College 101
Is the English Major for Suckers? Article Type: Quick and Dirty
(Source)
Picture this. It's Thanksgiving. The cranberry sauce has just slithered out of the can, accompanied by that sucking noise that makes the fruit product extra appetizing. Your cousin, the one with the law degree who operates out of an abandoned strip mall, gives you a patronizing smile and says, "An English degree? What are you going to do with that?"
This dreaded scenario, dear Shmooper, is one that plagues those who major in the humanities. But especially English majors. Is there any truth to the idea that the English major is worthless? Shmoop investigation mode: go!
It turns out that there are a number of career options out there for the average wordsmith...if that English degree means you can write as well as read. Speech writers make a median salary of $78,000 per year, while communications managers earn about $88,000 per year. Web content managers keep you in cat videos and news articles to the tune of $79,000 per year. (Could there be a better job?)
Each of these careers offers a more robust salary than the median $46,000 per year that young workers with a Bachelor's degree could expect as of 2012 (source). Feel free to start compiling that wish list.
However, you will not pull down the salary of your friends in engineering or the sciences. Especially not without mastering skills in specialized fields. And, of course, these jobs we've just mentioned aren't exactly easy to score. You can't just walk into an interview and say, "Job me, please."
So if you really want to be an English major, here's the best way to avoid becoming a sucker:
Minimize your initial investment.
Read: go to a public university. Especially one in a state you've called home for at least a year. That way, you've got a chance of paying a slightly less exorbitant sum per year in tuition. If you do attend a public school, your return on your investment in that degree can hit over 500% (source)
We've already mentioned that the English major doesn't necessarily have top earning potential right out of the gate, so the name of the game for English majors is keeping costs low. We don't mean "potato chips and tap water" low. Still, controlling tuition costs is one of the best ways to maximize the value of your degree.
As for unemployment worries, the numbers don't lie. The English major is no more or less susceptible to the market than other majors, falling at about 9% in 2013 (source). This major also doesn't show up on many of the "worst paid college majors" lists, and we've just named some career paths that have the potential to net you a decent income...if you know how to network, write a standout cover letter and résumé, and more. And that's a big "if."
Considering all of this info, what's an aspiring English major to do?
Take a deep breath, consider a public school with a strong English program, and look into smart ways to fund your education. Follow these easy steps, and we have a feeling next Thanksgiving is gonna rock.