I am so lucky to still be in love with my major after four years of school. As I prepare to graduate in December, I feel excited but I also know I’ll miss some parts of school, especially my creative writing classes. The English major isn’t chosen by many, especially around here, but in my experience it really does pay off to do what you’re passionate about. Here are some inside tips and tricks for anyone looking to become an English student.
First off, you have to find what you’re passionate about and decide to concentrate in whatever this might be. Think about what drew you to the major: Is it reading texts and analyzing them? Is it creative writing? Or do you prefer technical writing? Find the concentration that best suits you and go for it. For me, I fell in love with poetry, particularly writing it, but reading it too. I decided I had to concentrate in creative writing and I’m so happy I did. The concentration will allow me to have experience in creative writing workshops which is beneficial to someone that would like to someday pursue a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry. With this degree I will hopefully be able to teach creative writing classes at the college level and expand my writing circle.
Another tip I have would be to make connections with your professors. The English department offers a lot of fun events that you can go to where you can keep in touch with them. My personal favorite event the English department at the University of Maine sponsors is the New Writing Series. On select Thursdays at 4:30 in Stewart Commons, guest authors and occasionally University of Maine professors will read their work aloud for everyone’s enjoyment. Pre-COVID, there used to be snacks too! It’s a great way to meet up and network with friends of the department.
English majors should also know that there isn’t one set career path and what you want to do over the course of your educational journey may change. I started out thinking I wanted to go to law school and I minored in Interdisciplinary Legal Studies and Political Science to set myself up for success with this. However, I realized I wanted a stronger work-life balance than any legal career would offer and that I really thrived as a writer doing creative work. I’ve since refocused my path into teaching and hopefully starting my own literary magazine one day.
Lastly, if you’re going into creative work, you need to become comfortable with being rejected and receiving constructive criticism. You’ll never enjoy it but it’s part of the job. The amount of rejection letters I’ve received in my inbox from magazines and other publications would probably discourage a lot of people. It’s important to take that feedback in stride, make adjustments you feel are necessary and then get back out there.
Overall, it’s important to chase your dreams and maintain strong relationships along the way. Majoring in English can be so rewarding and fun, but also challenging. I hope this helped you figure out if it’s the right fit for you!