Hi All
Just wondered what everyone thought as I am interested in studying an English degree but unsure of whether it's worth it. Are there many opportunities for someone studying English at University? What about afterwards?
Many thanks
English Degree
English in relation to what - you'll need to be more specific.
English Literature (and all permutations therein)
English Language
English as a Foreign Language
English Culture
English Food & Cuisine
English Football Hooliganism
English (cue ball stroke)
Johnny English
English (the librarian from the movie Escape from Alcatraz)
( humourless gits may skip past the obviously facetious ones! )
English Literature (and all permutations therein)
English Language
English as a Foreign Language
English Culture
English Food & Cuisine
English Football Hooliganism
English (cue ball stroke)
Johnny English
English (the librarian from the movie Escape from Alcatraz)
( humourless gits may skip past the obviously facetious ones! )
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Nick Harvey
- God
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- Location: Deepest Wiltshire
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Can you do the hooliganism one through the Open University? I rather fancy that, but can't be bothered to travel.
Mind you, I know one or two people who, I suspect, might have a doctorate in same.
Mind you, I know one or two people who, I suspect, might have a doctorate in same.
I know of two people that studied English, both are now training to become teachers.TopCat wrote:Hi All
Just wondered what everyone thought as I am interested in studying an English degree but unsure of whether it's worth it. Are there many opportunities for someone studying English at University? What about afterwards?
Many thanks
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2123
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
this is what drives me nuts about how academia brainwashes young people.
part of the reason for this is that in academia, most of the people who teach and advise you go to school, go to sixth form, go to university, and then go back to school again. they never get out of the system. school and university is all many of the people who teach you actually know about.
the end result of this is that many young people end up doing completely useless or inappropriate degrees. i'm not saying the life experience of going to university isn't useful, but there is this whole sausage factory which just wants you to do something and requires you to make decisions that might well affect you for the next 50 years that have to be made during a summer holiday when you're 17. seems insane to me.
if you have some idea as to the career you want, ring up some companies where jobs exist that you want to do, ask them what sort of person they want for the role, what sort of knowledge is needed, what qualifications are needed. don't ask a careers advisor at school. those people are braindead box tickers. actually ask real companies, real managers about the job you want to do. offer to do some unpaid work experience if you can or if it's possible. keep at it. don't be put off by rejections. also, make sure your performance is polished so you can carry yourself off well and come across as likeable and professional in interviews. this is one of the most important things. i'd happily appoint somebody who didn't meet all the qualifications if they came across as likeable and willing to learn. not every job will be like that, but it will go along way.
my day job causes me to come into contact with 6th form students from time to time and the mentality of some of them is that they think the world owes them a living and a degree is this magic fairy gateway to a paid up 50k career for life. most of them are lazy fucking idiots.
be proactive. get out there. you have a lot of competition.
an english degree is one of the better qualifications to have and it's useful in many jobs, but obviously being able to write wonderful poetry won't be much good if you want to be a graphic designer or programmer. just think about what you want to do and go get the tools you need to do it.
part of the reason for this is that in academia, most of the people who teach and advise you go to school, go to sixth form, go to university, and then go back to school again. they never get out of the system. school and university is all many of the people who teach you actually know about.
the end result of this is that many young people end up doing completely useless or inappropriate degrees. i'm not saying the life experience of going to university isn't useful, but there is this whole sausage factory which just wants you to do something and requires you to make decisions that might well affect you for the next 50 years that have to be made during a summer holiday when you're 17. seems insane to me.
if you have some idea as to the career you want, ring up some companies where jobs exist that you want to do, ask them what sort of person they want for the role, what sort of knowledge is needed, what qualifications are needed. don't ask a careers advisor at school. those people are braindead box tickers. actually ask real companies, real managers about the job you want to do. offer to do some unpaid work experience if you can or if it's possible. keep at it. don't be put off by rejections. also, make sure your performance is polished so you can carry yourself off well and come across as likeable and professional in interviews. this is one of the most important things. i'd happily appoint somebody who didn't meet all the qualifications if they came across as likeable and willing to learn. not every job will be like that, but it will go along way.
my day job causes me to come into contact with 6th form students from time to time and the mentality of some of them is that they think the world owes them a living and a degree is this magic fairy gateway to a paid up 50k career for life. most of them are lazy fucking idiots.
be proactive. get out there. you have a lot of competition.
an english degree is one of the better qualifications to have and it's useful in many jobs, but obviously being able to write wonderful poetry won't be much good if you want to be a graphic designer or programmer. just think about what you want to do and go get the tools you need to do it.
Upload service: http://www.metropol247.co.uk/uploadservice
I agree with all of the above.
Not only do I agree with your entire post, Dr Lobster, but that particular quote is so true. Glad I didn't go down that avenue!Dr Lobster* wrote: my day job causes me to come into contact with 6th form students from time to time and the mentality of some of them is that they think the world owes them a living and a degree is this magic fairy gateway to a paid up 50k career for life. most of them a lazy fucking idiots.
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2123
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
Personally, I think English makes more sense. At least if journalism doesn't work out for you, you'll have a respected qualification you can apply in many related fields. A journalism degree has a much limited scope.
Again, I don't know for sure. See if somebody here or on another forum can help you and get you a contact in a respected newspaper. I'm fairly certain that journalism degrees probably didn't even exist when many serving editors went to university.
The great thing with journalism is that to a certain extent you'll be judged by your portfolio. Do you write anything for any local magazines or newspapers, or perhaps even a school magazine? It will be a good place to start.
And thanks will and beep,I see so many people waste huge chunks of their life following misguided advice and pipe dreams, especially now uni is so expensive.
Again, I don't know for sure. See if somebody here or on another forum can help you and get you a contact in a respected newspaper. I'm fairly certain that journalism degrees probably didn't even exist when many serving editors went to university.
The great thing with journalism is that to a certain extent you'll be judged by your portfolio. Do you write anything for any local magazines or newspapers, or perhaps even a school magazine? It will be a good place to start.
And thanks will and beep,I see so many people waste huge chunks of their life following misguided advice and pipe dreams, especially now uni is so expensive.
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Like Dr Lobster says, I would recommend the English course because it's more flexible. If you want to go into Journalism though, I'd recommend making sure (if/when) you get to Uni, you look into joining any media societies that exist to get some journalistic experience. Someone with a (relevant, but alternative, like doing English instead of plain Journalism) good degree and relevant volunteering experience is generally more attractive to employers than someone who's passed the 'right' degree, but has nothing apart from their coursework to show off.TopCat wrote:Although I am particularly interested in Journalism, would it be worth undertaking an journalistic degree or just an English one?