comparative literature

[SimoneSimon]

Ok, since there is a real dearth of rankings or otherwise useful published material on Comparative Literature programs, after consultation with absolutely everyone I know, I still can't decide between Northwestern's CLS or Johns Hopkins' Humanities Center. I must tell them today or tomorrow (obviously). I'm now resorting to asking the anonymous blogosphere. Anyone out there with an opinion or a link to a useful site? From what my profs have been saying, the JH name has a bit more cach

[engguy]

sounds to me like you can't go wrong here. I have a friend at NWestern -- not in complit, but English -- she says it's fantastic. What swayed her to choose it, in part, was the partnership they have with neighboring universities, inc. U-Chicago and UIC and Depaul, Loyola, allowing her to take classes at any of those in addition to N-Western. You might want to check that out today if you've time.

I also know someone who went to JH for a year and reports that it was extremely rigorous and challenging.

In the end, I'd think being in Chicago might count for something -- it's a wonderful town, and supposed to be the most "affordable" big city of them all. And no, I don't think you'd be losing anything in terms of name recognition by going with one or the other. They're both top schools.

[SimoneSimon]

Thanks for the response. Northwestern does, indeed, still support a program with the other Chicago schools, and that it, certainly, an attraction. I am absolutely leaning toward Northwestern, but Johns Hopkins does seem to have an unusually great placement record for an interdisciplinary program.