PoliSciWS

Honestly, folks, I think a lot of this speculation is fruitless. Placement isn't a matter of fate and it isn't something to worry about during the first 1-3 years of a program. If you're at a top tier institution, the undisputed top ~15ers, you're going to have a much better shot at a job simply by graduating from that program. We all know that, that's why we all shot for them. A few succeeded, the rest are in that group of good schools that don't have the name or legacy to secure your job for you. If you're not in an Ivy League program, or Stanford or Berkeley, you're going to have to work really hard to make up that difference. But it can be done, to a certain extent, especially shooting for jobs at lib arts colleges and some state schools. To compete with the folks from the top progs for a job, you're going to need a few publications and presentations under your belt and a couple very solid and respected references. If you excel at your work and come out of a UIUC, UNC, Duke, WUSTL, etc., most schools aren't going to chunk your app just because of your school.

UT-Austin is a place to consider for theory, too. They have more theorists in the department than most. (They have far more faculty than most, and some very good ones at that... Pangle, Budziszewski, Tulis). Per an earlier post, UVa is also friendly toward theorists. Like Texas, UVa has a significant number in the department. Both schools' theorists tend to work across subfields, which is always a plus and tends to ease department tensions. Decent placement, esp. in the South/Southeast.

Crazypoligirl: Something I am weighing re: my decision making is where I can get more personal faculty attention. I've been around small and large departments, and far prefer the personal attention of a smaller department. Moreover, the collegial environment was much better among students in the smaller department. Less competition, more genuine interest in one another's research. Also, where will you be able to stand out more? My hunch is that Brown, as a smaller program, and a "rebuilding" ivy, is going to be able to offer you some things that UT-Austin cannot. Not because UT isn't a good program, but because Brown is ivy, has $, and is serious about bolstering its status in the field. If you've got a fully-funded package, Brown offers a lot of plusses.

I think the 2-year guarantee is a justified fear. Even if they say you're very likely to receive funding beyond that, there is still the possibility that you'll be odd man out in year 3, 4, 5, or beyond. (And there are over 100 grad students in the UT-Austin program). If you've got a 5 or 6 year deal waiting for you elsewhere, and its a reputable program with decent placement, the funding concern is certainly justifiable and should factor into decision making. (In my opinion).