I would say 2 and 3.
If you were able to get a research assistantship it would definitely help your app. Perhaps they may not be willing to hire you for a year, but you might be able to get the opportunity to get some experience on a summer project. If you're not able to get a research assistantship, I would suggest you use the upcoming months to read the academic literature in your field and nurture your interests. By doing so, you'll get a more focused idea of what you want to do in grad school and when it comes to writing your SoP for next year, you'll have a lot of material to draw from about what you want to do.
As for the schools you apply to, I would suggest that you expand your search for good programs. Still go ahead and apply to your dream schools, but make sure you seek out schools that are strong in your area, but may not be as competitive as 'dream schools'. That way, you're likely to have better options come next year.
Best of luck!