stillalivetui

This is priceless. I would feel bad for the kid, but who does that?

I think only a couple programs do interviews. I can say for sure that Indiana and Michigan don't do interviews. 

I was told GPA is irrelevant. As long as you don't receive anything below an A- then you're fine. 

I'll be attending in the Fall for my PhD in History. Can't wait to get back to the Midwest!

Good to have some company on board. I focus on Mexican-American and Latina/o history as well. You hit the usual suspects on your list as many scholars in our field are located in the Southwest (Mostly the UCs).
I would suggest looking into Michigan. Anthony Mora has done some great work in what you're interested in. The Latina/o Studies program there is also very strong. I visited just last week and was very happy to see how interdisciplinary the history department is there. The University of Chicago may also be of interest for you since Ramon Gutierrez teaches there. You can also get tuition waivers to these schools (and the aforementioned Ohio State) through the CIC Free App program. Here's the link: https://www.cic.net/students/freeapp/introduction. 
Lastly, I assume you're applying to Stanford to work with Albert Camarillo. Unfortunately, he is set to retire the next couple of years and is no longer taking new students. It'll be exciting to see whom they hire to replace him.

Good to have some company on board. I focus on Mexican-American and Latina/o history as well. You hit the usual suspects on your list as many scholars in our field are located in the Southwest (Mostly the UCs).
I would suggest looking into Michigan. Anthony Mora has done some great work in what you're interested in. The Latina/o Studies program there is also very strong. I visited just last week and was very happy to see how interdisciplinary the history department is there. The University of Chicago may also be of interest for you since Ramon Gutierrez teaches there. You can also get tuition waivers to these schools (and the aforementioned Ohio State) through the CIC Free App program. Here's the link: https://www.cic.net/students/freeapp/introduction. 
Lastly, I assume you're applying to Stanford to work with Albert Camarillo. Unfortunately, he is set to retire the next couple of years and is no longer taking new students. It'll be exciting to see whom they hire to replace him.

Anthony Mora, and a few others at U Michigan, work on borderland issues. His latest book Border Dilemmas might also be worthwhile reading depending on your period of focus. 
^Posted at the same time, ha. 

My former adviser at Indiana confirmed this, unfortunately. He added that even if were I gain admittance to Illinois, that it wouldn't be an ideal situation since there is so much uncertainty. 

UCLA. UCLA. UCLA.

UCLA. UCLA. UCLA.

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 

Just got accepted at Carnegie Mellon off the wait list! Holy cow, I wasn't expecting that.

There are so many factors that go into deciding which program to choose, it usually is a tougher choice than people expect.
FWIW, considering adviser fit/reputation (I took the goldilocks approach, but some people like the near-retirement superstar or unknown-quantity newbie for valid reasons), funding, cost of living (so important! I was offered a bit more funding at a program with a COL twice as high as Davis, so it cancelled out), student outcomes (placement? Time to degree? It's well and good if everyone finishes, but why is it taking most people 8-10 years? Probably lack of funding opportunities!), grad student vibe (do they hate each other and the program? Can you see yourself being happy joining their community?) and department culture (douchey? Meat grinder? Intent on "culling the weak?" No thanks) made my choice much easier. Some of these things aren't obvious before visiting and/or talking to current students though, so definitely do that!

Ask them why they came to the department; that can be eye-opening. Ask them what they like best about the department or if there is anything they'd change. They probably know a thing or two about your research, so ask them how they see your research fitting into the department. And look them up beforehand and generate questions that way: if they teach digital history, use it to ask them about DH opportunities on campus; if they direct something like an African studies center, ask them about the center and its programming; etc. 

Speaking of meetings with faculty members; I have a good idea of what I want to talk about with my POI, but not with others who I view could potentially serve on my committee. Any crucial questions I should ask and/or be mindful of when talking to complementary faculty members?

We should probably refrain from sending unnecessary emails. I realize most of us are still anxiously waiting to hear back from many programs. However, be mindful that the DGS, graduate coordinators, and staff are busy organizing campus visits, working with current graduate students, etc. I think as a courtesy we should let the process play itself out.

We should probably refrain from sending unnecessary emails. I realize most of us are still anxiously waiting to hear back from many programs. However, be mindful that the DGS, graduate coordinators, and staff are busy organizing campus visits, working with current graduate students, etc. I think as a courtesy we should let the process play itself out.

We should probably refrain from sending unnecessary emails. I realize most of us are still anxiously waiting to hear back from many programs. However, be mindful that the DGS, graduate coordinators, and staff are busy organizing campus visits, working with current graduate students, etc. I think as a courtesy we should let the process play itself out.

We should probably refrain from sending unnecessary emails. I realize most of us are still anxiously waiting to hear back from many programs. However, be mindful that the DGS, graduate coordinators, and staff are busy organizing campus visits, working with current graduate students, etc. I think as a courtesy we should let the process play itself out.