Deep breaths. I finally got a look at the U.S. News and World Report guide to grad schools tonight at our campus library. It was impossible to find in Brainerd.

After considering the location, quality, and relative cost of living of the various top campuses, I've decided to apply to four. In no particular order: Brown, Duke, the University of Chicago, and Cornell.

I've heard from a number of professors that it's not worth it to go to a mediocre grad school for English if you want a good teaching job, so I didn't choose a safety school.

It's good to have the ball rolling. Once I've got my schoolwork and tests and these applications out of the way, I can start considering which school, if accepted (hope!), I'd prefer to attend.