GraduateSchoolPersonalStatement.com
by Dr. Robert Edinger
Helping Applicants Since 2005 
drrobertedinger@gmail.com

Studying English Literature in graduate school cultivates deep critical thinking, cultural insight, and research skills that prepare you for careers in academia, publishing, education, and beyond. It also offers a platform to explore identity, power, and storytelling across time and cultures.

Here’s a detailed guide to help you evaluate the value, trends, and strategies for pursuing graduate studies in English Literature:

📚 Why Study English Literature in Graduate School?

• Intellectual Depth: Graduate programs allow you to explore literary texts through advanced theoretical lenses—feminist, postcolonial, psychoanalytic, ecocritical, and more.

• Cultural and Historical Insight: Literature offers a window into societal values, historical events, and philosophical debates across centuries.

• Transferable Skills: You’ll develop critical analysis, persuasive writing, research methodology, and public speaking—skills valued in education, law, media, and policy.

• Creative and Scholarly Expression: Graduate study fosters original thought, enabling you to contribute to literary scholarship or creative writing communities.

🔍 Current Trends in Literary Studies

According to recent scholarship:

• Digital Humanities: Scholars use computational tools to analyze texts, visualize networks, and explore metadata.

• Decolonizing the Canon: Programs increasingly include non-Western, Indigenous, and marginalized voices, challenging traditional literary hierarchies.

• Interdisciplinary Approaches: Literature is studied alongside sociology, philosophy, political theory, and visual culture.

• Ecocriticism and Climate Narratives: Environmental themes and planetary ethics are gaining prominence.

• Intersectionality and Identity: Race, gender, sexuality, and class are central to contemporary literary analysis.

🧠 Key Considerations Before Applying

• Program Type:

  • MA in English Literature: Ideal for deepening literary knowledge or preparing for a PhD.

  • PhD in Literature: Focused on original research, teaching, and academic publication.

• Research Fit:

  • Identify faculty whose work aligns with your interests.

  • Review recent dissertations and course offerings.

• Career Goals:

  • Be realistic about the academic job market. Many graduates pursue careers in editing, communications, education, or cultural institutions.

• Funding and Location:

• Prioritize programs with assistantships, fellowships, or tuition waivers.

• Consider geographic and cultural fit.

🛠️ Tips for Success

• Craft a Strong Writing Sample: This is often the most important part of your application.

• Build Interdisciplinary Strength: Courses in history, philosophy, or media studies can enrich your literary analysis.

• Stay Curious and Critical: Read widely, attend conferences, and engage with current debates in literary theory.

• Clarify Your Purpose: Your statement of intent should reflect both your passion and your scholarly direction.

• Prepare for Teaching: Many programs include pedagogical training—embrace it as part of your intellectual development.