Hey all. Hope your holidays/application seasons are all going well.

So I'd meant to complete my grad school applications around October-November. They're all MSc/MA programs (all taught except one research). But I've had such a shitty autumn that I haven't even managed to do that... recovering from my case of COVID, two immediate family members passing away, caring for my mum whose MS is getting a little bad, and my housing situation becoming much more precarious (had to spend my December looking for places to live instead of completing my applications).

As a result, I'm super discouraged to even continue... because of some overdue stuff, my transcript won't be ready until late January anyway. I'd had my heart set on applying to some UK universities (I'm in Canada), many of which have rolling application deadlines. High-tier, not Oxbridge or anything, I'm definitely not good enough for that, but still top 10. My application is borderline, I think -- I have research and work experience, but a so-so GPA (my first couple of years of university were not great, but I improved). So I'd meant to apply early to boost my chances. I was really excited to apply to a few of my dream programs at my dream schools, and funding may not even be a problem -- I've worked and saved a lot. But now that I'll only be applying late in the cycle, I don't know if there's any point.

My references said yes in September, but with all that's been happening I still have to tell them that these are the programs I'm going for, send them my letters of intent, etc. (That doesn't take long! But I shouldn't do it if I'm not going through with my applications...)

I see everyone I know, people on r/gradadmissions and my friends, getting admissions and I haven't even done my applications... should I bother? Or just wait a year? (If it's not too late, does anyone have any tricks to motivate yourself into applying?)