English Undergraduate Handbook: Beyond the Classroom
The college experience doesn't end in the classroom. There are exciting ways to get involved on campus and start professionalizing.
Get Involved
Participating outside the classroom can help you develop professional experience, leadership skills and community connections while boosting your social and mental health as you connect with the people around you.
At East Texas A&M, opportunities include:
- Student organizations (including honor societies)
- Student government
- Fraternities and sororities
- Civic engagement
- Campus events (everything from games and concerts to film viewings and so much more!)
Career Preparation
Many people come to college with one thing in mind: preparing for a future career. You can begin work towards your career in a variety of ways during your time here, including:
- Meeting with Career Services
- Building a resume or portfolio
- Exploring internship opportunities
- Practicing interview skills
- Networking with professionals and alumni
Career Services is a great place to learn more about professionalizing while earning your degree.
Whichever path you choose, majoring in English challenges you to develop transferrable skills in communication, critical thinking and analysis.
Preparing for Graduate School
With a focus on research, writing and critical analysis, the skills you develop in English studies can help serve as a strong foundation for pursuing a graduate-level degree, such as:
- English MA/MS or Ph.D.
- MFA in Creative Writing
- Master of Library and Information Science
- Master of Journalism
- Law Degree
- Master of Business Administration
Graduate school preparation happens both inside and outside the classroom. Consider these ways to take an active role in your planning:
Strengthen your academic writing
- Take writing-intensive courses so you can develop the writing skills you need to succeed in graduate school.
Gain research experience
- Reach out to professors directly to see if you can join their research, or check for Undergraduate Research opportunities.
- Engage in events such as the Annual Research Symposium.
Reach out for faculty mentorship
- Many of our faculty love working one-on-one with students in mentoring roles, but faculty may not be aware of your interest until you ask. Mentors can help you find and prepare for opportunities and overcome difficulties.
Develop strong writing samples
- Most graduate program applications require a strong writing sample. If you develop an essay or other project that you think could be a good addition to your writing portfolio, consider working with the professor you wrote it for and/or with the Writing Center to refine it until it's ready to send with applications.
Plan your applications
- Applying to graduate school can feel like a full-time job. Budget enough time to fill out your applications well. You may also want to consider revising your application materials periodically, so make sure to get started early so you can get feedback from trusted mentors and the Writing Center. Also, if you need recommendation letters, make sure you ask for them well in advance so your letter writers can write good letters.