Well, that honestly calms my nerves quite a bit. I am mostly afraid that the outcome of these applications determine my later success and that no matter how hard I work and how good I will be, I will never have a chance in academia if things don't go the way I hope right now.
I don't know how to check anyone's job placement data (will surf the internet for more information), but the program I am referring to is new and therefore has no graduates yet. Prior to applying, I have tried my best to get a sense for rankings and great public places, but it remains rather obscure to me, which places are actually considered a good place in the US. Honestly, changing the continent is a bit challenging in that regard, especially since my partner is in a completely different field.