Appppplication

So for all of you that have had your campus visits how did they go and were they what you expected? Also did they impact or solidify your decisions?

I start with background information on the author and his/her approach. Before I get started I need a general idea of not only the author's approach but what the book is about, what the author's stance is on certain pertinent issues of interest, and generally what overall he/she is trying to say/do. That usually encompasses google searches, reading over some available secondary sources, discussions with people familiar with the work, academia.edu papers published on the book, etc. After getting a general handle on what the book is tackling, why, what broader critiques or new positions are put forward, and from what theoretical/philsophical approaches, I then begin reading.
 
Before completing my M.A. program, I'd read and pencil mark interesting passages, underline important parts, and fold page corners of important sections. As I've progressed through my M.A. I've found that I need to start reading and marking up the book with pencil (Never pen or highlighter), and typing up those notes along with the ideas they provoke either chapter by chapter or as I read (at the computer). With such complex books I find it impossible to remember all the ideas and important thoughts and critical insights even a week after reading. I have to type up reading notes. If I don't type up notes I'm either casually reading, or I'm expecting to go to a class on that book in the very near future where I will write copious notes from the class lecture. And I save all my class notebooks and typed up files for potential teaching notes, dissertation notes, or review or whatever.

It's all about fit, meaning at least 2 or more people working theoretically the way you want to work (sometimes I think theoretical fit is more important than literary area fit). In order to determine this you must be at least focused enough in your own work so that you know where you fit in. 
 
Fit can trump everything so long as you are ballpark competitive. 

Love this song and this album!
And congrats everyone!!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

I will be attending UC Riverside!!!  Can't wait!!!
 
Now just have to patiently get through the final weeks of my M.A. program!

This. 
 
That's why I thought it was originally a troll. I was surprised by the tone and drama and (sorry) naivete. It seemed as if the OP really DIDNT know what she/he was getting into with academics.
 
AND, inside hiring, hiring through networking, hiring through recommendation is pretty much how all professional jobs work. That's not to say it's fair, but it should be no surprise. What to do about the inequalities caused by it is another question. 
 
I feel bad for the OP because her/his mentors let her/him down by not being real about academic life. OR the OP just didn't listen.

When I signed my phd contract a couple weeks ago it had a paragraph devoted to this. It said something like you can rescind your acceptance until April 15th with no big deal, but after April 15th you have to write a formal letter explaining the circumstances. It made it seem like not a big deal, but from what I've heard it is looked down upon and is bad form. Every school that goes by the April 15th rule expects that you may wait until April 15th to let them know. At a visiting day one prof even mentioned that they will most likely not know who their cohort is until April 15th.
 
If I were you I would let your DGS at the 90% school know that you are very very seriously considering attending but you are still waiting on some notifications that may take up to April 15th. I'm sure you wish it would arrive sooner, but it is beyond your control.

Yes definitely check in about the funding. I would literally state that I am checking in to see if there's been any change in funding availability. And then reiterate your interest in attending, even that it's your number 1 choice.  
 
From what I've heard, this can only help (unless you're emailing them every 3 days or something crazy like that).  

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study. 

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study. 

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study. 

So for all of you that have had your campus visits how did they go and were they what you expected? Also did they impact or solidify your decisions?

So for all of you that have had your campus visits how did they go and were they what you expected? Also did they impact or solidify your decisions?

So for all of you that have had your campus visits how did they go and were they what you expected? Also did they impact or solidify your decisions?

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study. 

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study. 

everyone aggrees it's all connected And of course these are good points.

But sometimes reading this site I wish everyone would start every sentence that refers to a TT job or a PhD program acceptance or admission with "i know I'm privileged, but....."

Not getting a TT job is such a great problem to have.

That's all I'm saying.

I would further say that to act as if someone not getting a job at an Ivy because said person went to a "lesser ranked" institution is anywhere comparable to larger struggles of inequality or subsitute for said inequalities is ridonculous.

Not getting hired at an Ivy is NOT a symbol for social inequality

I never said they were mutually exclusive and clearly I don't think that. But focusing solely on the Ivys and getting hired at an Ivy grossly minimizes the injustices that happen across the world both on the streets and in institutions.