AnxiousPhilosopher

First of all I will be applying to schools both in Canada and the US. My applications will mainly be to PhD programs and a few MA's. For some perspective I am applying to Chicago, Cincinnati, Western and Toronto along with 2 other lower tier schools. I will how my overall application looks as of now below. I just want to know whether this is a competitive application or if I should lower my expectations of being accepted? Moreover, any feedback about my situation would be much appreciated. 1. My cumulative GPA is poor, with an overall, without including this year of course, is a 2.7 (in a 4.0 scale). It will likely go no higher than 3 after adding this year. Nonetheless, my last two year GPA is pretty good at 3.9, this is including my prediction if I include this year of course. One of these courses is actually a graduate course I had permission to take in which I got a 85 on. but I got a very low, but passing mark, in logic a few years ago. Some of these schools look at your overall GPA and some just the last 2 years. 2. I have research experience with 2 funded research assistance positions on my CV and am a part of a lab (theoretical STEM research). 3. I just submitted my first, and only, paper that I co-wrote with a postdoc to a top tier journal in psychology. I am first author on the paper. My CV in my grad app will show that the paper is submitted but, obviously, not say that it is accepted. 4. I have a posted accepted to The 27th Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, presented at 3 undergraduate conferences (the I organized), and have been awarded a $1500 leadership award by my university. 5. I have extensive extracurricular experience. From student council to presidential positions in philosophy clubs. I have also organized 3 undergraduate philosophy conference, and presented at all three of them. I have also directed and organized a 'real' conference with international speakers. I also conducted a dialogue style interview with a visiting scholar at my university (who I brought). 6. I will not be taking the GRE because it is not mandatory for these programs. 7. I am not sure if this matters but I will be adding in my application that I have organized and lead 2 reading groups with graduate students.