What program are you entering and why did you choose to study it on that level?

PhD in Cognitive Science. I love research and want to do it forever! I want to be a professor eventually so PhD is the only way to go.

Do you think this is an overly optimistic viewpoint? (Or maybe I just am that passionate about English/writing/etc.) I know it'll be hard and it won't all be roses but I just really think that, unless the sheer volume of work is so high it is unmanageable, my passion will help me to succeed because I will want to do the work. It won't be like undergrad breadth requirements.

This is how I feel as well. I guess we'll see how it works out ;)

How many programs did you apply to and what was your acceptance rate?

I applied to 8, was interviewed at 7, and accepted to 4. The funny thing about the whole admissions process is you usually end up getting into the places you really want to go and that feel like a great fit for you. (This is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to decision time!). The most revealing part of this whole thing is the visit weekend. I'm not sure if MFA programs do this, but pretty much all PhD programs pay for you to come out to an interview weekend. I had a couple of visits where I really wasn't that crazy about it: I didn't like the city, or didn't feel like I connected with other grad students, or didn't click with my potential advisor that much, etc. And obviously this went both ways -- students and professors at those programs weren't crazy about me! Those were the places where I was rejected or waitlisted, even when I was the only applicant my potential advisor was still considering. Note that this doesn't mean the visits were unpleasant; I had a blast at all of my visits and am still in contact with potential advisors at schools I was rejected from, in case we work together in the future!