Oh goodness, I'm sorry. But you know, just 'cause your mum didn't get far with English, doesn't mean that you won't. Remeber that.
Sounds like you're making the same university choices as me - I'm thinking about English too. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, but the best place for English in England is Durham, it's got a reputation for it. Also, it's a B-E-A-utiful city and if you end up on University College campus, you get to live in an 11th century castle.
I checked out Durham, but they only offer full year programs (which terrify me), and their deadline passed already, even if I were to suddenly screw up the courage. :(
Being at an english uni, and having friends at others, if you wanted to ask about a town or uni please, please feel free to! Studying abroad (I went to France) was one of the best things I ever did, I highly recommend it. I will recommend the hell out of Leeds, because it is my university, but I can be unbiased too!
Fun fact: very few people get jobs that have anything to do with their majors. The important part is that you have a degree; not what it's in (hell, I majored in computer science and now I do scheduling and writing for an anime company). So find whatever major is the most enjoyable and don't even worry about job prospects until a couple months before you graduate.
(Unless any kind of jobs you're thinking about involve languages, like Japanese or Spanish or Gaelic or whatever. That you'd need to actually get started on and learn.)
Haaa, yeah, I try to remember that, but sometimes it's just like, if that's so then what am I even doing here? I know there are good answers to this question, but sometimes I forget what they are! I will try to keep your experiences in mind. :)
I totally understand you on a lot of what you said. I know what I want to do for a career (publishing), but it's just scary and terrifying and English is great except for the part where you get stuck in stupid university bureaucracy only to have a useless degree anyway. And holy crap, I feel guilty every single day for not doing more in the city and then my parents call me and tell me I'm wasting the opportunity and gah. We should form a support group. Hapless English Majors in NYC.
I sort of now have this crazy idea that we should meet up somewhere and attempt to perhaps discover bits of New York. ....Or just sit unadventurously in a cafe. I may on the opposite end of the city, but it's not that much of a distance. I mean, if you're not utterly freaked out by the idea, which would be understandable since we've only met in line once very briefly. I AM JUST GOING TO SHUT UP NOW; I FEEL I AM MAKING THIS WHOLE INFINITELY DEEP.
I AM SO UP FOR THIS SUPPORT GROUP, I FEEL LIKE I NEED ONE. Also, I am totally not freaked out by meeting up, it sounds lovely. I was in the NYU area yesterday anyway, the distance is negligible! Maybe we could try an adventure sometime before finals swallow us whole?
A degree in English prepares you for every single job (that is not directly related to science and/or math.) Just because it doesn't come with a built in list of job possibilities doesn't mean it's not useful. My mother has organized blackjack tournaments, written small farm loans, and now she's branch manager for two branches of a local bank - she was employee of the year this year, and what did she study in college? She double-majored in English and Fine Arts. She swears that her English degree - the training she received in reading and writing properly, in being able to understand and communicate effectively - has been useful in every single job she's had. There is no career for which the ability to use words well isn't helpful. For most jobs, it's a basic qualification (and you'd be surprised by how many people really, really can't and how far ahead of the competition it puts you if you can.) Besides, employers don't care what you majored in, for the most part, I don't think (assuming you're looking at employers in the Real World
( ... )
Wow, I wrote a lot! Sorry to leave busybody LJ comments while everyone else leaves nice supportive ones as usual! My original draft of this was just "OMG GO TO FURMAN FOR GOD'S SAKE" <-- I still stand by this. They're great to talk to even if it's not a serious mental issue, even if you're just stressed out. Book a session, rant at them, then rant at LJ, then sleep better.
Also, it's silly to feel seriously bad or guilty about not taking advantage of the city. It's not hurting anyone else if you don't visit museums or whatever, and if you really thought it was hurting yourself, then you'd want to take advantage of the city and you'd be out there doing it. Unless you are doing things that you don't want to do (and don't have to do) instead of the things you do want to do in the city, there's no problem.
Basically, if you want to do something, do it and if you don't want to do something, don't. (But remember to look at the big picture, i.e. if you want to pass, do your homework, haha.)
also taking advantage of the city is easier if you wake up before 5pm, fyi. XD
Comments 12
Sounds like you're making the same university choices as me - I'm thinking about English too. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, but the best place for English in England is Durham, it's got a reputation for it. Also, it's a B-E-A-utiful city and if you end up on University College campus, you get to live in an 11th century castle.
Reply
Thanks for the tip though, keep them coming!
Reply
Being at an english uni, and having friends at others, if you wanted to ask about a town or uni please, please feel free to! Studying abroad (I went to France) was one of the best things I ever did, I highly recommend it. I will recommend the hell out of Leeds, because it is my university, but I can be unbiased too!
Good luck with it all!
Reply
Reply
(Unless any kind of jobs you're thinking about involve languages, like Japanese or Spanish or Gaelic or whatever. That you'd need to actually get started on and learn.)
Reply
Reply
I sort of now have this crazy idea that we should meet up somewhere and attempt to perhaps discover bits of New York. ....Or just sit unadventurously in a cafe. I may on the opposite end of the city, but it's not that much of a distance. I mean, if you're not utterly freaked out by the idea, which would be understandable since we've only met in line once very briefly. I AM JUST GOING TO SHUT UP NOW; I FEEL I AM MAKING THIS WHOLE INFINITELY DEEP.
Reply
Reply
LET'S DO IT! When are your finals? Wanna do next weekend?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Basically, if you want to do something, do it and if you don't want to do something, don't. (But remember to look at the big picture, i.e. if you want to pass, do your homework, haha.)
also taking advantage of the city is easier if you wake up before 5pm, fyi. XD
Reply
Leave a comment