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Cabin Fever, don't give up on gradcafe because a few people are mean. Just ignore them and listen to those who respond nicely. But if you ask for advice/opinions, remember that you might not get responses that you want to hear. You may hear that the schools you are considering aren't ranked highly and that a few people think you are crazy for thinking of those schools. That is their opinion and you asked for their opinion. You can't fault people for disagreeing with you. Also remember that everyone's situation is different, so you have to make the decision that works for you.

Cabin Fever, don't give up on gradcafe because a few people are mean. Just ignore them and listen to those who respond nicely. But if you ask for advice/opinions, remember that you might not get responses that you want to hear. You may hear that the schools you are considering aren't ranked highly and that a few people think you are crazy for thinking of those schools. That is their opinion and you asked for their opinion. You can't fault people for disagreeing with you. Also remember that everyone's situation is different, so you have to make the decision that works for you.

Cabin Fever, don't give up on gradcafe because a few people are mean. Just ignore them and listen to those who respond nicely. But if you ask for advice/opinions, remember that you might not get responses that you want to hear. You may hear that the schools you are considering aren't ranked highly and that a few people think you are crazy for thinking of those schools. That is their opinion and you asked for their opinion. You can't fault people for disagreeing with you. Also remember that everyone's situation is different, so you have to make the decision that works for you.

I'm sorry if that's how I've made you feel. It is never, ever my intent to hurt anyone's feelings or degrade them. I apologize for it, if that's what I've done.
 
I have to tell you: that is literally the opposite of what I see here generally. I find the general tone around here to be one of optimism and support. And I'm glad it is. But I also find that there is a broad disconnect between when people say, "I know how bad the numbers are," and their actual behavior. That's fine. People are adults. They can make rational decisions. But I have lots of friends in the humanities at lots of universities, some of them from those "top five" schools we keep talking about. And nobody is getting jobs. Even many of the absolute tippity-top literature programs aren't doing much better than getting two thirds of their PhDs hired in TT jobs. Meanwhile, because TAs are cheap labor, departments are not adjusting the number of acceptances they give out to reflect the market. Departments everywhere are flooding the market with PhDs, making the competition harder on everyone. Ask around, and you'll find departments who can't get their star students hired. That's not me being mean. That's reality. 
 
If you don't want to take my word for it, Google around a bit. You'll find plenty of angry, embittered posts from people who were just like the people here, did their 5 (or 6, or 7, or 8....) years, and found no job. And now they're trying to stitch six sections of adjuncting together or applying to entirely different jobs. I'm not making that up. Look around. Find the numbers. Ask your professors! The realistic ones, the ones who are willing to say the harsh truth. If it's crap to point out what is the plain truth, then I'm guilty of spouting crap. Either way, everyone here can't afford to just think of themselves now. You've got to think of yourself 6 years from now-- older, tired, broke, and facing a brutal (and worsening) job market. I just don't want one of you guys to someday be the ones writing those embittered blog posts about how you were bamboozled, how nobody every told you.
 
Everyone cannot be the exception to the rule. Most people are going to be the rule.

I agree that you should go to Maryland. If you don't, you will always wonder what if....  It is a good program and a good fit. Plus you are super excited about going there.  Accept and enjoy that you are done with this stage of the process!!
 
Oh, and congratulations!