Applying to grad school: what I learned

Having just sent in my graduate fellowship acceptance (and having just reactivated my FAFSA pin, joy), it seemed like a good time to post my accumulated wisdom on the graduate school application process. I know I would have appreciated someone laying this information out for me at this time last year; particularly at the beginning I felt rather isolated, especially compared with the fellowship application process I went through my senior year of college. I know some people who read this journal are thinking of graduate school in the near future, and I hope you find this helpful. ETA: I forgot to say, this applies to schools in the States only. /eta

( Cut because this is only of interest to some people )