Crafter

I also agree with you and Sigaba that those who work more hours are going to be more competitive. But there's another way to interpret the same fact: I know I am disadvantaged when competing with someone who works 60 hours per week consistently and that is fine with me. I rather work 40 hours, be happy, and find a less competitive job than work 60 hours in order to compete. To maintain my own sanity, I try not to compare myself with others--even if I work 60 hours per week, there is always another metric I can use to say "People in Group X are still more competitive than me".
 
In addition, I should be more explicit and say that the 9-5 / 40 hours per week schedule is the maximum that a graduate student should feel "required" to do. I feel like I am doing "good enough" when I work this much. On occasion, I will feel particularly inspired or motivated to try something and I'll work extra to get it done. But this is because I want to and because I made this choice for myself, not out of obligation. 

Great thread!! I wish I have seen this before I started my applications!! 
 
Besides the  "no such thing as safety school" "Fit is the best way to increase your chances, don't apply to schools where none of the faculty is doing research of your interest" (and to this I would add "don't apply to schools where only ONE faculty is doing what you are interested in" -unless that faculty has showed interest in you) and "don't apply to schools you don't want to go -because of the city or the school itself" or "don't rely on school ranking". 
 
If I knew then what I know now....
 
I would have applied to more private schools.
 
As a foreign applicant to US schools, I did not realize how relevant the funding issue was for international applicants!! I got rejected to every single Public School and the main reason I was given (when given) was funding. I found out that most of the schools I applied to only take one or two international students per year and none of them posted such relevant piece of information on the program's website. Some schools post that information but some others don't. Unfortunately, the ones I applied to did not stated anything like that. 
 
This is, of course, a generalization and should not be taken as if carved on stone. Many public schools have enough funding to take international students, but my advice would be to apply to public and private schools in a balanced way Out of my 10 applications, only 2 were private schools!
 
I disagree with people saying that applying to, say, 10 programs will hurt your chances. I only got asked where I was applying to in 3 of my 10 applications. And in the 3 of them I just answered with 5 names (out of laziness, not to be secretive). 
 
I also disagree with people offering advice about not worrying about GRE or GPA. I used to be very vocal about the poor value of GRE as predictor of grad school success. I still mantain that GRE is a useless way to measure research and grad school sucess. BUT, when it comes to grad school applications, it is part of your entire application package and the better your scores, the higher your chances, whether the schools claims to be reviewing your files as a whole, this is, somewhat bullshit in most cases. If you got mediocre scores in your GRE (or in one of the components that happens to be of relevance to your field) somebody with better scores will likely take your place.  With this I am not saying that an average or poor GRE score will ruin your, otherwise, brilliant application, but unless you really have an impressive CV, great GPA and LORs, a poor GRE will be something that will put you in disadvantage. Also, a good GRE could compensate for other small faults in your application. So, study with plenty of time in advance for your GRE. As somebody said in this same thread before: GRE will not help you, but will certainly kill you (if bad).
 
If I new then what I know now, I would have only applied to one school. The one I got in!!!! (and saved lots of money).

I still respectfully disagree. If someone is applying to those schools for the reasons you enumerated, yes, that would be a very bad idea. But if someone is applying in, say, particle physics and is interested in studying X particle under Y conditions, and it just so happens (I have no idea if it does or not) that the majority of people interested in studying X under Y are located at those schools. (Which does tend to happen frequently, at least in my own field -- there are certain topics that are 'hot' and complex, which are not being studied at the lower-tier universities which prefer to focus their energies on more "manageable" subjects.) Therefore, if our applicant is interested in X under Y and realizes that the prestige of her university will affect her ability to later attain a TT job, she may choose to apply only to the top n schools in her field. Not JUST because of prestige, but because that's where she has the best fit -- that's where people are studying what she's interested in. Prestige is a minor factor that only comes into play in her perception insofar as it affects her ability to get a TT job eventually.
Sure, she might not get in to these n schools, but she can then take time off and improve her application until she can.
tl;dr Fit >>>>> prestige in terms of importance. However, sometimes the two are correlated.
While these questions are optional, I feel you can answer them in such a way that will help your application. When I personally answered mine, I held two ideas in my mind:
1) Answer with schools of a similar tier (because I didn't want schools thinking they were my only reach or my only safety, and
2) Answer with schools that had the most similar research focus and theoretical foundation. For example, if applying to school B, and POI B went to grad school at C and collaborates frequently with D (both schools to which I'm applying), to answer that question I might list C and D for school B's application.
Just my personal approach to it, and the main thing I'm trying to emphasize by this is that there are a lot of different ways answers to that question could be perceived. When answering, it's best to decide how things are viewed in your own field and the sort of message you think it is most appropriate to transmit, and respond accordingly.

Do people realize that when they ask you what other schools you are applying to, it is optional? You don't have to say. They have no way of knowing where or how many applications you are sending out unless you tell them.

That is not necessarily true for all fields. Many people do that to maximize there chances. It is no different then someone only applying to a few. And reasons why some people apply to several are because many people are good in certain fields, there is not only 'one' distinguished person in that field, people would be honored to work with those people, and many schools can have a strong fit for a person depending on the field, most likely, the humanities.

1. Start the process as early as possible. Seriously. It's never too early to start.

2. Spend time researching the programs you are considering applying to - read their website, as well as potential advisors' websites. Read about the location, the weather, the current funding situation. Ask your professors about each school.

3. Don't apply to "safety schools", there is no such thing. Also don't apply to schools in locations you absolutely don't see yourself living in. Don't make choices that will make you unhappy before you even start.

4. Write an early SOP draft and put it aside for at least a few weeks. You may find while writing the draft that you struggle to define your interests. Spend some time thinking about that; it can be a real soul-searching process and you should not apply before you've gone through it and are confident in your chosen field(s).

5. Think ahead. One of the papers you write for a class this year will likely turn into your writing sample next year; get good feedback and revise accordingly. One or more of the professors you are taking classes with this year will be recommenders next year. Go to office hours, make yourself known to them. Seek feedback from them on your work, maybe even on papers for other classes if they are interested.

6. Use the summer wisely. A small RAship or an independent study could go a long way towards getting you some much needed research experience, maybe also a LOR and/or a writing sample. Not to mention how much it'll help you to better define your interests for your SOP.

7. Find out if it's customary to contact potential advisors ahead of time in your field. If so, do it a few weeks before or a few weeks after the new term starts. Don't wait, this can affect your choice where to apply.

8. Don't stress overmuch about grades. For one, there's little you can do to change the ones you already have. Further, the "intangible" parts of the application are so much more important.

9. Revise, revise, and revise some more. Let professors and friends read your SOP for content and for style. Let someone read your writing sample as well. Go through multiple versions, take your time. These things are hard to write.

10. Be on top of things, part 1. I suggest a chart with the following info for each school: (a) deadline, (b ) app fee, (c ) link to app website, (d) username, password for website, (e) requirements (how many transcripts, GRE/subject GRE score, TOEFL score, LORs, SOP prompt, writing sample length, other - diversity statement, personal statement, letter of intent, etc.), (f) potential advisors, links to websites

11. Be on top of things, part 2. Have a time line: deadlines for each school, when to order transcripts (how many), when to send out application packets, when to contact recommenders, when to send reminders. If you're international, look up American holidays around when you expect to send your app so you're not surprised by the (lack of) operating times of the post office and the schools.

12. Be on top of things, part 3. Get in touch with your recommenders early. Prepare a packet for each of them with your transcript, a paper you wrote for their class, a draft of your SOP, a list of the schools you're applying to with their deadline. Ask them if/when they would like you to send them reminders. Consider having a backup plan for flaky recommenders - in particular ones that will be away and will be hard to track down if they disappear.

Older and less tech savvy? I swear that the "digital natives" only know how to use social media (exaggerating, but it boggles my mind how many 20-somethings don't really know how to use computers). Whereas those of us who are "older" remember command lines, having to program to get a computer to do anything, etc. I find those in their 40s who had Commodore 64s as their first computers are much more "tech savvy" than the 20 year old who uses social media, but can't put together a computer or program anything.

Private schools tend to be more generous to international students. I would NOT look at the acceptance rate, instead, look at the "% of admitted students who are international". Acceptance rates for international students are low because 1) schools accept fewer international students and 2) more international students apply! You don't want to confound the two--you just want to avoid schools that do (1), but it doesn't matter for you if (2) is true.
 
For example, at my current school (a private school), about 40%-50% of each incoming graduate class is international. This is a huge difference compared to public California schools (they quote fractions around 10%). In my field, these programs take 5-6 students per year, so you'd have to be like the best international student in TWO years to get in! Some big state schools (e.g. Wisconsin) will boast about how much of their class is international (12%). According to their international student office, it's one of the highest in the country and I think that's true (only private schools, which there are few of, would have higher numbers). 
 
My advice for you would be to apply to more private schools. Your list only has 4 right now, you might want to increase it! I got into high ranked private schools but rejected from lower rank public schools because (I think) of international student status!

People put considerable time and effort into giving advice, whether you think they did or not. They took time to type something they thought you would find helpful. Calling them out for not saying what you want makes people less likely to give you constructive advice. How would you feel if you took the time to read 6 pages, gave your thoughts, and then OP basically told you it was useless??

It's similar to lab stuff. You slave over some data, hand it to your PI, and then they go "haha, this is awful!" It's not a good feeling and makes the person less likely to put that much time in again.

You've also named some professors by name, so you could reasonably be identified by someone. What you post on the Internet can and will come back to haunt you. Being rude to people on the Internet is the same as in real life.

/end rant

I had the same feeling like one person posted there. obviously deep in your heart you liked school A better. But just concerned about the ranking. Seriously for me ranking should not be a priority on decision making. 
Your overall grad school life matters MORE. 
 
Good luck

I went to Columbia SPH, and for you, Tulane sounds like the better option. Tulane is a top school of public health, it's cheaper from you, and you will have social support and a lower cost of living. Although I do feel like your education should come first, if you have two equally good choices having the support of your significant other and your parents can help be a tiebreaker. And trust me when I say living in NYC as a broke grad student is not the most fun in the world.
 
You can't go wrong, but it feels like you are leaning towards Tulane and just feel like you can't turn down Columbia because of its reputation. I give you permission Tulane is awesome!

I really strongly second (third?) the recommendation of some good travel mugs. I'd check out Contigo- they have 16 and 20 oz leakproof insulated mugs. And I stress leakproof. Throw it in your backpack and don't worry about it leakproof. Forget you're carrying it upside down leakproof.

I have the 20 oz, and it goes pretty much everywhere with me.

Klean Kanteen also has some very nice insulated bottles of various sizes- I have a 12 oz wide mouth that I use for smoothies/juice in the mornings, and it works really well.

Invest in either a refrigerator for your office, or some good tupperware to pack food in. Nothing will send your budget through the roof like eating lunch out, and you really need to get in a good lunch if you're working long days.

Good pens. I second the recommendation for colored pens. I have a set of Sharpie pens (Black/Blue/Red) that I use for writing and marking up- the blue and red both show up well on typed works, but the blue is a bit softer. I use the red for undergrads, and the blue for friends.

As was mentioned, invest in good paper/notebooks. I use the pads of 20lb paper for scratch work, and have some moleskin notebooks that I love for seminars/etc.

Good walking shoes- you'll probably be doing a lot of it, and good shoes making your feet not ache is well worth it.