Imagine this, you've spent your entire time at college stressing that you're never going to get the grades to get into university. Then results day comes around and by some miracle - you got in! You end up at a Russell Group university and feeling incredibly proud of yourself, you can only imagine how amazing its going to feel being surrounded by people who are as much in love with education as you are.
Then reality happens.
What I've found from being at university is that everything is a competition. You are surround by people with inflated egos, desperate to be the best in everything. Before I came to university, I thought that English was a well respected degree, as a core subject that can lead off into so many different career paths. As it turns out, the so labelled 'art degree' is frowned upon by those studying STEM subjects who believe that they're degree is on more value than yours.
Therefore, I have composed a list (because we know I am a massive fan of those) of situations I have faced as a result of being an English undergraduate.
1) HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?
Just because I am an English student doesn't mean I know the spelling of every single word under the sun. Should I not know the spelling, I am greeted by phrases such as 'but you're an English student' 'how do you not know that?' 'what do you spend all time doing in class?' It really helps build confidence in your intelligence.
2) SHOULDN'T YOU BE READING?
Not only do people say this to me if I do any other activity without having a book in my hands, but it is constantly on an English students mind. If you have nothing to do, you probably should be reading. Having to get through a book, a play and a poem a week, the reading never ends. Oh and then there's the secondary reading which if people have time to do, they have mastered life better than I.
3) WHAT'S THE POINT OF DOING A MASTERS?
The most insulting thing that has ever been said to me so far by a housemate. Everyone was discussing the excitement of their masters and as soon as I announced I was considering it, I was greeting with disapproving looks and asked why I would waste more money. Brilliant.
4) ARE YOU EVEN EVER IN UNI?
A sense of entitlement comes to those who have higher contact hours. English has one of the lowest, this semester I have a total of 9 contact hours a week. That being said, as previously mentioned with all the reading I have to do, that time is valuable. Those doing 9-5 may think their degree is harder, but ask them to analyse a Shakespearian sonnet, or even understand it and they will look at you dumbfounded.
5) SO LIKE... WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR A CAREER?
"You are going to be an English teacher right?" It makes sense why we should get pounded with this question the most. A lot of people choose degrees that lead into a specific career. So it is understandable as to why an engineer would question exactly what you're doing with your life when it isn't all set out before you. I see this as an advantage, I can take my degree wherever I choose for it to go. People usually get half way through their degree before realising... hey I actually hate this. Luckily for us English students, we all pretty much are in love with it.
English love xoxo
