Apply to English or Comparative Literature programs?

[movings]

Hi all, I'm an undergrad that will be graduating this fall, and I'm trying to get a feel for what schools I'll be applying to this coming year. My interests revolve mostly about intercultural identity among Latin American immigrants to the U.S., and elsewhere. In particular, opposing conceptions of gender, sexuality, role, etc. that appear due to conflicting cultures. I've mostly been looking for universities with a sizable amount of Latinx/Chicanx focused professors, which has put NYU, UCLA, and Northwestern at the top of my list. However, since I would also like to incorporate literature from the originating countries (i.e. literature in Spanish), I was wondering whether I would benefit from also looking into comparative literature programs. My university doesn't have a comp lit undergrad or even a Spanish literature program, so I haven't been able to get a very good feel for what departments of that type are like. If anyone has suggestions, I'd really appreciate it! 

 

edit: also, I'd like to add that I already speak Spanish fluently. For any schools that require a third language, I'd be looking into French or Portuguese as I have prior experience with them (though I'm certainly not conversational with either). 

Edited April 24, 2018 by movings

[CulturalCriminal]

It seems like quite a few eng/lit departments would be a great fit, as it seems to be increasingly the norm for these programs to have one or two folks focused on Chicanx lit. Likewise, you might look at Ethnic Studies or Latino/a/x Studies programs. I'm not sure comp lit would be a great fit, though I could be wrong on that front.

[rising_star]

1) Are there any comparative literature courses at your university? Have you taken any upper level literature courses in Spanish? 

2) Have you spoken with your literature professors to ask them what they think? They'll be familiar with English and Comp Lit departments and should be able to provide you with some advice.

3) Take a look at the scholarship of some folks in comp lit with similar interests. Is that the kind of scholarship you want to be doing?

[Imenol]

Berkeley and Stanford should also be high on the list, even if only because of Raul Coronado and Ramón Sandivar...

Edited April 25, 2018 by Imenol

[movings]

19 hours ago, rising_star said:

1) Are there any comparative literature courses at your university? Have you taken any upper level literature courses in Spanish? 

2) Have you spoken with your literature professors to ask them what they think? They'll be familiar with English and Comp Lit departments and should be able to provide you with some advice.

3) Take a look at the scholarship of some folks in comp lit with similar interests. Is that the kind of scholarship you want to be doing?

1) Unfortunately, no. While the English dept. at my uni has been great, the Spanish department was very VERY lacking. I was a Spanish double major for a bit (I technically still am), but I've decided to drop it since the department is so small and the course offerings are little. Since I've tested out of the language requirements, I would need to stay a lot longer to wait for specially offered classes + study abroad classes to have the requisite credits to get the degree. 

 

2) I have not yet! But I am in the process of doing so. 

 

3) Also in the process of doing this, so I'd have to get back to you, but thanks for reminding me of the importance of doing so! 

[movings]

10 hours ago, Imenol said:

Berkeley and Stanford should also be high on the list, even if only because of Raul Coronado and Ramón Sandivar...

Berkeley is also on my list! As for Stanford, their program looks great but I don't know if I'm confident enough in my application for it. If all goes well this semester, I'll be applying to my schools with a 3.85~ from a pretty okay state school. Beyond that, I think my writing is strong + I have a handful of professors whom I know will be able to write me a good letter of recommendation, but I'm still unsure whether it'll be enough for a school like Stanford. 

[frenchlover]

Just so you know, your grades and GPA matter, but not nearly as much as your recommendations, your writing sample, and your personal statement. Your dossier just needs to resonate for several professors in a department -- the process is too unpredictable to not apply to Stanford, so if you think it is a good fit, do apply.