Glasperlenspieler

To be honest, I'm not sure the idea of a safe school holds much water when it comes to PhD admissions because of how competitive the process has become.

To be honest, I'm not sure the idea of a safe school holds much water when it comes to PhD admissions because of how competitive the process has become.

Yes, that's right. But my research (African and African-American comparative literatures) are only really written in English and French, so maybe I'm a special case.

Maybe they would have thought that 50 years ago, but today even community colleges are full of Harvard and Yale PhDs. I assure you, the small liberal arts colleges know full-well what a buyer's market the humanities job market is. They get 200 applications per position from people at T10 programs. They go to the MLA. They know words like "adjunctification" and "overproduction of PhDs". Who do you think is writing all those articles about how shitty academia has be come? Grad students? No, it's the professors, and most of them are at the unknown 4/4 LACs or the regional comprehensives. 
On the supply side, many if not most of the defending ABDs at top programs would be ecstatic to get a job at a shitty 4/4 LAC in rural Ohio that's trying to make ends meet between their nothing endowment and their 80% discounted tuition for a dwindling student base, because they realize that that's the only chance they have at staying in academia. Programs don't need to dig into the grads of Louisiana State Polytechnic for competent tenure lines, because for every applicant from Yale that makes them feel uneasy, they have 2 that are telling them that they've dreamed of working at an LAC all their lives, that they really believe in the school's mission, that they want to give back, that their wife is from rural Ohio and Bum Creek has the best tadpole fishing in the country, and they happen to be an NCAA All-American tadpole fisher....
That's all to say, people should do what they want, and few chances in life are mathematically 0, but goddamn I would feel irresponsible suggesting that a student go to a low-ranked PhD because they like the school, much less turn down a top PhD program for that reason.

While I certainly think that "Ivies or bust" is oversimplified, I think there's (unfortunately) a grain of truth in it. 
Consider this post by telkanuru and the study cited in it:
This study is for history (as well as computer science and business), but it shows that in history, over 85% of ALL TT placements come from 25% of PhD granting institutions. I don't know of any similar studies for other fields in the humanities, but I'd wager to guess the results wouldn't be too far off. Now, it's important to note that the institutions that dominate the job market are NOT simply the Ivies (many non-Ivies actually perform as well or better and some Ivies may actually be on the borderline of this group in some fields) and that the institutions that do well don't necessarily map onto the top ranked programs according to USNews or NRC or whomever. Nonetheless, there does appear to be a fairly clear tier system in terms of placement and if you are outside of this top tier, your odds of obtaining a tenure track job are severely reduced (likely allowing for some variation according to specialty). I'm not trying to defend this system, but I think we ignore it at our own peril and not only if you're gunning for an R1 job. For what it's worth, this is pretty much the same advice I've heard from a number of professors (who are very happy with their non-R1 positions).

While I certainly think that "Ivies or bust" is oversimplified, I think there's (unfortunately) a grain of truth in it. 
Consider this post by telkanuru and the study cited in it:
This study is for history (as well as computer science and business), but it shows that in history, over 85% of ALL TT placements come from 25% of PhD granting institutions. I don't know of any similar studies for other fields in the humanities, but I'd wager to guess the results wouldn't be too far off. Now, it's important to note that the institutions that dominate the job market are NOT simply the Ivies (many non-Ivies actually perform as well or better and some Ivies may actually be on the borderline of this group in some fields) and that the institutions that do well don't necessarily map onto the top ranked programs according to USNews or NRC or whomever. Nonetheless, there does appear to be a fairly clear tier system in terms of placement and if you are outside of this top tier, your odds of obtaining a tenure track job are severely reduced (likely allowing for some variation according to specialty). I'm not trying to defend this system, but I think we ignore it at our own peril and not only if you're gunning for an R1 job. For what it's worth, this is pretty much the same advice I've heard from a number of professors (who are very happy with their non-R1 positions).

I've just been asking very general questions because I don't want to preempt potentially useful information because I didn't think to ask about it. So I'll just ask them to tell me about their experience there, strengths and weaknesses of the programs, why they chose the program and if they're happy with their decision, things they wish they knew before deciding to attend, etc. I think every student I've emailed has said that they'd be happy to answer new questions as they arise, so I usually ask a few follow up questions based on the information they give.
Obviously, if you have more specific questions, ask them. In particular, when I know that a student is in the dissertation phase, I ask about placement/job market, and if you know a student is working with an advisor you're interested in, I think it's perfectly fair to ask what working with this professor is like.
Thus far, I've received a number of detailed and very gracious responses, many of which have turned into an extended back-and-forth. So definitely don't hesitate to just ask about the program even if you don't have a lot of specific questions. Remember, they were in your position not long ago.
I think there are also a few good lists of questions to ask on visits somewhere on these boards. Many of these would be good to ask students. 

Accepted to Western Michigan!

I wish the NYU results would come out already. I just want to get my rejection. ^_^'

So the first Columbia acceptances are coming out now. This particular waiting time is probably the worst suspense of the whole bloody affair …

So much for Canadian politeness!

So much for Canadian politeness!

So much for Canadian politeness!

So much for Canadian politeness!

I should preface that I'm of the mind that most things in moderation are fine, assuming one can moderate themselves. Also, I think it's worth emphasizing in this thread that there's a substantial difference between binge drinking and having a beer (especially lower point beers) or glass of wine in the evening.
The latter, even every day, is probably okay. Personally, I love a beer (note the singular) in the evening to unwind. However, the former is less helpful, and as one gets older, becomes increasingly damaging. I can drink quite a bit, and I always have been able to, but I rarely ever do because I feel like garbage the next day, and it's gotten worse as I've grown older. Graduate school is too intense of an experience to muddle up one's health. 
I think the most important thing is just to be mindful of one's actions and maintain a practical level of self-criticism. If you need to stop drinking altogether, then stop.

Guys, after that Oscars flub I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have nightmares that I didn't actually get into a PhD program. "I'm sorry, but there's been a mistake—we've actually admitted Moonlight to the English PhD program at Notre Dame!" 

There's a great discussion going on in the literature forum right now that you might appreciate: 
 

Definitely the latter!


One for each of those paragraphs. Sheesh...

Does anyone on here feel bad about declining programs? All the ones that have taken me (even the ones that have waitlisted me) have been so kind. I just feel awkward about the fact that i'll have to decline some without seeing them. I can't afford (time-wise) visiting each program, although I wish I could. How are the rest of you feeling about you decision making process? 

I just want to point out that I think that site does not stipulate as to whether placements are full time or not. Therefore, there's no way to know what percentage of those placements listed as "teaching" are full-time tenure track jobs vs. part-time adjunct work. Placement stats are absolutely important, but just be aware of what they're actually telling you (or not). For those of you going to recruitment events, the Graduate Directors will have a whole pitch where they talk up their placement record. Be sure to ask them about how many of those placements were full-time tenure track jobs (if that's what you're interested in having). They absolutely have those numbers, or they should, but some departments may be less forthcoming about the distinction. All "teaching" jobs are not alike.

Actually, to your point Glasperlenspieler: NYU does offer a certificate in theory through The Program in Poetics and Theory, which isn't all too buddy-buddy with the Philosophy program. Apparently the poetics and theory program is more "history of western philosophy" while the Philosophy program has a "strong analytic bent." Luckily, that certificate program is available, so if a philosophy is the answer, poetics and theory just might be.
heliogalabus, I'm liking you're thinking on the correlation between funding and rank. I just got my official acceptance letter from NYU today, which details a funding plan that's even more generous than what I've described above. They're literally throwing money at me. I imagine only so many programs are able to do this.
One thing that does concern me, though, is how strict NYU's program is. Students are not able to take incompletes, and if exams are failed more than once, you are "terminated from the program". This seems a bit severe.

Small but important point: If you take a look at NYU's philosophy department, I think you'll see that they don't have much to offer someone interested in "Theory". In fact, I suspect that much of the work done in that department is rather hostile to "Theory". NYU is certainly a strong place for people with the theoretical interests that the OP has, but I don't think you'll be finding it in the philosophy department.

Small but important point: If you take a look at NYU's philosophy department, I think you'll see that they don't have much to offer someone interested in "Theory". In fact, I suspect that much of the work done in that department is rather hostile to "Theory". NYU is certainly a strong place for people with the theoretical interests that the OP has, but I don't think you'll be finding it in the philosophy department.

Yeah, I think NYU is a long shot for pretty much everyone. But hey, someone's got to get in!

Small but important point: If you take a look at NYU's philosophy department, I think you'll see that they don't have much to offer someone interested in "Theory". In fact, I suspect that much of the work done in that department is rather hostile to "Theory". NYU is certainly a strong place for people with the theoretical interests that the OP has, but I don't think you'll be finding it in the philosophy department.