navybluewool

Hello, all, Forgive me for the likely numerous crimes against etiquette I'm committing—I'm new here!—but I thought you folks seemed awfully keen and was hopeful you may lend me some advice. I've been trying to decide on a PhD program which may be the right fit for me. But it's hard deciding. I've been given advice that the toppiest of top programs is where it's at and anything else is an utter waste of time; I've also been told to find my "fit." Because my degree was in the humanities, because I have little time to prepare for the GRE(s), and because I don't have a strong second language, I feel I am going to have trouble getting accepted in any of the top universities. What I do have is an MFA, a few publications (poetry), in-field job experience (bookstores and editing), and a whole lotta ambition. I want to get the absolute most out of a PhD program and continue towards becoming one of those uber-generalists like Joseph Campbell or Ezra Pound who didn't do things traditionally but had some success and learned oodles and oodles on the way. And I want to go through a PhD program with the mindset of learning as much as I can and improving my writing craft, publishing connections, and knowledge. So, I'm at your mercy: how do I decide where will be the "right fit" for me? And as I describe my aims, do any universities you know of leap to mind? Should I focus on Literature or should I focus entirely on a creative writing PhD? Is it alright to choose a college which may not be so highly ranked, but would offer the student chances to diversify their study widely and pursue their own vision?—and if so, which colleges are these? I have found it difficult to tell on my jaunts through website after website. Thank you for any and all help with my endless questions. I really appreciate it.