screamingacrossthesky

I agree that funding is a very important factor, but I think that MA programs also gain "prestige" through their PhD program placement.  It is worth asking schools for that information if it is not available on their website (only, of course, if you are thinking about going onto a PhD, otherwise it might be worth asking what fields/positions that their MAs have entered post-graduation, if they know).  
Usually people are using the nomenclature "unranked" casually to refer to an MA at a school either without a PhD program or with one that is not ranked in the top-whatever number of USN&WR schools.  Some schools, like Georgetown, do not have a PhD program and therefore their MAs may (arguably) receive more attention from the faculty, another "prestige" factor.  If you are not hoping/planning to go onto a PhD program, however, then an MA from a big name school with a top ranked PhD program might be more helpful in whatever field you are thinking about entering than a funded MA from an "unranked" school (even if those MA programs have a mixed reputation within the academy).  
However, of course, just like for PhDs, it is also important to consider the professors in your field, both as potential advisors/mentors (will they help you to do your best work?) and, if you are going on, as recommenders (how much weight will their recommendation carry when/if you apply to PhD programs?).  A school with a prestigious reputation (either as an MA or PhD program) might not be the best fit with your interests/goals.  
Figuring out what you want from your MA program might help you to prioritize these factors (and others!) and figure out a list of the best schools for you.

I agree that funding is a very important factor, but I think that MA programs also gain "prestige" through their PhD program placement.  It is worth asking schools for that information if it is not available on their website (only, of course, if you are thinking about going onto a PhD, otherwise it might be worth asking what fields/positions that their MAs have entered post-graduation, if they know).  
Usually people are using the nomenclature "unranked" casually to refer to an MA at a school either without a PhD program or with one that is not ranked in the top-whatever number of USN&WR schools.  Some schools, like Georgetown, do not have a PhD program and therefore their MAs may (arguably) receive more attention from the faculty, another "prestige" factor.  If you are not hoping/planning to go onto a PhD program, however, then an MA from a big name school with a top ranked PhD program might be more helpful in whatever field you are thinking about entering than a funded MA from an "unranked" school (even if those MA programs have a mixed reputation within the academy).  
However, of course, just like for PhDs, it is also important to consider the professors in your field, both as potential advisors/mentors (will they help you to do your best work?) and, if you are going on, as recommenders (how much weight will their recommendation carry when/if you apply to PhD programs?).  A school with a prestigious reputation (either as an MA or PhD program) might not be the best fit with your interests/goals.  
Figuring out what you want from your MA program might help you to prioritize these factors (and others!) and figure out a list of the best schools for you.

Whether or not you decide not to retake the subject test, it might be worth thinking about retaking the GRE general (if you have the time and the money).  An 80th percentile on the verbal section is, I think, rather low for applying for English PhDs, and (unlike the subject test) I have heard that some schools use the verbal score as a way to make the first cut of applicants.

Whether or not you decide not to retake the subject test, it might be worth thinking about retaking the GRE general (if you have the time and the money).  An 80th percentile on the verbal section is, I think, rather low for applying for English PhDs, and (unlike the subject test) I have heard that some schools use the verbal score as a way to make the first cut of applicants.

Whether or not you decide not to retake the subject test, it might be worth thinking about retaking the GRE general (if you have the time and the money).  An 80th percentile on the verbal section is, I think, rather low for applying for English PhDs, and (unlike the subject test) I have heard that some schools use the verbal score as a way to make the first cut of applicants.

Whether or not you decide not to retake the subject test, it might be worth thinking about retaking the GRE general (if you have the time and the money).  An 80th percentile on the verbal section is, I think, rather low for applying for English PhDs, and (unlike the subject test) I have heard that some schools use the verbal score as a way to make the first cut of applicants.

As an additional thought, I have heard that it can prove more challenging for international students to be accepted at public US universities because they are ineligible to qualify for in-state tuition and are therefore more "expensive" for the department.  I have no hard facts to back this up (and maybe some of the folks at those schools could speak to whether or not this is true), but it is something that I have heard before, so I just thought I would mention it.  I know that there are, of course, international students at these schools, so this is not to discourage you, but as you are compiling your school list, it might also be worthwhile to include a number private schools where this would not be a factor.

American Literary History, American Literature, boundary 2, Contemporary Literature, Critical Inquiry, Criticism, Critique, JML, MFS, Narrative, Novel, PMLA, Post45, Qui Parle, Studies in the Novel, Twentieth-Century Literature...
I'd also recommend looking at program websites and finding faculty whose work interests you and seeing where they are published.  I think that it will prove challenging to prepare a writing sample for a PhD application independently without a literary studies background, although I think reading around in journals will be a great way to affirm your interest in pursuing studies in this field at that level and getting a sense of the topics/methodologies/theories that are hot right now.  I think there have been some great suggestions in this thread for how to prep for a PhD round, especially looking into post-bac classes through extension/open enrollment programs and thinking seriously about applying for MAs instead (or, at least, as well).

American Literary History, American Literature, boundary 2, Contemporary Literature, Critical Inquiry, Criticism, Critique, JML, MFS, Narrative, Novel, PMLA, Post45, Qui Parle, Studies in the Novel, Twentieth-Century Literature...
I'd also recommend looking at program websites and finding faculty whose work interests you and seeing where they are published.  I think that it will prove challenging to prepare a writing sample for a PhD application independently without a literary studies background, although I think reading around in journals will be a great way to affirm your interest in pursuing studies in this field at that level and getting a sense of the topics/methodologies/theories that are hot right now.  I think there have been some great suggestions in this thread for how to prep for a PhD round, especially looking into post-bac classes through extension/open enrollment programs and thinking seriously about applying for MAs instead (or, at least, as well).

American Literary History, American Literature, boundary 2, Contemporary Literature, Critical Inquiry, Criticism, Critique, JML, MFS, Narrative, Novel, PMLA, Post45, Qui Parle, Studies in the Novel, Twentieth-Century Literature...
I'd also recommend looking at program websites and finding faculty whose work interests you and seeing where they are published.  I think that it will prove challenging to prepare a writing sample for a PhD application independently without a literary studies background, although I think reading around in journals will be a great way to affirm your interest in pursuing studies in this field at that level and getting a sense of the topics/methodologies/theories that are hot right now.  I think there have been some great suggestions in this thread for how to prep for a PhD round, especially looking into post-bac classes through extension/open enrollment programs and thinking seriously about applying for MAs instead (or, at least, as well).

Just looking for a little advice... I've been waitlisted at one of my top choices and invited to attend their visit weekend.  However, this seems so awkward, since I'm not really an admitted student.  Any advice on whether or not to go?  Thanks in advance!