<p>I am aiming for top schools located mostly in the northeastern US. I will be applying as a Ph.D. student in Spanish/Hispanic Language & Lit/Spanish & Portuguese/etc., depending on what each department has to offer. I am very concerned with financial aid, especially in the form of teaching assistantships and the like. I am pursuing a Ph.D. for the purpose of being a professor (on which I will elaborate later in the post).</p>
<p>Schools I am most interested in (ranked by preference with 1 being the highest - according to appropriateness of programs and faculty match with my specific research interests):</p>
<li><p>Harvard</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia University</p></li>
<li><p>NYU</p></li>
<li><p>Vanderbilt (I realize this is not located in the NE)</p></li>
<li><p>Brown</p></li>
<li><p>Cornell</p></li>
<li><p>Boston University</p></li>
<li><p>Duke (see #4)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I realize that this is a very narrow list, but I am extremely interested in the input of others for these universities in particular.</p>
<p>Here are my stats:</p>
<p>Yet to take GRE, plan to take general exam at the end of summer 2008</p>
<p>Rising senior, Queens University of Charlotte '09 (Private Liberal Arts College in Charlotte, NC): Double major in Spanish/French</p>
<p>4.0 GPA</p>
<p>Spanish/English tutor for Queens Academic Resource Center,</p>
<p>Working to establish position as undergraduate TA for Spanish for fall 2008/spring 2009</p>
<p>Semester abroad: Universidad Pública de Navarra (Public University of Nevarre), Pamplona, Navarra, Spain spring of '07</p>
<p>Volunteer with Latin American Coalition (1st point of contact for Hispanic Immigrants)</p>
<p>Undergraduate Honors Thesis (to be completed during fall semester 2008): Introduction and 1st chapter of a text book designed for language instruction and cultural analysis of various Hispanic countries through music</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to be thorough. Any input will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>:)</p>