When deciding on a major as a freshman, the typical response is to pick a topic in which you were successful in high school. For some of you, that meant you decided to become and English Major. The literature world in college is completely different than what it was in high school. Here are three things that no one told you.
1. You read all the literature.
The amount of literature you read and absorb in college is abnormally astounding. It is incredible you are even able to perform daily tasks with the amount of brain space you devoted to the last five novels assigned for class.
2. You bought all the literature.
Perhaps the cost of being an English major is not even remotely expensive as an Art major, but by your senior year you will have built a library in your bedroom. This is not all bad, because you have invested in ideas and concepts of literature rather than things that hang in your closet.
3. All your papers are due at once.
This will always happen until you graduate. Depending on how many English courses you are taking, it is entirely possible to have five papers due at once for your midterms and finals. There is no way to plan for this, you just have to suck it up and write.
Being an English major is extremely rewarding in that you will always be surrounded by intelligent and passionate people. Although it may be time consuming and swamp you with work at times, the benefits you get from ideas and debate will stay with you forever and shape your ideology.