English, is it worth majoring in?

[nostoneunturned]

Honestly, I wouldn't do it. I would say English has always been my best subject. Librarian is my dream career. However- while an English major (or librarian career path for me) would have been feasible in the context of employability 15 years ago, it's really not anymore. Especially if you have no interest in teaching...and even then, as I understand it, there is a great deal of competition for positions that are not math or hard sci teachers. The landscape of employment is changing rapidly.

Chances are if you major in it, you will enjoy your degree program, do well, finish school, and then... nothing. You will be back on this very board wondering why you can't get a job with your hard earned Bachelor's and sparkling 4.0 GPA. People who tell you to follow your dreams, are just not being realistic for the times. It's gritty and rough out there. Comp is FIERCE is amost every field. Look, after I ruled out impractical majors I decided on Kinesiology since I thought I would eventually get into PT or OT grad school. But...I had to be real with myself even then, because what if, I didn't get accepted to one of those schools? I mean applications have quadrupled -or greater- for many schools in the last 5 years even. Then what? I'm stuck with an expensive Kinesiology degree which one can do exactly squat with. I switched to Business Finance (since I have some entry level work experience in banking- personal loans and investments), which interests me, though I don't LOVE it, and that's what I am doing now..

I would suggest picking something you are good at, even if you aren't passionate about it- but is within a field with greater opportunities. You don't have to LOVE your job. I think that's a fallacy college kids fall into. It's okay to be competent at a job, collect a good salary with great benefits, and enjoy the perks a stable career affords you. When you are 55 and getting ready to retire you will be wishing that is the path you'd chosen. Who knows, maybe an English major will work out for you, but I'd say the odds are stacked against it.