Hi! Started my program this academic year, and have really learned a lot from this experience. Am currently at a.. T10 school I guess? And got offers/interviews a few other T10s as well.
Just one more voice to add to the research experience/faculty connection choir... The thing that really struck me is just how many students (myself included) in my current program (and those I was visiting) had already been in the school. Either through research, or prior degrees, nearly half the cohort had developed at least a years' worth of track record with the program before starting. In my experience at least, being near the department was incredibly informative for the professors, who got to know my work (and could write of it well to other schools), and for me to know exactly what I wanted out of a school when I was choosing.