curious

It does not matter so long as you apply on time by the deadline. What matters is that you submit a quality application on time. If you have written the best essay you possibly can by September 30 then wouldn't there be every reason to just apply then and then move on with your life to doing more interesting things? But if what you are getting at is the question of whether you will be advantaged in the admissions process if you apply earlier rather than later, I don't think there's any evidence of that. For several schools I got admitted to I applied a day before the deadline. You might think that if you submit early you'll appear to be on top of things; of course the flip side of that is that if you submit early and the committee thinks there are clear weaknesses or sloppiness in your app, then they might wonder why you didn't take the full amount of time to write a good one. I know that some schools might have a lower application fee if you apply by a specified date earlier than a university-wide deadline, so if money is tight that may be a consideration for you depending on where you are applying. It's worth noting that most admissions committees won't actually see your application until January or February anyway because they aren't meeting before that time, so it isn't going to matter if you submit it in September for a December deadline because nobody's going to be reading it then anyway. Whatever you do, don't make this deadline thing a mindgame, because it really isn't. Some things about this process are actually (and it might seem incredibly, given how random it can seem) straightforward. Deadlines are one of them. The only problem you can possibly get into with them is submitting late. Don't waste your mental energy on this.

Strangelight and anyone else: I would be very, um, curious to know which departments you have heard have a "toxic" atmosphere.

If you feel you are looking for overviews, see Colin Matthew's edited volume in the oxford short history on the nineteenth century and Peter Clarke's Hope and Glory on the twentieth. Both are excellent starting points.

not entirely sure, but maybe columbia or maybe ucla

I'll just come out of semi-lurking to say: my boyfriend went to Princeton undergrad, and not only do they have free microfilm printing, they have free regular computer printing and free laundry. I kid you not. Think about how much money you'd save over 6-8 years there!

There is no formula. Most of it is about luck. But I think two things can help you. First, learn languages. The more the better. I don't want to blow my cover, but I been incredibly lucky in my undergraduate and masters, and got to do them at two very good universities filled with brilliant students. In both cases, the stand out kids were those who could do things not only in French, German, Spanish, Italian, etc., but also Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Norwegian, etc. The broader the range, the better- irrespective of what period/nation one is working on. We do a very poor job of teaching foreign language skills to kids in the US, so you will stand out if you have a wide range under your belt. If I could redo undergrad, I would devote more of my time to studying languages than to taking history courses. Wide-ranging linguistic ability can enable you to think about a whole set of projects that are otherwise unfeasible. The best thing you can do for your prospects over the summer is study languages. Second, come up with an innovative writing sample. I don't think it necessarily has to be about history. Rather, choose work that displays your ability to think creatively about a problem (especially if it is one people thing has been "done to death"), and write about it in a clear, precise, and concise manner. I think it can really help if you can demonstrate what's innovative or new about your approach or insight. Sorry if this seems abstract, but am trying to avoid revealing myself. Hoping to get lucky again for the Ph.D! I am pleased to have some very good options so far, for which I am exceptionally thankful, but am increasingly pessimistic that I will get into the exact places I want. Such a crap-shoot.

does anyone know if Harvard has notified everybody it has admitted? Should I give up hope? I hate the idea of bothering a department about status but I'd like to just know now that I've been rejected. Then I can come up with new dreams sooner.

I noticed a Harvard history admissions via phone posted earlier today. I'm wondering if anyone else has heard and whether they are actually releasing results, or this was a personal communication. Thanks in advance for any insight; I imagine several hundred other very nervous people would appreciate it!