How much does rank matter?
I'm 21st century lit and critical theory. I like both schools but cannot decide.
UNC flew me out and really likes me (full merit scholarship). They email me every other day basically to say "Hi. Just thinking about you."
Iowa, I had to pay to visit. They were very sweet, but sort of said "Hey, when would you like to visit." Less enthusiastic maybe, but they wouldn't have offered me a full scholarship without really caring...right?
They both have great faculty in my areas. The grad students were friendlier at Iowa, but UNC was an Open House and Iowa I was on my own. Very different environments with an Open House and lots of people mixing.
I love the campus at UNC, but I might love Iowa's just a bit more.
What is better...going to a school with a lower rank, but a very prominent scholar in my field? OR going to a school with a higher rank, and lots of good professors?
AH!