Communication majors tend to get a lot of backlash for their field of study. They get the label of being an easy major; that they are going to school to get a degree that will take them nowhere in life. Now, every major has its challenges, but communication majors are definitely sick and tired of hearing these misconceptions of their major, or at least I am. Here are just some of the few delusions we hear on the daily:
1. “Oh, you’re a comm major? You don’t know how to talk?”
Yes, I know how to talk. Communication is much more than talking, I can promise you that. Communication majors analyze more than you think. For instance, communication majors will analyze message related behavior. With every person being a unique individual, you can't just assume everyone will react in the same manner to a message. In science and math classes, there can be an expectation on the outcome of an experiment or problem. That is not the case in communications. Messages have the power to make or break a company. If the message isn't conveyed clearly and the response is negative, a company can lose profit.
2. “What major did you have before comm?”
Believe it or not, this is not my fall back major. It so happens that I chose this major first. People really do seek this major as theirs when entering college. A communication major exemplifies a passion for creativity. I have a passion for writing, creating advertisements, planning events, and understanding human behavior. I enjoy being pushed out of my comfort zone and being challenged.
3. “Your focus is strategic communications? What strategy do you need for communication?”
You would be surprised with how much planning and strategy is used in communications. Strategic communication involves public relations, advertising, social media, and event planning. In order for an event to run smoothly for an event planner, there needs to be a game plan and contingency plan. There needs to be a strategy on what target market you are trying to reach and how to effectively reach them. Clearly, there are many elements to consider.
4. “So you just make ad campaigns? That must be easy.”
Actually it isn't. Creativity isn't just black and white. It's an endless spectrum. Some ideas come easily while others need some time in the shower to be generated. For some, the best thinking happens in the shower. (like me) Ad campaigns need to be aesthically pleasing and memorable. The mastery of skills in Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, and Illustrator are to be expected. Also, fonts are everything in advertising. Sometimes, fonts are very difficult to decide upon. One font can be the game changer for a consumer to remember that product or company.
5. “You just go on social media in your classes.”
No, I don't just sit on social media during my classes. I am learning how to strategically engage with my consumers. There is a time and a place for things. There is also a time for when users are more likely to be on social media. Having this knowledge, communication majors are capable of posting at the right time so that they are able to reach their target market. Also, having knowledge on what social media platform to use for each engagement post is critical.
6. “You probably never get homework.”
Oh, communication majors get homework all right. One word for you: READ. Communication majors are constantly reading their textbooks so at least they're are getting some of their money's worth out of their overpriced textbooks. I, for one, know that I am constantly assigned readings for homework. Some other assignments for communication majors include: analyzing writings, observing human behavior, creating advertisements, planning events, and more.
7. “You don’t have to study for exams because they are common sense.”
That's a negative ghost rider. Communication majors do indeed need to study. We can't just write a bullshit response essay and get away with it. Our professors will know if you understand the material or not. We also take terminology and theories and apply them to real-world scenarios. If we don't understand the theories or terminology, we're screwed.
8. “All you do is write essays.”
I will agree that I do write quite a bit of essays. However, those essays quickly turn into research papers that fall into a range of 22+ pages of work. I also have presentations and group projects just like any other major would have.
9. “Your group projects are way easier.”
Wrong. So wrong. Group projects can be just as bad as another major's group projects. I have found that some of my difficult moments of being in college were working cohesively in a group with members who were not as motivated as me. Having to cope with people who aren't pulling their weight can be challenging because it comes down to two options: Tell them they need to do their part or you're going to have to pick up their slack and do it yourself. At least then the project is completely finished. Yet, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone receive credit for work they had not accomplished.
10. “You can’t get a real job with that degree.”
Communications is a field that is so ambiguous that options for careers within the field are practically endless. One of the many things that I have learned as a communication major is that I wear multiple hats. I have knowledge in communication studies, strategic communication, and in the media. I have worked with numerous companies to gain experience in advertising, marketing and event planning. So I can't get a real job with that degree? Watch me. I will excel with my communication skills in that interview and land that killer job.
Bottom line: Every major has its perks and its struggles. Let's be mindful of the fact that we aren't experiencing what another major is experiencing. We don't have expertise in every area. Some of us are masterminds in science and math while others are masterminds in event planning and cultivating ad campaigns.
