DeepShadeofBlue

Hey Scytheye --


The previous writers make some great points. You've really got to know what you want to go to graduate school for. You will be asked that many times during the application process.


That said, I also studied English as an undergraduate. My father was an English major as well, and he sternly warned against pursuing it. (But, we love literature, and sometimes we can't help loving the things that we do). In my father's case, he went on to become a minister. Being able to communicate, and communicate well, is essential to his job. He utilizes his communication skills during sermons, hospital visits, funerals, weddings, counseling sessions, even in what he writes for the monthly newsletters.


So thinking along those lines, you could pursue an advanced degree in journalism, communication, or media studies. These are pretty difficult fields to get into without previous experience, as in internships or publications, but it is feasible to find opportunities around your area.


Like you, I also struggled with the question of "what to do with an English degree?" After graduating, I went abroad to Korea and taught English for a year. It combined the opportunity to "use" my degree with the chance to "see the world," and really invest in another culture. When I came back, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to pursue in graduate school - International Affairs. In the Fall, I will be attending American University in DC, studying US Foreign Policy.


Any English major will be able to find a decent job because the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written, is an imperative skill that every employer seeks. If you're truly serious about graduate school, you need to sit down and define your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not enjoy? What kind of job setting can you see yourself in? Where can you not see yourself?


I'd suggest thumbing through your university's course catalog, and looking at which courses interest you the most. What are some of the other majors and minors at your university? Graduate and Professional Programs look for individuals from diverse backgrounds, so don't be afraid to apply to a field outside of English. What they want to know is do you have potential, can you do the work, and are you a good fit the program. And, those are the kind of things that can be explained in your Statement of Purpose and with Letters of Recommendation.

Hey Scytheye --


The previous writers make some great points. You've really got to know what you want to go to graduate school for. You will be asked that many times during the application process.


That said, I also studied English as an undergraduate. My father was an English major as well, and he sternly warned against pursuing it. (But, we love literature, and sometimes we can't help loving the things that we do). In my father's case, he went on to become a minister. Being able to communicate, and communicate well, is essential to his job. He utilizes his communication skills during sermons, hospital visits, funerals, weddings, counseling sessions, even in what he writes for the monthly newsletters.


So thinking along those lines, you could pursue an advanced degree in journalism, communication, or media studies. These are pretty difficult fields to get into without previous experience, as in internships or publications, but it is feasible to find opportunities around your area.


Like you, I also struggled with the question of "what to do with an English degree?" After graduating, I went abroad to Korea and taught English for a year. It combined the opportunity to "use" my degree with the chance to "see the world," and really invest in another culture. When I came back, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to pursue in graduate school - International Affairs. In the Fall, I will be attending American University in DC, studying US Foreign Policy.


Any English major will be able to find a decent job because the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written, is an imperative skill that every employer seeks. If you're truly serious about graduate school, you need to sit down and define your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not enjoy? What kind of job setting can you see yourself in? Where can you not see yourself?


I'd suggest thumbing through your university's course catalog, and looking at which courses interest you the most. What are some of the other majors and minors at your university? Graduate and Professional Programs look for individuals from diverse backgrounds, so don't be afraid to apply to a field outside of English. What they want to know is do you have potential, can you do the work, and are you a good fit the program. And, those are the kind of things that can be explained in your Statement of Purpose and with Letters of Recommendation.

Hey Scytheye --


The previous writers make some great points. You've really got to know what you want to go to graduate school for. You will be asked that many times during the application process.


That said, I also studied English as an undergraduate. My father was an English major as well, and he sternly warned against pursuing it. (But, we love literature, and sometimes we can't help loving the things that we do). In my father's case, he went on to become a minister. Being able to communicate, and communicate well, is essential to his job. He utilizes his communication skills during sermons, hospital visits, funerals, weddings, counseling sessions, even in what he writes for the monthly newsletters.


So thinking along those lines, you could pursue an advanced degree in journalism, communication, or media studies. These are pretty difficult fields to get into without previous experience, as in internships or publications, but it is feasible to find opportunities around your area.


Like you, I also struggled with the question of "what to do with an English degree?" After graduating, I went abroad to Korea and taught English for a year. It combined the opportunity to "use" my degree with the chance to "see the world," and really invest in another culture. When I came back, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to pursue in graduate school - International Affairs. In the Fall, I will be attending American University in DC, studying US Foreign Policy.


Any English major will be able to find a decent job because the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written, is an imperative skill that every employer seeks. If you're truly serious about graduate school, you need to sit down and define your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not enjoy? What kind of job setting can you see yourself in? Where can you not see yourself?


I'd suggest thumbing through your university's course catalog, and looking at which courses interest you the most. What are some of the other majors and minors at your university? Graduate and Professional Programs look for individuals from diverse backgrounds, so don't be afraid to apply to a field outside of English. What they want to know is do you have potential, can you do the work, and are you a good fit the program. And, those are the kind of things that can be explained in your Statement of Purpose and with Letters of Recommendation.

Did anyone apply to SIPA, Elliott, American U's SIS, Vanderbilt's GDEP, or Georgetown?
Heard anything yet?

I have applied to each of those and am still waiting to hear back.