Comparative Literature at University of Illinois U-C

[maria]

Hi all,

I'm considering accepting an offer from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for comp lit. I visited the campus recently and loved it, and I think the program is a great fit for me, financially and academically. I've seen little mention of it on this website, so I'm wondering if anyone else is visiting/considering University of Illinois, or if there are any current students/alumni around?

Maria

[smertbazara]

Hi Maria,

I applied and was accepted to the MA program, though they didn't offer any funding. The university is in serious financial trouble, and a recent grad I know actually encouraged me not to apply there at all (citing unreasonable teaching load and general decline of the department). Of course, I applied anyway because I also thought it would be a great fit academically. And if it's going to work out for you financially, it may well be worth taking. I didn't visit, as I ended up going with a much more attractive offer from a PhD program, but I hope when you were there you had a chance to talk with current students; for all I know my contact is a rare exception. Best of luck with your decision!

smert

[maria]

Thanks for responding, smert. I wasn't offered funding at first either, but I kept emailing and was later offered a fellowship for the first year. However, I've asked many times and they have avoided committing in any way to further funding, besides saying that all recent students have been funded. Your friend's experience makes me worry, a little. I did meet with a couple students, but only in the presence of professors, so it's hard to say if that's a good source.

I was also admitted into the MA program, but I think that's what everyone is admitted into, and then later you can switch over to the Ph.D. with satisfactory progress/performance. I have no intention of only getting an MA though, and the fact that I'm not admitted directly into the Ph.D. program does concern me.

The other program I'm considering is a doctoral program at a UC. I had originally thought that Illinois was a stronger program, but perhaps I should reconsider? The academic fit for me is about the same at both.

[w2010]

Thanks for responding, smert. I wasn't offered funding at first either, but I kept emailing and was later offered a fellowship for the first year. However, I've asked many times and they have avoided committing in any way to further funding, besides saying that all recent students have been funded. Your friend's experience makes me worry, a little. I did meet with a couple students, but only in the presence of professors, so it's hard to say if that's a good source.

I was also admitted into the MA program, but I think that's what everyone is admitted into, and then later you can switch over to the Ph.D. with satisfactory progress/performance. I have no intention of only getting an MA though, and the fact that I'm not admitted directly into the Ph.D. program does concern me.

The other program I'm considering is a doctoral program at a UC. I had originally thought that Illinois was a stronger program, but perhaps I should reconsider? The academic fit for me is about the same at both.

Hey Maria,

I am finishing up my undergrad at Illinois. It is a great program, although I am not sure if the English Department is separate from comparative literature at the grad level.

I would not worry too much about funding. Although we have had a few problems this year with the state giving the public institutions the tax money they usually get, Illinois is in much better condition than a lot of other state institutions right now. California and Wisconsin come to mind (the latter I checked out for grad school and their provost or chancellor remarked about some faculty having to take several unpaid furlough days within the semester).

Illinois has amazing faculty, and although I do not know what period you are interested in, I know that we have remarkably strong professors in Modernism (especially Irish literature), theory, and early and nineteenth-century American literature.

If you have been offered funding, I would say visit. Illinois has always been very generous with their packages once you are in. Most English majors have the option of a funded seventh year if they need one to finish their dissertation. I myself was guaranteed six years of funding (and the teaching load is about the same for any state institution--less than others I had been looking into when I applied). If you feel comfortable here, let the DGS know how serious you are. I'm sure they will be very lucky to have you