<p>Let me address your 4 pts
- The more specific you are in your research area the better. A specific Geographical area is great!
- you have to do what you want to do, do not tailor it to a program, because at the end it is YOUR research, just be you. Most Depts are big enough to accomodate your interests
- It is a good idea if you use your time usefully. Study for the GRE, work to polish your writing sample, contact profs that you may want to work with at campuses you are interested in applying to, learn a language relevant to your research.
- Knowing your GPA and GRE scores would be helpful, you could IM me.</p>