MattMedia here, signing in via Facebook. I can't get my username to work, it won't recognize it for some reason.
At any case, I'm certainly not planning on paying for a PhD. It's a total dealbreaker for me.
I'm willing to get (and pay for) an MA if I have to, but again, I'm sticking around here. It's home right now, bottom line.
I have to say to the above user who discouraged me earlier, you've literally given advice directly opposite to the advice I've been given by every single academic I've talked to. Every one of them has recommended I stay in the area, without exception, so forgive me for dismissing your advice.
As for the rest of you, I appreciate the feedback. I know it's an uphill battle.
BC is not a "safety." Forgive me for suggesting that. I mean that it's the place I'm applying to that seems feasible. Harvard is an incredible longshot. BU has a reputation articulated by other users. BC has the funding I want and is the level I want. I'm not sure I'll get in, but I feel pretty good about my prospects. I'm also applying to Clark and UMass-Boston (that's my actual safety, MA). BC and BU are more my "feasibles." There are scholars at both places I feel really good about working with prospectively, whereas at Tufts and Brandeis, for example, I sort of came up empty.