SHOULD YOU STUDY CREATIVE WRITING? || an honest chat about the pros & cons of the major

If you're considering a degree in creative writing, and you're wondering whether or not it's worth it, I wanted to shed some light on some of the best - and worst - aspects of the major. Hopefully this will help inspire (and not deter) you from doing it!!
timestamps ☀️
0:00 introduction
0:30 my background + courses
1:13 why I chose creative writing
1:48 requirements for the major
2:15 does creative writing have a bad reputation?
4:13 is creative writing actually easy?
5:42 should you double-major?
6:17 a day in the life of a creative writing major
8:20 do creative writing classes prep you for a career?
9:05 which internships can a creative writing major do?
9:50 does creative writing provide job security?
10:44 can creative writing get you a high salary?
11:06 the worst aspects of studying creative writing
12:31 the best aspects of studying creative writing
13:40 my regrets
14:19 advice for prospective students
14:37 is creative writing worth it?
about me 🌷
I’m Makayla! I’m twenty-one years old and a fourth year at the University of Chicago. I’m studying Creative Writing for my major and Astronomy and Astrophysics for my minor, and I also like to read and cook in my free time. I grew up in Maine and studying has always been one of my favorite pastimes, so that’s why you’ll find a whole bunch of college vlogs, study motivation, book recommendations, and academic tips on my channel. You’re in good company if you’re into these things, so subscribe for more productivity content!
say hi to me 🥑
Instagram: makayla_mac...
Goodreads: / makaylamacgregor
Email: [e-mail]
sub count 📚
6.87K
music used 🍄
Music by Sonic Nothing - Blush - thmatc.co/?l=BD16E301

[@itssimple-gb4vm]

This was SO HELPFULL. Thank you so much for this!❤

[@roxannehays]

This is super helpful and informing!! You're really well-spoken :)

[@ronaldgorny1531]

I second your opinion on the thesis. It's more than just WRITING a thesis. Its writing a thesis under the guidance and mentorship of a faculty member who is an expert and deeply interested in your research, which tends to build a strong long-term bond that holds the promise of a mutually beneficial collaboration throughout your career, as well as that of your mentor/thesis supervisor. All this to say that writing the thesis should not be viewed as just a short term fix one has to undertake in order to graduate, but as an exercise that deepens your own knowledge and appreciation of the topic while initiating a long-term academic relationship with the faculty mentor/supervisor that carries with it the capacity for productive engagement for years to come. If it was up to me, I'd make sure every student had the privilege and opportunity to engage in such a unique and powerful academic experience.

[@karinamak7368]

WOOO SHES GOING TO LAW SCHOOL 🥳🥳🥳

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

YOURE SO SUPPORTIVE ILY

[@ejfeg779]

The whole explanations in the video were very very practical and helpful. I enjoyed watching your video til the end and I could find Creative Writing major is quite different from other ones and the reputation of it and the skills that I can get depends on the colleagues I meet and my own writing skills. Such an interesting major, which seems like a perfect intellectual journey, unlike banal theoretical majors. But still I have some questions. Can you answer some of them, if you have enough time? I'm an English teacher who majored in English Education in Korea and is thinking about getting MA in Creative Writing in USA few years later. I want to hone my English to a native level to be a more professional teacher and a future writer. I'm 29 and I'm a male. There are two options that I'm thinking about after graduating from a graduate school there. 1. Coming back to Korea and continuing the career of a teacher and being a bilingual writer. 2. Trying to be a magazine journalist for introducing Korean cultures or dealing with issues in Korea in magazines in USA. Here are some questions and I will be so so thankful if you can answer some of them! 1. As an international student, do I need to master English "in advance (nobody will give feedback for grammar or wrong word choices)", or can I do it "through the courses" 2. Can an international student seek for the opportunity to get a job as a writer after the graduation? Or do I need to expect to come back to my country after that? 3. I think you meant to describe courses in creative writings are quite "spontaneous" comparing to other ones because "feedback' and "examples of good writing" are the major topics for most of seminars and workshop. Did I understand it correctly? 4. Are there many "theoretical exams" like other majors as well? Or only few? I just want to get much more feedback for "My writing" not compressed tips or theoretical knowledge for writings. 5. Do professors proactively give feedback and connect students to publishers/magazines etc or does it depend on each individual's own effort?

[@lw-gc3kd]

I live in a country where Uni is affordable, but sadly we don‘t have Creative Writing as a major, just one course! And it‘s reserved for the English Master students 😢 I am just writing for me and my friends and this works too

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

Ahh that's frustrating! That's awesome to hear you're still writing despite that (and I hope that they decide to make a CW major soon)!!

[@alexalisa590]

Hi, loved this video! Just wondering, is there a big overlap between the Creative Writing and English majors? What's the biggest difference between the two in your experience?

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

They do have a lot of overlap since both require a lot of literature courses (at least at my school). The major difference though is that the English major will be a much deeper drive into published works - it tends to have a lot of breadth, too, requiring courses in different genres, time periods, and writing styles. There's also going to be a lot more writing about books with the English major, and less opportunities to produce fiction! I'd say that the bottom line is that CW is more about the writing and craft, and English is more about the reading and literary impact :) hope this helps!