Placebo: I have applied to Tufts, Cornell, Brown, Northeastern, MIT, Princeton, Yale, and Dartmouth. I have gotten into Cornell so far. I would prefer to stay local at Tufts or Brown if I get in. Also, if this changes things, I want to be a teaching professor, not so much tenue-track. Teaching is my passion.
How important is your graduate school choice in getting a professorship? As my ultimate goal is to become a professor, teach and do research, how crucial is the graduate school and program I choose? Is it solely based on school reputation/program reputation? I am in the process of choosing a school to attend in the fall and I would prefer to go to school locally but I have prospects at "better" schools further away from home. I am going for a PhD in Chemical Engineering.