Program Recs? (Sorry for the potentially annoying question)

[tellitslant]

Hi All!

 

I've been lurking on this forum for a while, and thought I should finally join.

 

Sorry to be a bother, but I need to expand my program search beyond the US News rankings to program fit.

 

My research interests are primarily in women's writing, especially of the 19th century. (My honors thesis focuses on volcanoes and monstrosity in Emily Dickinson.) I'm looking for programs strong in this period and known for women's writing in general, but I've been having trouble finding rankings for anything beyond gender studies. 

 

Thanks for any and all help.

[egwynn]

I would:

 

1) ask your thesis advisor for his/her advice.

2) look up where the secondary sources you're using for said thesis have been published and where the scholars who have written them are working.

3) ask other profs, grad students, prospective grad students from your program what they've heard about.

 

Also people on here might have good ideas.  (I'm not one of them, sorry!)

Edited August 12, 2013 by Lons

[tellitslant]

Thanks for your reply!

 

I actually have asked my thesis advisor his opinion, and he suggested Yale (his alma mater). While I obviously would love to go there, I understand that it's a reach for anyone. 

 

Your second suggestion was a good one. While it seems obvious in hindsight, I wouldn't have thought to do that on my own. It's hard (at least for me) not to simply get caught up in prestige/ rankings when considering programs.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

 Check this link; It ranks schools by specialty, it might help. http://grad-schools....nglish-rankings

[ProfLorax]

I, unfortunately, have no in-depth knowledge of your specialty, but I just had an idea! Search the MLA Convention program for key words. I've been suggesting the MLA bibliography, which is also helpful, but the convention program is available to everyone; you don't need a subscription. See who is presenting on your interests and where they are. Many of the presenters will be current grad students or junior faculty, but at least you can see what schools are currently producing work about your interests. I searched "Dickinson" and a bunch of panels popped up.

 

http://www.mla.org/conv_listings?msg=pcl

[tellitslant]

Thanks proflorax! I would have never thought to check the MLA, since I don't subscribe to the site. 

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I can't think of any schools off the top of my head, but I'd double check a lot of the schools in the top 50 that you said you've already checked out. I'm personally looking into gender/19th century and finding that most programs say that they deal with gender theory, but it's always a focus on women/women's writing and doesn't really talk about masculinity. 

 

Also, as someone suggested before, research where the people you read work and go from there--you'll find that many of them fit into the high ranking schools; it's just an easier way to find them instead of searching primarily by school.