ArcierePrudente

I can still never remember which 'eminent/immanent/imminent' I want to use on the first try. Once I have a free second to breathe I'll need to devise a mnemonic. Especially since I'm in... eimmainent critique. 
Biggest Application Blunders:
1. When writing the phrase "Machiavellian political thought," in one SoP (fortunately for a school that's much lower on the list) I accidentally missed a 't'. Evidently I am going to orient such-and-such with respect to "Machiavellian political though." 
2. Not my fault, but because of a system glitch, one of my M.A. courses showed as 'Incomplete' on my transcript. After several frantic calls to the University Registrar's office, I ended up having to attach an explanatory letter to all my applications with the Registrar's phone number, my assurance that I'd gotten an 'A' in the class, and my subtle but clear indication that the 'incomplete' mark had nothing to do with me or my performance in the class. My transcript only just now got changed. 
(In hindsight I should have just gone full Donald Trump circa the Hawaiian Missile-Misleading Crisis... 'This was a registrar thing but I am now going to get involved with the transcript office. I love that they took responsibility. They took full responsibility.') 
3. I applied to two PhD programs in the same department, and therefore had to open two applications on the same portal. If I had both application windows open at once, the server would automatically copy my responses for one application and paste them into the other application. Talk about terrifying. I hate robots. 

I did my undergrad in LA, and moving to Chicago for an MA was the transition of all transitions. Long-term, you're going to want two winter coats—one of which might be knee-length and the other one of which should go at least to your calves and make you look like you're headed to a casting call for the Michelin Man. Eddie Bauer has good deals—you can shop for them on clearance during the summer. 
Also: thermal underwear. Yes, really. Good thermal underwear. And layer your gloves. 
Most places in the Midwest are great at cranking up the heat inside buildings, so once you're indoors, you can pretty much wear whatever. That said, you'd be smart to layer: you can pack a skirt if you'd like, but depending on the temps you can tolerate, you might be far happier (and still look super cute) in a pair of business trousers. You can pair that with a good blouse and colorful jacket/blazer—maybe one with contrasting/patterned inner sleeves that you can roll up for some added spunk—and voilà! Good to go. 

Hello guys, I have been shadowing this forum for awhile, reading all the valuable information you guys have posted. They have been very useful. Great to see all of you here!
I would like to share that I have received my first acceptance this season from UT Dallas for the PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy program on December 15th 2017 (Not a troll here, just sharing). (Though they did inform that GA/TA appointments are made later in March.) Therefore, I think schools actually do have variability in sending out acceptances. That being said, for the rest of the programs, I am sure the main bulk of notices will come at a later time, like how @csantamir and @Hamb has mentioned above. Fingers crossed for everyone! All the best guys.