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The decline in English majors precedes an overall decline in college attendance, I hope. Regarding STEM long term prospects, well, a lot of graduates there sim
by SamReidHughes 7y ago
The decline in English majors precedes an overall decline in college attendance, I hope. Regarding STEM long term prospects, well, a lot of graduates there simply aren’t very good. Rigorizing standards would lower the STEM unemployment rate. But every school’s got to make a buck.
Maybe instead of English majors, these kids could spend a stint in the military. Or join an orchestra. Or work in sales at a car dealership. Something that involves developing a skill and exercising discipline.
- vastoi 7y agoTo imply that the pursuit and achievement of an English undergraduate degree confers absolutely zero benefit or skill (or that everything even needs to be a “skill”, but that’s another conversation) is inaccurate at best. The ability to parse complex written information/documentation and distill value from it as well as to clarify your own thoughts in writing and communication is absolutely valuable and enriching for an individual. Though I could very well be wrong and it is an absolutely useless degree, after all, I majored in philosophy ;)
- SamReidHughes 7y agoYou can train people in reading and good writing far more efficiently than an English degree. Edit: And I'd value students who take their study more seriously a lot more, but most are just third-rate students at third-rate schools getting a piece of paper.