I want to be a writer. I'm not much of a writer, so I want to major in it. Would graduating with a BA in English be completely useless jobwise? What about creative writing? Screenwriting? All of these interest me yet absolutely nothing else does. I don't want a cubicle job in 10 years. In fact, I'd probably hang myself if I had one then.

It opens doors. Any sort of degree is a useful degree.

It's not a useless degree, it demonstrates that you know how to communicate.

However, it isn't an instant job-entry path. You won't have the same instant entry job opportunities as someone with a math or science degree.

Regardless, if you have a passion for it, go for it. You don't know what you might want to do in 10 years, but at least the entry into an English program will give you a starting point.

well it could set you up for a number of things. law school. teaching. working in journalism/broadcasting. many graduate school programs, like something in education administration. these may not be things you want to do, but having the option to do them might be nice someday. ultimately, pursue your passion if writing is what you want to do. if you are successful, your college degree won't matter.

that being said, i would personally pick english over the other ones because it is broad enough to apply to more job opportunities.

Euda's right: it's not "useless," but it doesn't naturally open a path for you the way a major in Electrical Engineering or Business does. It will, however, give you an excellent background in a lot of things, and the ability to speak and write well; this last part is especially important. I did my undergraduate in philosophy, took a year off before graduate school, and was able to get plenty of job offers simply because I write and speak very well. People are impressed with good communication skills, and a major in English will definitely give you those.


Entheogenic

If you do well in it any 'core' subject at degree level is good to have, I was gonna do an English Lit degree because I happen to be very good at writing but for the same reasons you're talking about I decided against it. English is not usually a degree that opens up paths into high earning jobs. However, if you enjoy writing, and think that you would like to read up to six different books a term and evaluate text over...and over...and over for three years go for it. At the end of the day you can do a lot worse that doing a job that you love.