thank you! i'm waiting with hope for other decisions, and when all of them roll in, i will consider:
Environment—I'm currently completing a Master's in a small coastal town in Scotland. It's beautiful and historic but way too insular and not diverse at all. I went to school in a major city and I want (some) of that energy back. It doesn't have to be NYC or LA but when I return to the US, I want a larger city feel with more diverse demographics.
Cost of Living and Housing—I'm first-gen, low-income and have spent all my life stressed out and financially insecure. I want to be able to undertake this six-year degree without the worry of finances over my head. I know PhD stipends aren't the best, but I at least want a fighting chance at economic security—and subsidized housing helps, too.
Fit—What courses do they offer? Does the program encourage an interdisciplinary approach to literary studies? What do past dissertation topics look like? What does a program's placements look like? Who can I work with? What specific opportunities are available for students studying gender, race, etc?
Community—How do current students feel? When I eventually talk to POIs, do we mesh? What's our energy like?
considering all of that now, currently brown trumps cornell (providence vs ithaca, 44k stipend vs 39k, more advisors to work with, better-aligned classes and diss topics, centers for study, etc), but we'll see how the rest of the month plays out!