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Author | Topic: Major Counsel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Hello.
I have come, once again, asking EVC members for counsel on a very possible major choice: English. I enjoy reading and writing, look forward to honing my logic and critical thinking skills, very much enjoy some of the classics of literature, such as Crime and Punishment, The Great Gatsby, Walden and Civil Disobedience, and look forward to reading other greats and critically evaluating them. I also understand that English is broad, and literature is not the only focus. I see an education in English as intellectually stimulating, and as an important tool, a filter, if you will, that detects the plethora of useful, well-supported knowledge from the unsubstantiated rigmarole. Just a week ago I spoke with a guidance counselor regarding majors, and he claimed that the major, with the exception of those with very narrow and specific fields, such as accounting or engineering, is not very important; rather, the skills that the major manifests and refines are what catches the eyes of possible employers. In addition, he posited four other ideas he wanted me to accept: 1) the ability to write cogently and clearly is crucial, 2) public speaking or any oral communication is vital, 3) have your writing be seen by others, such as non-profit organizations or school newspapers, and, 4) obtain an internship, for this allows you a glimpse of the career-life you might have in your field. I write this with the hope that some EVC members majored in English, and what experiences they garnered while in college. Furthermore, I ask for the evaluation of my guidance counselor's counsel. Are his statements, more or less, accurate? Thanks in advance for any contributions you may have, assuming anybody responds.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
I ended up with a BA in English--switched from Chemistry. Where did you get your degree? Do you remember any of the specific courses you took to get your BA? Was there a focus, such as English or American literature? or is a BA more broad, and a masters and phd is where the field narrows?
Not much you can do with a BA in English; I ended up working in a sports shop. I enjoy school, and will likely go for my masters and possibly phd, if funds and other hindrances don't stop me.
But then I discovered the field I really liked, and that English degree came in handy. I cannot recall which is your field of expertise. I know you have mentioned it on previous threads.
The education in reading and writing, along with a huge amount of good literature, was invaluable. Yes, this is why I am likely chossing it. Do you remember, off-hand, which authors' works you read? Was it mostly fiction? Nonfiction?
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
I avoided American literature completely as my ideas didn't match those of the professors. Sorry to pry, but if I may ask, which ideas in particular? Was it simply disdain for Faulkner and Hemingway? And, yes, this helps. Thank you.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
My tastes in American literature ran to Steinbeck, Poe, Bierce and Lovecraft... I had never heard of Lovecraft. I only now, after reading a wikipedia article, possess a very basic understanding of this man. Thank you, kindly.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
if you are going to school for education, then go for it. if you are going for the greater chance of gainful employment, then i would advise against it. Well, I'm going to school to further my education, sharpen my critical thinking skills, and read from and analyze some of the greatest works from some of the most revered authors. The greater chance of gainful employment I see as an added benefit. Unfortunately, I don't believe my posts have conveyed this very well, and that's my fault, obviously.
I cannot totally empathize as my degree is a BS in History, but i would consider History about as useful as English as far as getting a job is concerned. Why, may I ask, did you choose history? Did you have a specific goal of becoming a history professor, becoming published, or was it simply a love of the subject? Which area of history did you specialize?
my favorite american writers: Robert E. Howard (Sword and Sorcery), Robert A. Heinlein (Science Fiction), Mark Twain (19th Century America), R.A. Salvatore (Fantasy), Wies & Hickman (Fantasy), Jean M. Auel (Historical Fiction), and Anne Rice (Gothic). Wow, I think the fact that I can only recognize two of the authors on your list (Twain and Rice) suggests, to me, just how much I want/should expand my horizons.
good luck in your choice. Thanks. And thank you for your reply.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Hi Rrhain,
Now, if you do plan to go into academia, then the specifics of your degree become more important. If academia means professorship, then probably not. I don't see myself as an authority on anything, and even assuming I get an advanced degree (masters, phd) I still don't see myself being able to teach. Obviously, I lack confidence, and, more than likely, intelligence.
Like most things in life, there are good and bad reasons to do it. What is it you want out of it? Hmm, I'm going to come clean here; I have tentatively chosen English, but my first love, my first choice was anthropology. I took a community college course and simply fell in love with the subject. I find people intriguing. The study of human origins, social and cultural civilizations, linguistics, and archaeology are fascinating, but I just don't see it panning out into a career. My initial calling was a degree in anthropology, and to work for a human rights organization, or possibly the U.N. But I know that competition will be fierce, and fear that if between me and someone else with a similar degree, I will likely not be chosen, for finances are a hindrance that I will struggle greatly with,(I'm planning on working full-time and going to school, full or part, I'm not sure) and an ivy league contender will very likely win a bout against me. Archaeology also seems very provocative. I researched the degree a bit last night and many, if not all, of the required courses from a few universities seem right up my alley of interests. I love history, working outdoors, being transported to a different age, learning of ancient civilizations and juxtaposing them to the present ones, and analzying whether we can learn, not just about our ancestors, but from them, as well. But, again, this Ivy league vs. state college has me a bit dispirited. I see myself waxing archaeological exhibits in a museum, and would much rather partake in digs (If I have offended you coyote, my apologies).
Is the program you are going to go into provide what you want? Answer those questions, and you'll know where to go. It's difficult to put into words, but I want to better understand this world that we inhabit, this universe we exist in, and the people that have risen to dominance. To do this, I want to be equipped with a sharp mind, a tool saturated with knowledge, and a keen allegience to critical thinking. English is one of these majors, but so is anthropology...I have some more research to do on a major choice, and a great deal more introspection... Thank you, Rrhain. AbE: My apologies for the tirade. Edited by BMG, : No reason given.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
College is four years (at least). It is the rare person who makes it through those four years wanting the same thing out of life that he did when he started. Yes, I've read and heard repeatedly that the majority of students change their majors, some more than once.
Make your plans, have optimism, but don't be surprised (or even disappointed) when they change. Good point. The only disappointment I may have if change happens is the cost involved in having to enroll in more classes, assuming some, if not most, won't transfer. I enjoy learning and the entire classroom experience, but I'm indignant of the exorbitant costs to attain these wants. Much obliged.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Research the subspecialty within archaeology called Cultural Resources Management. Yes, I have briefly researched this just now, and it looks as if you were right: no waxing necessary.
As a CRN specialist you do the management work required by the environmental regulations, and can either be in private practice or work for a government agency. This can be a likely path to pursue. It's a fairly new field of education, and can also pan out into a satisfying and enjoyable career. It seems right up my alley. I'll continue to look into this. Thanks again for your time.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Well, I still haven't completed my major yet, so I am certainly not the authority on the subject. If I may ask, what major? Why did you choose this specific one? What lead to your decision? Who or what influenced you, if anyone/thing did?
The point is that college doesn't mean what it once meant. Employers are expecting more because there is nothing separating you from the thousand other applicants it received that year. I fear this. Competition is fierce, and coupled with a struggling economy, the scope of accepted applicants will, or has already, as you have mentioned, become constricted.
While employers still like degrees, especially advanced degrees, they like to see experience coupled with it. This is where the internship comes into play, I believe. If I were to major in English, I don't see, currently, which field of employment I would pursue an internship. An English internship seems broad and undemanding, to me, which has its pros and cons. An archeology internship, however, seems specific. I have a fairly good idea of what type of internship I would chase, and a possible career, as well. It's lucid and precise, whereas English is the antithesis. More to brood over, I suppose. Thanks for your time, NJ. Edited by BMG, : No reason given.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
This is a large part of what I do for a living, so if you have questions feel free to ask. Yes, I have some questions to ask you. Thanks for the offer. 1) If CRM is a large part of what you do, is the small part also related to archaeology in some fashion? 2) I read an article recently that Walmart, after great debate and protest, built a store on a Hawaiian(?) sacred, burial ground. Do you presume CRM's were there investigating, and possibly protesting, with the Hawaiian's? 3) Why did you choose archaeology? Was it an epiphany or gradual, and by degrees? Were you following in one of your family members' footsteps? Did an erudite professor inspire you to elect archaeology? 4) When you chose your major, did you consider strongly the job prospects and internship capabilities? Did you know what specific field you wanted to pursue, or did you choose your major and leave the internship and career option open for later inspection? I searched this database here and this quieted me a bit about choosing anthropology or archaeology. The job market seems slim. And, lastly... 5) What is a "typical day" like, if typical even exists, in the shoes of a professional CRM? I imagine it's very loose and unpredictable. Thanks again. Edited by BMG, : No reason given.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Hi, Brian,
There has been so many vast improvements in non-intrusive techniques that in the vast majority of cases archaeologists do not have to dig at all. Would you be able to expound on this? The picture that comes to my mind, which is probably off, is the first 15 minutes of Jurassic Park, in which several paleontologists were surrounding a machine that fired a cartridge into the ground. After, they rushed to the monitor to see the picture it would produce. Am I anywhere in the vicinity? This, of course, was roughly 15 years ago, though, and, a movie, to boot.
What you have to remember is that excavation can be a very expensive business because not only does the dig itself have to be financed, the artefects recovered have to be stored as well, and in some cases, especially marine archaeology, it can be very expensive to store recovered artefacts. This is where I see English and an ability to write/speak persuasively come in handy. Funds seem hard to come by....if only scientific endeavors had the financing the mega churches had....
Archaeology is still amazing though, sifting through the huge amount of artefacts and information we already have and coming up with new hypotheses is very fulfilling. Yes, this is one of the reasons I like archaeology. It seems, like several fields of science, consistently at the forefront of new and sometimes paradigm-shifting discoveries. Thank you for the insight. Edited by BMG, : No reason given.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
CRM, as I do it, is archaeology. We do field survey and reports. If there is a resource we try to get it protected. If it can't be avoided we do an evaluation (test excavation) possibly followed by mitigation (data recovery excavation). All of this is followed by laboratory analysis, research and reports. Who, may I ask, funds your projects? Is the majority privately or publicly funded? What are the pros and cons of each? Which do you prefer?
I got to go on an amateur excavation, and was hooked. What were you excavating?
No, I didn't discover archaeology until after I had a BA in English. Assuming you had an internship, did you support and aid an archaeology professor?
I wouldn't recommend it as a way to make a lot of money. But if you really like it that's reward enough. Well, income isn't too high on my agenda, but finding employment is very high. I would dislike having an advanced degree without an employer.
A few times a year we might do a short excavation, and maybe once a year a major excavation. You mind sharing any discoveries you and your team have made?
For more information look up the Register of Professional Archaeologists and see if there are any in your neighborhood you can call up and talk to. Thank you. I will do this.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
Health care is doing very well these days. An RN makes really good money now or days. Yes, I have heard the same. RN's are doing very well for themselves, but, unfortunately for me, I prefer a job that interests me more than a job that pays well. And, no, I don't mean "the hell with people who need health care", rather, "the U.S. for profit-health care system is not an industry I want to partake".
An English major is almost certainly a dead end, though. You can teach public school and make 25k a year. You might be able to write for a magazine or newspaper,... Possibly, but, depending on the electives I take and what particular field of English I pursue, I may also intern for a civil rights organization, an animal sanctuary, an environmental awareness group, etc. These are the groups I would like to intern for if I were to run with English...
Archaeology would be a fantastic choice, but, yes, that is one of those careers where your major and internship will almost certainly segue you in to the field. They don't make oodles of money, but if it is doable, and is personally fulfilling, I think it would make for a fantastic career choice. Yes, I agree. It is incredibly provocative and intellectually stimulating for me. I am not too concerned about income. I would rather make beans doing something I love than make millions doing something I dread, but if I can find a field that pays at least 40k/year, and do something I enjoy, then I've likely found a winner.
At least you're brooding. Some people wouldn't give it much serious thought. The fact that you are taking it seriously is a good sign in respect to your work ethic and motivation, which is an A++ for a prospective employer. Keep up the good work. Thank you, but I find that I often flirt far too often with the line separating brooding with procrastination.
No worries, and best of luck in your endeavors. Thank you.
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BMG Member (Idle past 240 days) Posts: 357 From: Southwestern U.S. Joined: |
You may be a perfectionist, which sounds counterintuitive. Perfectionists are so consummed by the prospect of achieving perfection that sometimes the thought of failure prohibits them from trying. Alas, it's a vicious cycle. Unfortunately, yes, I think that's me. Thanks again to everyone that posted, and my apologies to Coyote; you gave an inch and I took a mile, and completely missed the hint. I feel I owe everyone a round of beers.
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