How to improve CS grad school application until Fall 2015 ?

[Pearsauce]

Hello!
I just stumbled upon this site, thank all of you for helping guys like me out! This is a great site.
I am a undergrad student from Germany and plan to go into AI. I will finish my degree by spring 2015 and want to make sure I do not miss anything I would regret later on when applying for a PhD or MS program in fall 2015. The big question for me is how to use the remaining year most efficiently to make the best out of my situation.

Some facts about me:
- 3rd year Cognitive science student in a good German university
- Taking mostly computer science courses though my degree requires me to take ~30% of my courses in areas like psychology, philosophy and linguistics
- Probably finishing with 3.8 to 3.9 GPA, (computer science on the better part of it)

- 4th place in small international programming contest, invitation to Tokyo, all expenses covered
- Two scientific publications as second author in bayesian learning, one published, another on its way
- Currently studying at the University of Michigan as an exchange student until summer 2014

- Need to write a thesis to get bachelor's degree once I return, either in Fall 2014 or Spring 2015

 

My plan for the next year until fall 2015 grad school application deadline is as follows:
- Taking graduate CS courses here at UMich to see If i like/can do it

- Get to know one professor here at UMich, ask to write me a recommendation (would you recommend this?)
- Ask for a recommendation from the head of the research group which published the papers
- Either write relevant thesis or do an internship, ask for recommendation there

 

Although I really appreciate having the opportunity to study at UMich, it makes developing good contacts to professors and do research harder since I will only be here in Michigan until May and once I return I will not have strong contacts to my professors at home because of my absence.

I think my application would both improve with more research experience as well as an internship at a relevant company, but it seems I have to choose either between writing my thesis (which might not be considered research) or the internship.

I tend towards the internship since I am not sure if the thesis counts a lot. My concern is if I am not accepted for 2015 I will still have to finish my degree and won't be able to improve my application significantly. Doing the thesis first I could work for one year before reapplying.

 

What is your take on the situation? How can I make the most of the remaining year? (Is there even a decent chance to get into the top CS grad programs?)

Thank you so much for your input!