Southern and/or Queer Lit PhD Recommendations

[Scarlet A+]

I'm officially starting the process of looking into PhD programs (I graduate with my MA from UA in Spring 2019), and I was hoping to get some advice / recommendations for programs to look into, especially if the ranking sites can't be trusted. My interests lie in queerness (and gender in relation to queerness) in Southern Literature, 20th century onwards. I know the ranking sites have to be taken with a grain of salt, but I DO want to attend a prestigious university; the odds for employment are too low not to value the program's reputation. Here are my questions: 

- This one feels a little ridiculous, but I have to ask: should I only apply to schools in the South? My partner wrote her MA WS about Mississippi and her SoP about her Southern focus, but she got into Villanova (full ride) and didn't get into Ole Miss. I know, I know, fit is important. I'm just hesitant to limit my applications to one area, especially since everyone agrees that you should apply to many places. After all, couldn't I attend a highly respected program outside of the South with a wonderful reputation in queer exploration (and apply the Southern aspects on my own) and do just as well, even bringing in something unique to the program? Or am I just shooting myself in the foot? 

- If I can't trust the ranking sites, does anyone have any recommendations for highly respected schools with a focus in Southern and/or queer literature? 

- Are there any resources that are useful in the process of applying to PhD programs? 

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

[Melvillage_Idiot]

Fellow Southern specialist here! I think you'd probably be served best by focusing on the queer theory side of your interests, and bringing the Southern focus into it as your own angle. Yeah, finding that Southern focus might be a little more difficult outside the South, but that doesn't mean Southern specialists are exclusive to the region (or any other regional identity; I'm off to Denver, and there's an Appalachian specialist there!). Certainly apply to some Southern schools, but don't feel locked into the region.

As far as useful resources for applying go, this very forum is a treasure trove =P Anything in particular that you're worried about?

I know I skipped your second question -- since I did the Southern search last fall, I've got a boatload of schools I could float for that half of your interests, but I'd need a minute to review the list and I've not got much time at the present to respond! I can add more later/PM you if you're interested.

[rising_star]

On 5/26/2018 at 1:45 PM, Scarlet A+ said:

- This one feels a little ridiculous, but I have to ask: should I only apply to schools in the South?

Reframing your question might help. For example, imagine I said my interests were in 19th century Irish literature. Would you (or anyone else) say that I should only apply to schools Ireland? Geographically limiting your applications is a sure way to make the grad admissions (or academic job market) application cycle much more difficult. If you can avoid geographic limitations, then you should.

On 5/26/2018 at 1:45 PM, Scarlet A+ said:

- Are there any resources that are useful in the process of applying to PhD programs? 

Your advisors, your peers and colleagues, and all the helpful people on this forum. 

[Bumblebea]

On 5/26/2018 at 3:45 PM, Scarlet A+ said:

should I only apply to schools in the South?

No. I would advise you not to do so. A good program is a good program, and you will be able to study Southern literature at a good program regardless of its location. 

In fact, your main field area of specialization will be 20th-century American literature (that's what you would take your exams in and what you would be trained to teach), so you should look more at schools that have a solid faculty in that area. You would then do your dissertation in Southern lit. 

If you want to stay in the South, you obviously have an array of prestigious programs to choose from: Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, UT-Austin, UNC-Chapel Hill, other ones I'm probably forgetting. But the good programs will be good in everything and able to handle someone who wants to do a dissertation in Southern lit, even if the program is located in New England. 

On 5/29/2018 at 5:20 PM, rising_star said:

For example, imagine I said my interests were in 19th century Irish literature. Would you (or anyone else) say that I should only apply to schools Ireland?

Yes, this is another example of hyperspecialization. Someone might want to do their dissertation in 19th-century Irish lit, but for the sake of applying to programs, they would look for programs that have a strong focus and faculty interests in 18th- and 19th-century British, Anglophone, and possibly postcolonial literature. (Or 19th through 20th century, whatever you're interested in.) 

I think a lot of times applicants think they have to find the perfect program and faculty fit for their really niche interest, but that's not how programs think or how the job market thinks. Programs are still very much steeped in periodization, so you need to telegraph not just what you think your dissertation will be about but where you fit in more broadly. Plus, your exact interests will most likely change while you are in course work and doing exams. 

[rising_star]

On 6/2/2018 at 2:50 PM, Bumblebea said:

I think a lot of times applicants think they have to find the perfect program and faculty fit for their really niche interest, but that's not how programs think or how the job market thinks. Programs are still very much steeped in periodization, so you need to telegraph not just what you think your dissertation will be about but where you fit in more broadly. Plus, your exact interests will most likely change while you are in course work and doing exams. 

I think we agree on this @Bumblebea. My point was that someone interested in Irish literature shouldn't apply only to programs in Ireland just like someone interested in Southern literature shouldn't apply exclusively to programs in the South. Thinking about exam fields (which correspond to survey courses you might teach) is something ALL applicants should consider, even those who aren't sure they want to go into academia.

[CulturalCriminal]

Not a PhD, but I saw this CFP that seemed relevant to your interests:

https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2018/06/04/queering-the-us-south

Edited June 7, 2018 by CulturalCriminal
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