Read With Me

Whenever you hear that a university student declares themselves an "English Major" what is the first question that pops into your mind? Are they going to teach English? Do they want to become writers? What the hell can you do with an English degree anyways? Truthfully, English majors may find themselves asking the same questions.

The major coursework itself is pretty straightforward for an English major: they read a text, and then write on what they observe, and then repeat the process with the same text or another, with an occasional creative writing course thrown into their curriculum to spice things up. It isn't hard to see why so many people question the practicality of the major. Are reading and analyzing books skills that translate to the real world?

The answer is yes. These skills truly do translate to the real world, but not usually in the context of reading and analyzing works fiction. Lawyers tend to find their roots in the English major. Why? Have you ever tried to read and make sense of laws as they are documented? The average person would probably suffer from a severe case of brain cramping, while an English major would probably not only be able to make sense of the laws as they are written, but also find ways to apply the laws to certain situations based on an analysis of their written text. Basically, the same skills that seem impractical to most people are the skills that enable lawyers to earn huge paychecks. It is also important to note that good lawyers tend to be great storytellers, which is also a huge aspect of the English major.

The world of law is not the only place where the skills of an English major have found their importance. Many other industries are in need of individuals who specialize in analysis, communication, and the written word. Therefore, the next time you see one of those meandering English major types roaming University halls, realize that their path can be one to a very important and lucrative end.