How competitive are those schools ?

<p>What is it like to plunge into the admission race in Science Graduate schools which emphasizes on research like the hopkins or MIT for chemistry and biology majors ?</p>

<p>1) what does one need to get into them?
My GPA will be in the range of 3.8-3.9/4.00 "intl student"
GRE verbal 550-650, math 750 ++ , writing i dunno lets assume 4
Excellent recommendations
but with doubts about my research perfection .. Not so much opportunities in our third world :S but I have made 2 good research papers so far ?</p>

<p>Please advice ..
am squeezing every minute to do my best
What other things do I need to do to get my Msc there ??</p>

<p>2) What are other good schools that has a research preference, and are less competitive ??</p>