Looking for some advice on suitable programs...

[solomonski]

Hi all, 

I'm going to be submitting grad school applications this December/January for programs in English, Literature, Critical/Cultural Theory, &c. I'd love it if the experienced people here could help me with the process of narrowing down the list of programs that are suited to my interests. 

I'm currently a student at UT Austin, double-majoring in English and Philosophy. My "stats," such as they are, are pretty decent: 4.0 GPA so far, two publications in undergrad journals (one prize-winning), bunch of scholarships, a research fellowship for my undergrad thesis, co-presidency of a Continental Phil association, all that stuff. Taking the GRE general early Nov, but (embarrassingly) missed the window on the subject test. I've got several profs who love me, so LORs are pretty well sewn up. I only mention all this in case it influences anyone's recommendations. 

In any case, it's hard for me to define my interests in a super-narrow way, but I know that I love theory and criticism, so a theory-heavy or at least theory-friendly department would be nice. I'd also really like the opportunity to do interdisciplinary stuff, especially in literature and film. In terms of specific periods/media, I'm into Modernist fiction, 19th century Russian literature (although I know no Russian), 20th century and contemporary Japanese literature and film (I'm by no means fluent in Japanese but I do have 18 hours in it), science fiction, television and pop culture, etc. I'm jealous of people who can express their research interests in a single sentence, and I sometimes worry that not being able to do that is going to hamstring me on these applications. Any advice here?

As for programs, I'm looking at the Literature program at Duke and Modern Culture and Media at Brown as my top two. Any insights into those? I'd also been looking at some of the UC options, specifically Santa Cruz and Irvine because they seem theory-friendly, but I'm worried about their funding options (no mention of "guaranteed five+ years" or anything like that on their websites). Cornell's programs seemed very nice, but unfortunately since I flubbed the registration for the subject GRE, I don't think I can apply there now. I've heard good things about Minnesota, but I'm not sure which of their programs would be the best fit. Also looking at Theory and Cultural Studies at Purdue and English at U Chicago (although I'm unsure how I'd cope with a major city environment). What say you all? 

A couple of other notes:

- I'm a bit wary of Comp Lit programs because of the often stringently-worded language requirements; am I expected to have fluency in multiple languages going in (I only have decent reading comprehension of Japanese), or is this proficiency something I could gain via coursework while in a program? What's the typical expectation here?

- Funding is a necessity. I have no means of support whatsoever other than whatever stipend/fellowship/TA-ship package a school might offer me.

- I can probably afford to apply to 5-6 schools total. 

Sorry if this information is kind of scattershot; I'm just kind of desperate to make sure I've got as much information as possible before I start finalizing the list of where I'll be applying. I'll sincerely appreciate anyone who takes the time to offer whatever insights they might have. This process is pretty intimidating, to be honest. 

Edited October 14, 2015 by solomonski

[echo449]

I really think professionalization and jobs (insofar as you can control those things at all in this market) is the way to look at things? So in your case, at least on paper, I would choose Berkeley before Santa Cruz. They have plenty of theory people milling about, and they have much better placement. Of course, feel free to ignore me if you feel like you'd be happiest at SC. Almost all of the top 20 has guaranteed funding, and I think this is true of the top 30 as well. It might behoove you to contact the schools and ask if you can apply without the subject--a grad student here (a big state school in the top 20) did not take his until he was admitted, and it was a formality, despite what the website said. 

Also, you NEED to pick an area of interest. It's okay to have side interests (I mentioned film in my SoP as something I was interested in pursuing further, for instance), but you need to really focus out one field that you want to situate yourself in. You arn't required to do that for the rest of your life; but it is how admissions works. 

Edit: Irvine is also lovely, and has a really, really friendly atmosphere. 

Edited October 14, 2015 by echo449

[ExponentialDecay]

Comp Lit programs will expect you to have a focal interest in working with more than one language, which in practice means both strong language preparation and existing literature coursework in the relevant area. The weaker programs will admit you with leeway to make up language comprehension ground provided you show a good knowledge of the canon or write well in your sample and so on, but the top programs will expect legitimate fluency in your primary language(s), and your competition has that and some more. I would not recommend applying to low-ranked Comp Lit programs over low-ranked English programs because the funding is much more itinerant, TA options are hard to come by, and at least in regards to Russian, the faculty is almost exclusively imported from the USSR and on the brink of death retirement. Basically, don't manufacture an interest you don't have just to apply to Comp Lit.

That said, however, if you are planning to work with continental theory, it's still a good idea to pick up some French or German (depending, obviously, on where your interests lie). 

I second echo on Berkeley. It should probably be your first choice.

Edited October 14, 2015 by ExponentialDecay

[solomonski]

Thanks for the replies so far. I really appreciate it.

Has anyone had trouble with funding in the UC system? It seems as if their program websites say something to the effect of "funding is generally available" rather than an outright guarantee. How does it work out in practice? 

BTW, Berkeley seems rather demanding about the Subject test on their grad admissions page, so if it's really somewhere I need to be looking at, I guess I should be looking at standby testing... next Saturday....

Thanks for the comments on specializing for the sake of admissions. It makes it much easier for me to think of it in terms of "I need to show the adcomm that I'm aware of what is going on in existing scholarship and how I want to enter into that in this fairly specific way" than "I'm committing to this area of research for the rest of my life."

Edited October 14, 2015 by solomonski

[Dr. Old Bill]

 

Thanks for the comments on specializing for the sake of admissions. It makes it much easier for me to think of it in terms of "I need to show the adcomm that I'm aware of what is going on in existing scholarship and how I want to enter into that in this fairly specific way" than "I'm committing to this area of research for the rest of my life."

It really is an important distinction, and one that probably doesn't get mentioned here as often as it should. It's one of those "if I were to do it all over again, I would..." observations for me.

[echo449]

Thanks for the replies so far. I really appreciate it.

Has anyone had trouble with funding in the UC system? It seems as if their program websites say something to the effect of "funding is generally available" rather than an outright guarantee. How does it work out in practice? 

I know Berkeley and Irvine have taken steps to guarantee a base amount for all incoming students--UCLA has also always promised funding as well. The others I cannot speak to. 

[__________________________]

Missing the subject test will limit you for a lot of top schools.  I didn't take it either though and also had reservations about whether I wanted to be in an English department -- feel free to PM me about that.   Have you looked at Berkeley's Rhetoric program?  They don't require the subject test and are super interdisciplinary and into theory.  If only because they don't accept the GRE subject test, encourage a range of theoretical approaches, and have proximity to an excellent film studies program, UChicago should be getting your attention.  Definitely Duke Literature, too (Rey Chow is currently doing some work with cinematic sound theory).  Duke and Chicago are also very good for modernist and contemporary work, so I want to emphasize those to you.

It's probably worth looking at the Film Studies and Japanese departments at the schools you look at as well, and take into consideration how much flexibility the English/Lit programs you consider allow in taking classes outside the home department.  If you want to do interdisciplinary things, it's nice to be somewhere that has an intellectual climate that appeals to you outside of your home department, too.  This has been said, but I will echo that you shouldn't probably apply to a Comp Lit program without having fluency in at least one foreign language; in English, however, it is quite normal to acquire most or all of your language skills during grad school (looking into resources for that at schools of interest is worth it -- particularly for funding and summer programs).