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HIGHER EDUCATION
General Advice for English Majors
Avoid these 6 traps to get the most out of pursuing your Bachelor’s degree in English.
Congratulations on deciding to become an English major. As we all know, that golden path is studded with diamonds and set on both sides with banquet tables overflowing with caviar, champagne, and whatever else fancy people eat.
You probably got into it because you love reading. Maybe you had a really great English teacher who passed on their love of the subject. Or you’re pursuing a romantic interest in an English major. Or you thought it was the easiest way to get your hands on that Bachelor’s degree after 6 years of chasing some other degree. Perhaps you feel a calling to teach, in which case you have my sympathies.
Whatever the case, we are really glad to have you for as long as you are with us. There are some traps you should try to avoid.
The Passion Trap
Maybe you got into English because you had a passion for it. You loved to read. You loved to write. Passion for your subject is essential, but passion alone cannot sustain you or guarantee your success. Studying English will drain some of your love for the subject, and you need to be prepared for that.