[2020 Applicants]

On 9/13/2019 at 6:06 PM, HenryJams said:

I'm applying this cycle too, so I can't speak personally to any particular programs.  However, I've done a good bit of research on schools in the "top tier" and find that the following have a good number of faculty members specializing in Victorian lit: Brown, Rutgers, Berkeley, Cornell, UCLA, Princeton, CUNY, Columbia, and Chicago.  

You might be interested in Professor Anderson's scholarship at Brown.  One of her works is called "Tainted Souls and Painted Faces:  The Rhetoric of Fallenness in Victorian Culture."  Might fit in with your research interests.  Professor Luciano at Rutgers also produces scholarship on Victorian lit along with queer theory and environmental humanities, which might fit your interest in women and ecocriticism (somewhat).

As far as telling whether a program is a good fit, I'd recommend taking one (or both) of two approaches.  

The first is to read the bios/CVs of faculty members at all the schools that seem like places offering good funding in places where you might want to live.  I made a list of professors whose research interests fit mine at schools I saw myself being happy to attend (and which provide funding), and that made my decision easier as far as figuring out where I would send my applications.  

The second approach is to read journal articles that match your interests, and find out whether those articles' authors are working currently.  You may find (as I did) that the author of an article that really impressed you is a faculty member of a program you had previously overlooked.

Take my advice with sever grains of salt.  Like I said, I'm applying this cycle too.  But hopefully the schools I listed above will at least save you some work.

Thank you very much for your reply! I'm so glad I found this forum; it's such a relief to actually talk to people going through the application process. Thanks for sharing your experience! I was eyeballing UCLA, UCD, UW, and UT Austin, among others. I find I'm intimidated by the "big names" and I have something of an aversion to them.

I'll definitely be looking into Anderson, thank you. I'm very interested in the fallen woman, especially in anything that goes to bat with the traditional Victorian sexual mores. I appreciate your recommendations! It's been a little bit interesting trying to find a program that can satisfy my research topics, but it's certainly not impossible. My spreadsheet on programs just keeps getting longer.

Re: the "good fit" - Yes, I've been compiling lists on professors with whom I'd like to work and trying to read their research. It hasn't occurred to me to go the other way, but that helps a lot! There's a lot of awesome criticism that still sticks in my mind. Thank you!

Good luck to you this cycle! 

[2020 Applicants]

Hello! I'm new to this thread and this site  - I hope it's okay to post here.

I just graduated with my BA in English lit and I'm trying to apply this year for PhD programs in the same subject. I'm really, really nervous. I started a bit late, so it feels overwhelming to get everything together before looming deadlines. I'm working on my WS and studying for the GRE (a nightmare), but I'm worried I'm not a good enough candidate for doctoral programs. I'm primarily interested in Victorian literature and culture - particularly the novel, women, morality, and ecocriticism. I switched interests pretty late in my undergrad career and I've not been published. How can I work towards becoming a better applicant? To any other Victorianists out there, do you have any program recommendations? I have a tentative list going, but I'm also having trouble telling whether a program is a good fit.

It's pretty daunting reading advice online, so I guess I'm also just looking for reassurance that I'm not crazy to apply.

Thank you everyone for your time!