DickNixon

Hey guys! Sorry if this is in the wrong forum or is an annoying, frequently asked question. I am looking to apply for a History PhD in America. My field has always been American History - Antebellum South Carolina and Virginia in particular, with a keen interest in the Mexican Drug War - so I have been told to apply in the states because, to quote my supervisor, '...all funding leads to the States'. I have begun the process. I've got a GRE booked for later this month, I've contacted the University of South Carolina to introduce myself and I intend to do the same with others. The problem is I'm not sure how up to scratch my applications would be given the worldwide standard of applicants. So, I've got my Masters from a history department ranked in the top 15 worldwide after they gave me a scholarship. I'll probably end up with a merit. My BA was from a considerably poorer university and isn't all that impressive. I previously worked in the archive department of a big museum in the area where I took part in research among the other general archiv-ey things. Currently I'm delaying a PhD offer I had in the UK to live in Spain, teach, and improve my Spanish as I read that a second language is a big plus for history applicants. I'm not sure how true this is but a second language can't hurt, I guess. So, is it worth my time? Or am I better of sticking to the UK institutions? Do you have any advice on the application process? Just how important is the GRE to my chances? Thanks!