Need inputs in choosing university list for MS vs Direct PhD

[Jaraganak]

Dear Forum Users,

 

My ultimate goal is to do PhD (ECE) in a top US university.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My short profile:

GRE: 315 (152 V, 163 Q, 3.5 AWA)
TOEFL : 103 (27 R, 26 L, 22 S, 28 W)
CGPA : 9.05/10 (MIT, Anna univ)

1) B.Tech (IT) at Madras Institute of Technology , Anna University with a CGPA of 9.05 (3rd rank in department)
2) 2 International conference papers (ITU-T Kaleidoscope conferences) published in IEEE explore (2nd author) in the Wireless area + working on third paper now
3) Young Author Recognition Award from ITU-T (with a special prize of Blackberry tablet) for presentation of my paper in South Africa
4) 3.5 years experience in Alcatel Lucent India (done research projects in 4G LTE mobile wireless communications)
5) 1 year experience as a "Research Engineer" at Center of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT), IIT Madras Research Park.
6) My research papers and experience are in line with my intended graduate program (wireless communications)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assumption: PhD in ECE is my ultimate goal & depend fully on Funding

Universities:

List X:    UTA, UIUC, UCSD, GeorginaTech, Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Maryland--College Park, Wisconsin-Madison

List Y:    UCSB, VirginiaTech, NCSU, TAMU, Columbia, Rutgers, Rice, NYU

Options:

Case A:  Apply for MS to all univs (List X and Y) and mention in SOP that I want to continue for PhD. From available admits, select one univ which gives funded MS (with thesis option)

or

Case B:  Apply for PhD to all univs (List X and Y) and mention in SOP to consider for MS if not selected for PhD. From available admits, select a funded PhD or funded MS (with thesis option).

or 

Case C:  Apply in a mixed fashion. 
       Apply for MS to univs in List X and mention in SOP that I want to continue for PhD. From available admits, select one univ which gives funded MS (with thesis option).
       Apply for PhD to univs in List Y and mention in SOP to consider for MS if not selected for PhD. From available admits, select a funded PhD or funded MS (with thesis option).

or

Case D: Apply for both MS and PhD separately if university allows (in List X and Y) to be on a safer side

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My question is, "Of the above options (case A, B, C and D), which is a better & safer option" ?

Thanks a lot in advance !
I highly appreciate and value your views.