Columbia ICLS

[WoolCoatMotherhood]

Hey Gradcafe-ers

Longtime lurker first time poster, i applied to several comp lot programs this year, got into a few, and am currently deciding between Berkeley's comp lot program and Columbia, where I was admitted to the Slavic dept with a foreseen concentration in the institute for comparative literature and society

So columbia's way of doing comp lit is essentially the opposite of every other program's, and I wanted to ask what anyone knows about ICLS, whether it's seen the same way that a comp lit dept is, whether there's anyone here who had to make the choice between columbia and another school and why they made the choice they did, etc.

I understand that this is a great choice to have, and I'm really shocked by the offers that I got, but I'm completely torn about whether to do this and probably be more slavic-focused, or move across the country and go to berkeley.

[Zebby]

Greetings,

 

I am making the decision between Columbia's ICLS and other programs- here is a major factor I take into consideration--

 

For me the ICLS program is ideal because it allows me to get my degree in a national literature department while doing comp. lit. training. For me, it's much more realistic to compete for jobs in my area of national literature than in the incredible-shrinking world of comp.literature.

 

I have no idea what things look like in Slavic Studies, so perhaps these criteria do not apply to you...if you end up choosing Columbia then feel free to PM me ;-)

[surlefil]

Hi! Just a question. How is Columbia's way of doing comp lit so different from the rest of the universities?

[Zebby]

Hi! Just a question. How is Columbia's way of doing comp lit so different from the rest of the universities?

I think you raise a fair point. The features of Columbia's ICLS comp lit program strike me as quite similar to those of any departmentally organized comp lit program. I think the demands of the ICLS allow for more flexibility in terms of coursework

Edited March 2, 2015 by Zebby

[WoolCoatMotherhood]

Hi! Just a question. How is Columbia's way of doing comp lit so different from the rest of the universities?

Hi, what I meant was that the application protocol is different-- whereas in most schools you apply to a comp lit dept and then set up ties with whatever national literature programs you'll be working in, at Columbia (from what I understand) you apply to a national literature department and then add on ICLS as a phd minor-- what this means (I think) is that you have slightly more coursework in your major literature and that this possibly impacts how MPhil examinations are carried out.

I'm not really sure about this though, but I'm meeting with a current head student there later today so I think that'll clwar up some questions!

[surlefil]

Hi, what I meant was that the application protocol is different-- whereas in most schools you apply to a comp lit dept and then set up ties with whatever national literature programs you'll be working in, at Columbia (from what I understand) you apply to a national literature department and then add on ICLS as a phd minor-- what this means (I think) is that you have slightly more coursework in your major literature and that this possibly impacts how MPhil examinations are carried out.

I'm not really sure about this though, but I'm meeting with a current head student there later today so I think that'll clwar up some questions!

Oh, I get it now. Thank you for your answer! 

[Zebby]

Oh I see! I was accepted directly into ICLS along with my admission offer, so I'm afraid I cannot give an answer from my own experience.