I don't know, I appreciate the support but this is one of the obstacles that is making me think I should put off applying for another year.
Although I was intending to do Comp Lit, which was my undergrad major, my russian's been out of practice for a year. I have a 3.0 GPA, which would definitely increase a little once I add international GPA from year in Russia, and a 600/600 on standard GRE. I'm interesting in applying to NYU, UTexas, UC Santa Barbara. I haven't made any headway in apps. I know that I could get them done by the deadlines, but am just wavering right now.
Also, I'm not sure if I'm past "I just love to read!" as a motivator for grad school. Definitely interested in academia and working as a prof, but having a single area of focus has never been my strong suit. I don't feel like there's much market for a Russian-speaking Comp Litter whose primarily interested in Joyce-Wallace-Pynchon, Proust, Mann, Tolstoy.
Please post encouragement or "You're right, give up"