus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, your writing is better than a good percentage of other peoples on here, however, you shouldn't put all your stock into what your teacher says. Consider what you would do with a degree in english. Your options are somewhat limited. You could be an english teacher at a school or college, or you can write novels, which you could do just fine without a degree. I don't know too many other jobs that would require a degree in english.
Philosophy is pretty much the same thing, it's a vicious circle... You are taught philosophy so that you can teach it to others, but otherwise, it has very little use.
2006-09-29 00:45:07 · answer #2 · answered by iswd1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I would major in it if I had a gift in it and enjoyed it. After all, those are pretty much the important things to take into consideration in choosing a major (so I've come to think and so I've been told :) ). That the professor told you that you should isn't so important in that respect, though if you are thinking of going to grad school, then I'd keep in touch with him because it sounds like he'd write you a great recommendation letter.
2006-09-30 16:38:47 · answer #3 · answered by DAG 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't compromise what you believe to be in the best pursuit of your purpose and happiness for anyone else. So far as you can be certain, disregarding any philosophical or theololgical conclusions with hyperbolic doubt, you have one life here, so what do you like doing, that can make some difference in the world, that you think you can do? If you wake up in the morning, and your first thought aside from how badly you have to go to the bathroom is writing, then you should be a writer.
2006-09-29 00:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by thalog482 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you enjoy it and expect it to yield a career in something you will love doing until retirement, then maybe you should give it some serious consideration, not just because your professor complemented you, but because that is what will make you happy in the long run. Never choose something just because someone else said so, think it through carefully because you dont want to spend the rest of your life in a career you hate or in school learning a new profession.
2006-09-29 00:46:13 · answer #5 · answered by Ms_Sweet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the english major if you enjoy it and can get a high GPA. Then take your high GPA and apply to law school and get into a good one. Go to law school and get law degree. Take a job as a lawyer which is all reading and writing, except instead of getting paid $8 and free meal plan, you can expect your first job to pay 100-135k a year. :)
(working for me so far)
2006-09-29 01:08:55 · answer #6 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you definitely should major in something you enjoy, because after all you're going to have to stick with it for 4 years (or however long it takes for you go graduate).
And if you have a gift in it, and your professor affirms this, then all the better!
2006-09-29 00:46:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Basically my question is if you would major in somethign that a professor of yours told you, you have a gift in, and that you enjoy?"
Ummmm...duhhh, of course. What the hell are you scared of?
2006-09-29 00:44:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋