<p>I went to graduate school in history about 100 years ago, so my information may be outdated, but the advice I was given in choosing a program worked for me. Find the people who are doing work in your field(s) of interest, particularly those whose work you really admire, and contact them. Ask them which programs (including their own) they believe would be best for you.<br>
My understanding about admissions to many of these top programs is that if you pass their threshold requirements, the admissions committee tries to determine who you would be studying with, if admitted, and asks a professor in that area to review the application for interest, fit. Therefore, direct contact may not only help you decide where to go, it may also give you an advantage at the time you apply.<br>
Finally, the more specialized your field, the more importance is placed on who your mentor is. Good luck.</p>