I, too, had a pretty devastating rejection sweep 2 years ago. In the end, it was all for the best. I wasn't ready to begin a PhD program. Take the time to delve deeper into your interests and be sure to familiarize yourself with the questions that are actively being asked within that topic. Knowing the literature and how you plan to contribute makes a huge difference, especially if you are already well-qualified in the GRE and GPA departments. Apply to NSF--It not only shows that you're serious, but it's a great exercise in putting together a real research proposal. Better yet, it's due in November, so you'll have a great proposal written far before your first PhD app.