Brit Lit disaster

[tara1936]

Okay, so I'm sure there are quite a few posts on this website like this, but here is a new one anyway.

I want to get a PhD in British literature and I want to specialize in Interwar Britain and maybe something about the changing social norms. I think I'm a new historical critic or maybe a post colonial.

The problem isn't so much me knowing what I want to study as it is where to study it. I'm not sure how to go about looking for a university that has strong programs in world war I, interwar, and or, world war II British literature. Does anyone know any that are particularly impressive or know any streamlined ways to search for one? A way that doesn't involve Google.

Please help. I want to go to graduate school, but searching for a program is becoming a big stressor.

[Historiogaffe]

Okay, so I'm sure there are quite a few posts on this website like this, but here is a new one anyway.

I want to get a PhD in British literature and I want to specialize in Interwar Britain and maybe something about the changing social norms. I think I'm a new historical critic or maybe a post colonial.

The problem isn't so much me knowing what I want to study as it is where to study it. I'm not sure how to go about looking for a university that has strong programs in world war I, interwar, and or, world war II British literature. Does anyone know any that are particularly impressive or know any streamlined ways to search for one? A way that doesn't involve Google.

Please help. I want to go to graduate school, but searching for a program is becoming a big stressor.

I can't speak to that specialization; that said I've heard UBC is strong in it. (I asked my undergrad supervisor what grad students tend to come to our program for.) A friend of mine is going to Brown for pre-1945 U.S.

The short answer is, searching for a program is a big stressor, made up for by the feeling of finding a program that looks like it would be a perfect fit.

The way I've looked for programs—and it's time-intensive and feels a bit like stalking—is to comb through places looking through professor profiles. (And yes, "places" is as large and vague a a number as it sounds.) Since most programs have a "by specialization" listing, it's fairly easy. Look through everyone in that category and see if there are two, three, or more profs who make you go "Good LORD yes" and then take note of that university.

A starting point will be, if you find them floating around, lists on these forums, Livejournal, those "top 15 programs in [x] specialization" sites... but then you have to look through them for your particular interest; the theoretical approach you like; etc. So, perhaps, try starting here: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/postbellum-american-literature-rankings It's not a very wide range in terms of tier, obviously, and many of the ones above #10 or so show up at the top of pretty much every list of specializations—but it's a starting point.

For a more extensive and broader listing, try taking some cues from http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/arts-humanities/english

A more effective method: take note of recent scholarship you're fond of/irrationally in love with, and see where the profs who've written those pieces work. Also, see where those profs went for their respective PhDs.