TMP

I'm in my third year in the PhD program so I can give you some foresight. I kept in touch with some of my "favorite" POIs from the admissions process (even if they rejected me) over the years. Also, just prior to entering in the PhD program, I worked closely with fellows in an academic research center right in my field and got to know some of them. I run into them at conferences and go for coffee when we are both in the same area. They ask how I'm doing and where I am with the program. They offer tips for research in different archives and leads on fellowships and put me in touch with others who they were in touch with who might have similar interests. Some of them have turned into wonderful mentors who have helped me develop my professional identity and skills as a budding scholar. One of the tangibles I got out of networking was organizing a successful international conference of my (and theirs!) dreams. In terms of keeping in touch on my end, I generally e-mail them with updates after a major milestone (i.e. finishing an academic year, receiving a major fellowship, etc.) or when i have a question.

I was in a similar position. Though I did not really know it at the time, I was already down with mild depression. Yes I was very excited for a few weeks but after a while, I just couldn't get into "embrace it all!" mode. I had a lot of trouble allowing myself to just be happy and feel the joy of being "wanted." It's frustrating. What I did at the end was just have a heart-to-heart conversation with my former adviser who knew better than I did. It worked out and I'm still thankful that she directed me to the appropriate path for me.

Harvard. If you know the primary adviser at Chicago, s/he can always be an external person for letters and the dissertation committee. It's always good to continue expanding your networks.

The faculty in your program should be teaching you this stuff as part of professionalization. If not, bug them.

Mind the letters of recommendation as well. What do you want to do after your finish your PhD? If you want to stay in academia, you might be best off going with Adviser A as the name does matter. But also consider your own working style. I know if my own "hands-on" adviser left, I'd likely fall apart...

Do you have any other offers? If not, just remind them that you're still interested in the program and hope to be part of the department in the fall. If you do, let them know that you have an offer from elsewhere but this program is a better fit for you. E-mail the DGS and your POI just once and that'll be enough-

Skip the CEU and study the languages you need. I mean, CEU... is in Budapest.

Apply both. Worry later.

I agree. Campus visits can alter your (imagined) reality. I did a 180 but got turned back around when I talked with my MA adviser. Nonetheless, my impression of that campus improved for the better and now can say what a wonderful program it is. And... the people who have taken the time out of their busy days to meet you (with hopes you would join them in the fall). Including graduate students who are neck-deep preparing for their candidacy exams

For your daughter?? ;

As I've alluded in other threads, adviser and faculty support first. Funding was a non-issue for me. Three years later, I still haven't regretted my decision to go with the adviser over departmental atmosphere, a college town, beautiful lakes... well, especially now that Scott Walker's messing up the UW system

Still! You have childcare/schools to consider! I don't know how old she is but it sounds like you'll want to be sure that her early schooling years start off right

Also, look into Annemarie Sammartino's Impossible Border... fantastic take on migration and ideas of borderlands. You'll also want to look into books on idea of citizenship in 19th century Germany (though Rogers Brubaker's (reductionist) Citizenship and Nationhood in France and Germany might be a place to start...).

As a TA myself right now for 44 students, I cannot imagine being able to write for them even if I take the time to get to know them. I do have a couple of brilliant students. I see it as my job as a TA to direct such students to the professor (and letting the professor know of such students) and engage with him on the subject matter. Also, when you grade a lot of papers/exams, students' work blur... unless it was exceptionally good (those brilliant students above) or bad.

Remember, it takes a village to raise a graduate student....

Sorry to hear. Yes....let's say, the news came to us at a very bad time!

I did the same thing. Until my former adviser asked me a very simple question, "All things equal, who do you want to work with more, X or Y?" Out of nowhere, X came right out of my mouth. She said, "That settles it. You're going to work with X. Now tell Y that you will be turning down his offer and going to work with X." When we hung up the phone, I thought, "oh crap."

You can reach out to the graduate coordinator and ask those questions of "what's next?"

School dependent. You'll have to look in the Graduate School's handbook.

Remember, keep your eye on the finish line. You need to finish the degree. As I mentioned in another thread, you need to figure out what you want to do with your PhD. If teaching is all you want to do afterward and you don't care about publishing more than your dissertation, then go to a PhD program that places more students in teaching-focused institutions.

It does make a difference to one's happiness to have nice people to work with. After all, you are going to be taking classes with them and having your work reviewed by them (and vice versa). But I wouldn't rank it over everything else. IMHO, your adviser/potential committee and funding remain on top as those do affect you long-term (after all, you do need letters for fellowships and fellowships to carry out your research and finish your PhD). You're with your cohort (and one above you) only for the first few years. If anything, my cohort was so big (19 of us) that I didn't really get to know at least half. Now in my third year, only three or four and I still keep in touch and the rest of my grad colleagues stretch across the years. Might be a different story if your cohort is a lot smaller than mine.

Top tier. Also you *should* spend your summer doing research for your dissertation, not teaching, even if you can help it. Yes, you will be surrounded by research-focused students but it shouldn't preclude you from doing what you want to do. SLACs simply want to make sure-- through your job materials-- that you understand that it has a different culture and needs than a R1 (especially if the SLAC is ranked FAAAARRRR below the top-tier).

Exactly. While the SC may comprise of a small number of folks, they do rely on their external contacts to make sure that the applicant and his/her letter writers are actually legit. When presenting choices in front of the faculty, they do get further feedback. Also, PhD students are encouraged to develop at least one relationship with a scholar outside of the university for letters. That's when you want to gun for the "Big" names/very influential people.

No. Admissions are highly unpredictable. You got into respectable PhD programs who do place their students and are known nationally. You want to avoid debt as much as you can, especially that the PhD itself is a long road (and who knows what kind of job you will land after). Like ashiepoo, I took out loans for my MA. The MA was worth it because I wanted to get a PhD in this tiny field and needed more coursework and to boost my undergraduate GPA (and acquire a language). I am definitely grateful that I took the chance. But it was tough to be paying student loans afterward, though my debt wasn't as heavy as some of my friends'. Prestige matters but so do your committee members who will be writing letters on your behalf.