What did you study and do you regret it?

[Namechange8471]

So I am enrolled to study English Literature at University this September, it’s something I am very excited about!

However I have been met with negative comments such as ‘it’s a waste of time’ ‘too expensive’ and ‘you’ll have to become a teacher’

It’s led me to doubt myself, should I study something else? business management? Human Resources?

Truth be told English is the one subject I am passionate about, and I was really looking forward to it, now I’m doubting myself!

For context I am 30, worked in care for most of my life (hated it) and needed a massive change.

So please tell me:

What is your degree?
What do you do now?
Do you regret it?

Thank you 😊

a) English is a degree with high employability statistics and lots of transferrable skills. A study showed recently(against the expected findings) that English and hums graduates were , on average, higher paid than most science graduates after a few years
b) many go into teaching , not all by any means! English grads who go into teaching ted to actively want to be teachers
c) there's nothing wrong with teaching! It's a proper job and everything
d) even with fees etc , I still believe most degrees aren't vocational and most people pursue what they love
e) do a degree because of your love of the subject. You are likely to enjoy it more and, therefore , do better.
f) there are huge numbers of careers that ex English graduates pursue.

Hope that helps!

By getting any degree you improve pay prospects and life chances.

g) Ignore the silly people!

What are you planning to do with it after? That's the important part!

Both DP and I did degrees. Him law and psychology/criminology for me. Neither of us do anything related but it shows a level of learning that a lot don't have.

You should be really proud of yourself taking this step now. Not many people do and it's a great achievement! Naysayers are probably thinking more about their life than yours and negative comments are to make themselves feel better.

My only regret is that I did something I was interested in but didn't have a plan to turn it into a career. If you have that then you're fine.

I used to have an OU t-shirt that said ‘Education made me what I am today’. For me, it was entirely true. If you love English then study It. My DC both read Geography at university. One worked in the Civil Service and then became a teacher, while the other works as Head of Communications and Marketing for a charity. You may decide to teach or not. Enjoy your studies and the world will open up to you. Good luck!

I studied a language and became a teacher. No regrets as I loved the language but never actually taught it!

I studied economics, and don't regret it for a minute. Economics is fascinating and my degree opened doors to a very varied career. I cannot imagine not knowing the things I learnt at University.

I studied Theatre Design and now I'm a copywriter in an ad agency

English Literature is a great degree! Do what you're passionate in - it might lead you where you think, it might take you somewhere else!!!

I studied history and think it gave me the thinking skills I have today. That said, it was the wrong course for me. It was the early 80s and I was funnelled into my best A level subject. I should have thought outside the box. I rather wish I'd done Art History instead. But my school had never heard of it!

And DS has recently graduated in English Lit. And managed to get jobs. So go for it!

I wish I had studied English Lit! I studied modern languages and wouldn't actually recommend it now as I think it is far easier to learn a language on your own than it used to be (although if everyone did that I would be out of a job!)

Psychology should be given more credit. I did one meagre module in statistics and research methods and it made me want to weep. A friend has just changed degree subject after just one year of statistics/research methods.

Also, I would add that anyone who does an HR degree will find themselves competing for jobs with a load of people with business, history, English, economics etc degrees. The HR people might have the edge with some work placement type stuff, but the door certainly isn't closed to other graduates.

And what happens to those folk who do HR or business management degrees and then decide they don't want to work in those sectors? How transferable are their skills? I expect many oft them might end up in teaching, too, and those will probably be people who definitely didn't aim that way.

Do a subject you are passionate in and will enjoy learning g about for 3 or 4 years. A degree level of education demonstrates an ability to learn at a higher level. There are plenty of career options open to you.

I'm now an HR director, but graduated 20 years ago in an unrelated subject. After graduating I did a graduate work placement with a big company and spent 15 years working in various management roles, working my way up the ladder. 5 years ago I decided to specialise in HR and did a master degree. Due to my undergraduate degree and work experience I transferred easily into HR.

At your stage, it's more about learning and demonstrating you are an intelligent and capable individual. You'll have your degree for life and future employers will see you have a certain ability and will be able to positivity contribute to their company.

Alternatively, if you know what you want to do for a career you could start now and get a few years head start against others. The drawback here is if you change your mind about your career in a few years you'll be back at square one.

I loved university and would highly recommend it, but just the education but the social side and independence.

Sorry for typos!!!

I did a maths degree when it was free to go to university. I loved maths and, rather sadly, still do. I was one of very few women on the course but that made me very determined to succeed. It led to a finance job in the City where once again there were few women but the firms were actively recruiting women to even out their graduate intakes so I was highly in demand. I didn’t do maths to be employable, but more because I was good at it and I loved it.

I did classics at Royal Holloway and got a job in book publishing about 3 weeks after graduating. Now I wish I'd done Psychology as Im planning to retrain as a psychotherapist and a Psychology degree would open up the world of clinical Psychology BUT I loved Classics with a passion, it got me in the door to Publishing, and I'd say it's of the same ilk as English Literature- a great, solid arts degree which is well respected in the work place.
Don't listen to the nay sayers!

Have known a recent English Lit graduate who was working in digital marketing, so not true to say you're limited to teaching.

Economics with major in macro and micro economics and quantitative methods, arts with major in cultural criticism type stuff
Then an MA after

Yes I’d do the same, it’s common to do two degrees together in Aus for five years not three. Really good grounding, interesting, mix of maths and arts.

Only thing was deciding which path to go down afterwards. My friends and I felt equally compelled by both sides.

I studied English lit with education. I started off doing French and swapped.

Swapping to English is the best decision I ever made - I hated teaching and being able to write well set me up for a job in comms nicely.

Do what you love, it's not going to give you a defined career path (unless you do it with teaching) but it has got me far.

Id add, my degree is from a pretty shit uni and its never held me back. I have no regrets.

(There's a whole other load of life stuff in there, but after I swapped I ended up losing a lot of my hearing so if i had stuck with french I'd be fucked)

1. BSc Mental health nursing
2. currently Deputy ward manager
3. No I do not regret it, I don't see myself doing a different career.
4. Currently studying MSc Advanced clinical practice.

Oh and I work in the charity sector - I've done everything from services to fundraising. Having a degree has been a minimum requirement in everything I've done. I went back an did a PG cert in Dementia this year to broaden my skillset- your first degree doesn't need to define what yoh do.

I read Law to please my parents and continue to work indirectly in the legal field. I should have read my favourite subject, Chemistry, though. I still fantasise about it 30 years on!

1. Degree in nursing
2. Worked in the NHS for 11 years and now work for the DWP doing medical assessments
3. I don't regret it but I regret staying in the NHS for so long and allowing myself to get to a point where I was burnt out emotionally and physically.

I have an English Lit degree - I loved it, it was my passion, I’ve never regretted it and I’ve had a fantastic career in media and film.

Having that degree OP will mean that you can apply to so many different careers or jobs, it’s not limiting at all.