[Beginnings of Researching Schools]

I am just beginning the research different programs and different schools and am not sure where to begin. I am looking for programs centered around Middle Eastern culture/language/society. I want to learn everything I can about that culture because it is something our education system does not focus on and therefore extremely intriguing. I am looking for some help to narrow down programs that are good. Any help would be appreciated (i.e. sites with rankings, experience, etc.)

[Advice for Future Applicants]

where is a good place to find outside funding, like the two you mentioned?

If I may add my two cents from applying this year I would also suggest a couple things:

Contact professors you are interested in working with even if you are afraid that they won't respond or are too busy. Why? Sometimes they can let you know important information e.g. we are not accepting any students in ____ subfield

Get ideally four to five professors to commit to writting letters of rec. You do not want to be rejected simply because a professor was too busy or bailed out on you last minute. It also helps to alternate recommenders, if only 3 letters of rec. are allowed, or use all four recommenders.

Do not simply apply to all the top programs in your field. Make sure to include mid-level programs (4 ideal; 3 realistic; 3 "safety") I put safety in quotation marks because realistically there is no such thing as a safety school. Graduate school is really competitive and continues being as such when applying for fellowships and eventually the professorial job market.

I also agree with TransnatinalHistory that one should apply everywhere without regard to questions of funding. UCLA is noctorious for admitting graduate students without funding but every year funding changes. Also there are fellowships that one can receive competitively from the graduate college.

Apply for your own funding! Just to name a few: Ford Pre-Doctoral Fellowships, Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, there are also others. Note these programs have deadlines before graduate school application deadlines, ask for letters of support early. While winning these fellowships does not guarantee one a spot in a graduate program; own funding can be an incentive for a program to admit you. If the program is allowed since some schools do have a cap on number of admits. Funding makes you that much more attractive.