<p>I don’t necessarily agree with the advice OP’s dad gives. However, I see where that advice comes from. OP is an English major that has no marketable work experience nor skills. In today’s economy, well, that’s not looking so rosy for OP’s future.</p>
<p>I have some friends who are on food stamps, after graduating with humanities degrees from college, 3 years ago. These guys are intelligent, hard working, competent, young people who are supposed to be ‘full of potential’. Heck, I know one guy from my school who ended up taking a job driving trucks, after getting a BA in biology.</p>
<p>I know people nowadays are being more aware of potential downside of a law degree, but a law degree may work out very well for some. It totally depends on someone’s opportunity cost of pursuing law school, other careers that may be available, which law schools you get into, scholarship amounts you get, etc. </p>
<p>But, back to OP: neither a PhD in humanities nor a JD, if you don’t have any interest in law, looks to be the most promising choice. So, pick your poison. If I were you, I would do anything in my power to take advantage of UPenn’s campus recruiting and try to line up a decent entry level corporate job. Take a look at consulting, I-banking, corporate finance, etc.</p>