I agree with asking your mentors for suggestions based on your personal research interests. I also agree about not putting too much weight on any particular school's ranking. However, you should consider applying to 2-3 of your "dream schools" even if you think they are too competitive. There is a fair degree of subjectivity and you can't predict how any individual will perceive your personal statements.
If you want to shoot for very competitive programs, you should consider 1-2 years working as a tech full-time in a really good lab on a independent project. Of course this is not always an easy option when visas are involved.