Studying American Lit at a Canadian School: Mistake?

[andromeda]

To my fellow (and possibly future) colleagues,

I'm in a crux. I'm a Canadian specializing in American (African-American especially) literature, and am caught between going to school in the US vs. going to school in Canada (University of Toronto). The two schools I am contending between are Rutgers and University of Toronto.

Rutgers has a better funding package as of now, since I am still waiting to hear back from SSHRC -- if I get the CGS, I'll be in the clear for U of T, but without it, I have to plan to survive on the minimum funding package. BUT... It's not the money I'm most concerned with right now... it's choosing between the two.

Does University of Toronto have a good reputation in the US? If I get my PhD there, will I have the competitive edge necessary to, say, compete for English Lit teaching positions in both the US and Canada? It seems to me, given what I've seen from placement records for both schools, that generally speaking, Canadian PhDs remain in Canada but American PhDs have a ticket to ride in both countries. I'm not sure why this is, other than what seems to be a very logical connection between the fact that since I want to study American Lit, I should study at an American school. Yet... is it that simple? U of T is one of Canada's best schools, if not the best, and Americans have "heard of it." Do I go with them because they're great in Canada, or do I go with Rutgers because they pretty great in the US, and my potential advisors at Rutgers have more cache in the academic arena (i.e. are more well-known, especially given the field of American lit). Rutgers does have a great African-American lit program, as the rankings say... Still, it means relocating to a place I've only visited once.

THE QUESTION IS THIS: I want to open my future job prospects to the US. Does it matter if I go to Rutgers University in New Jersey, or University of Toronto? If I wanted to either take a post-doc at an American University, does it matter if I remain in Canada or not? I know the job market is limited as it is, and from what I've heard from colleagues, I'm not necessarily doing myself a favour by studying American literature at a Canadian school which isn't well known for that field, anyway. And yet, making a name for myself as an Americanist in Canada might not be a bad idea, since I'll be doing something more rare.

Thoughts!? Without this forum, I'm lost.

Thank you so much.

[Dr. Juice]

I was under the impression that U Toronto was for Medievalists. The school itself has a great reputation internationally, but you're probably better off attending a program with a good reputation in American Lit. You Canucks have it tough; I've read about your plight in obtaining tenure track in your own country, with a lot of openings going to Americans. Personally, if I were in your position, I'd seriously consider an American school.