p287

Your score is very competitive, but of course even a perfect GRE score doesn't guarantee admission. It can be a good idea to look up the specific GRE cutoffs or averages for your target programs to see how you compare.

It is pretty common for referees to ask students to draft LORs themselves, and admissions committees almost surely know that, so I wouldn't be too worried. That said, I sympathize with your having to do all three yourself-- I am having to draft one on my own and worry that it will be too similar to my SOP and writing sample, as I feel that I have a somewhat distinct writing style (at least, when multiple pieces are laid out next to each other).
I would recommend a few things. Firstly, look up LOR samples. Donald Asher's book, Graduate Admissions Essays, has some samples; and I'm sure there are others online. Try using samples to draft letters that have different formats from each other. Secondly, be aware of elements you fall back on in your own writing. Are there words you use often? Sentence structures you lean towards? Be aware of these and avoid them as much as possible. You don't have to pretend to be a totally different person -- I think pretending that you didn't write something when you did would be the worst option here (dishonesty is never a good look on an applicant) -- but you can make the LORs less obviously written by yourself.

just got my first offer from OSU, good luck everyone!

The 3rd option would be the most formal, and what I would go with. CUNY alone can mean 1 of like 10 colleges. In some spots, you may be able to just say the Graduate Center, but I would use the full name at least for the 1st time.

Whether we like it or not, our relationship with our letter-writers is one-sided: We are completely dependent on their generosity. I think the best option here is for you to find strategies to manage your own worries, as well as the logistics of your applications.
I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that this prof is writing the same letter for all of your programs and just changing out the program info for each one. If this is the case, can all of the letters just be submitted now rather than doing each program by their individual deadlines? Maybe you could have a conversation with the prof and say something like, "I've decided I'd like to have everything submitted by November 30th. Will that work for you?" Give yourself a little breathing room (don't put her deadline at the actual application deadline). Then you can leave her alone, assuming she'll submit by the deadline you give her, and just follow up after that date if there are any issues.

I had a similar issue when applying for my Masters. I opted to accept one and defer the other-- it gave me the freedom of trying one out while knowing the other was still an option.

Hi itslit,
We are in similar fields — DM me if you'd like to connect. I’m not an expert on admissions, but your list of schools looks good to me. If you’re looking for more programs, I’d recommend checking out some Media Studies programs like those at U Oregon and CU Boulder. Also, check out Temple’s Communication program and see if it’s of any interest.
Good luck!

I personally think you should focus on the other areas of your application. Try to make the rest airtight and supplement your awa scores with a strong SOP and/or maybe a writing sample

@p287 I am not an expert on this, but I think it would be good if one your recommendations was from your undergraduate and the other from your graduate school experience so that the admission committee can get an all-encompassing view on your education. I think the undergraduate advisor would be good, if even they aren't faculty, because they can speak about your alumni activities, they have known you for some time, and they could explain how good your online program is in comparison to on-campus programs.
Additionally, I think your third recommender should be your grad school professor. It seems grad schools like having professors as recommenders and it seems like even though you haven't known her for long time, she knows your academic work. However, the graduate school supervisor would be good too since they can speak about your experiences as a researcher.
You want to choose people that can talk about different parts of you on a personal and academic level so the admission committee can see how dynamic you are.
I hope that helps, and good luck!

Sleep. It is so important for our mental health. You are going to schedule your classes, research, papers, reading... also schedule time to sleep. There will be days when things impede on your plans, for sleeping and other things, but do your best to prioritize sleeping as much as your other school and life activities.

Frustrated by the absence of a website listing PhD programs not requiring GREs, I made one. 
https://grenotrequired.com/
Right now, I have two pages — humanities/social sciences and STEM — the STEM page has links to existing spreadsheets created by Physicists and by Biomed faculty. Those are the two fields most ahead of this curve. Interesting range of institutions are making moves away from their use — Stanford, Northwestern, WashU, University of New Mexico, UCSF and more...
Post names of more programs as comments to the website pages, or here. Thank you, and good luck.

I just started at UCI and I moved from NYC! Compared to NYC, the prices are generally more reasonable and there are plenty of safe areas. I personally live on campus for now, but I know plenty of people who live elsewhere and are happy. You definitely want a car to get around here, which in some ways is a negative, especially if you enjoyed the public transit in/around NYC. On the other hand, it gives you the flexibility to expand your housing search to fit your criteria.

I have had similar conversations before. They are a great opportunity and nothing to worry about. My recommendation is to make sure you know your research interests fairly well and know the work of some of the program's faculty, particularly those you are interested in working with. In my experience, the conversation might cover your general interest in the field, your background, what appeals to you about that particular school/program, and specifics about the program (from the POI). I was given a lot of great info about life as a student, career outcomes, and application tips. You should try to think ahead about questions regarding the program so you can make the most of your conversation and come across as educated about the program you're applying to.

I would recommend slacks or a skirt with a sweater, polo, cardigan, collared shirt, sports coat... that sort of thing. Chances are, the people you'll be meeting follow a casual or business-casual dress code. You want to be presentable and show that you take the opportunity seriously without being overdressed. For proper interviews, I would recommend something more formal, but for a visit you can stick with what I mentioned. The most important thing is to wear something comfortable that will allow you to be confident and free of distractions. And always err on the side of moderately conservative (no logos, slogans, short skirts, low necklines, etc.).

This is a bit of a weird question...
Prior to pursuing a Master's degree, I was a full-time athlete for 10 years. I had decent success, including being inducted into national halls of fame, etc. This background is loosely related to my proposed PhD research (or, it at least led me to being passionate about my area of research).
I am now putting together a CV for my PhD applications and am wondering whether any of my athletic honors/awards should be included. Certainly not minor ones, but I'm wondering if some of the larger honors might speak to my background knowledge of my topic, dedication/work ethic, that sort of thing. On the other hand, it seems silly to include such things on an academic CV.
Thanks in advance.

Sorry for this super late response -- I am new to the forum.
I am in my second and final year of graduate studies at The New School. I am in the arts/entertainment/business side of things, not government or policy, so my experiences are slanted towards that. But here they are:
1. I love The New School. My courses are interesting and leas towards practical applications of what we learn. Most of my courses produce at least one professional-level piece for a portfolio, which is amazing. We are also encouraged to pursue our own interests and develop materials to support projects we are working on outside of school.
2. With very few exceptions, the faculty are fantastic. They always have time for you; always remember you after your class has ended; are always happy to help, offer guidance, etc.
3. I had a 3.87 coming out of my undergrad plus 10+ years of professional experience in my field, including significant international work. Zero funding. Not a thing. And tuition is EXPENSIVE. About $15,000 per semester before books and other materials. Plus, the cost of living in (or near) NYC.
4. Frankly, a lot of people don't know about The New School. But then, a lot of people do and are very impressed by it. Most people I speak with know it as an arts school. Many see it as up-and-coming and avant-garde: a response to more classical art and film schools. I'm not sure that I would compare The New School's reputation to that of Pepperdine, but it does seem to be respected in the right circles. I am currently talking to a few potential schools for PhD schools, and they all know The New School and seem to respect it.
5. My biggest complaint about The New School is that the admin has a tendency to be disorganized, so something that should take one email takes five. But it has never impacted my actual education or class selection. My favorite thing about The New School is the strong emphasis on practical skills. Yes, you learn theory; but you will also learn to apply it.

With respect, I think you might be approaching it from the wrong angle.  Generally, the reason to do a PhD is to research.  You can't do the research that you're interested in in all places.  Therefore, you have to first figure out your research interests, then find out what universities have similar programs and professors doing that.  Then, you figure out admissions requirements.
 
So the real question is: What are you wanting to research, and where can you do that?

Hi Dark Chocolate Mocha!
I relocated to the U.S. in 2016 and had some similar questions/struggles. I will try to answer as best I can.
BANKS
Which bank(s) do you think is/are the best according to their quality of service?
I had A LOT of problems with Chase when dealing with sending money internationally (I still have a bank account in my home country). I have liked TD Bank, but have not been with them for very long. Note that I tried to sign up with an online bank (Ally) but they were unable to verify my I.D. because my SSN was so new. Likewise, you will probably not be able to open a bank account with TD, Chase, etc., using their website if you are using a new SSN -- you will probably have to go in to a branch.
What are the requirements for a foreign national to open a bank account in the US? Is it straightforward, or do I need to deal with some legal issues that U.S. citizens are exempt from?
See above. You will need to go in to a branch with your passport, visa, and SSN. I'd recommend calling the branch ahead of time to see if you need any other documentation.
Do you pay annual fees for credit cards in the US? I might consider getting a credit card from the bank where I will have an account, as I find having a credit card handy for making online transactions. That being said, I will be on a tight budget as a grad student, and if getting a credit card means that I will have to pay some kind of annual fee for it, I'd rather not have one.
You may have trouble getting a credit card if using a new SSN. There are cards made for people with no credit. They have very low limits ($200-$500) and require you to make a security deposit covering that amount. I think they are beneficial for people new to the U.S. as they help you build your credit.
Finally, I am asking these questions assuming that I will have freedom to choose my bank, but do schools sometimes force you to open your account in a certain bank because they have a deal with them or something?
I have never heard of this happening.
GSM OPERATORS
Since I will mostly communicate with my friends and family members in my home country via Skype, Hangouts, and similar apps, I will not be using my old phone number. I will switch to an American GSM operator and get a new number to communicate with my new contacts in the US. Which GSM operator would you recommend based on your personal experiences?
If you are going to have ready access to wi-fi, I would look in to Cricket. They are owned and powered by AT&T but have much slower data plans. Wi-fi should work fine on them, though. They are prepaid plans so don't require established credit, and are also significantly cheaper than typical AT&T and other plans.
HAIR DRESSERS
Now, I will be living in Boston and I checked the prices at some hair salons, and they sounded terrifying! Even the "cheapest" hair salons (those with a single dollar sign next to their names) could charge $75 for a simple haircut. I don't know how much a hair-dying procedure costs, but I anticipate that it will be expensive as well. So I need a life hack for that. How do I get a cheap hair dye in the Boston area? Is there a good way of doing that?
I live in the NYC area and decent hair dressers are just plain expensive. They start around $80 for a low-maintenance woman's haircut. If this is too much for you, you can seek out reputable hair dressing schools -- they often offer discounted haircuts from students. But keep in mind that they are students, and a risk does come with that.
HOME TEXTILES
IKEA or Amazon are fine. I tend to get my textiles from Target and am very happy with them.