All of these applications are going to be thrown into the pile. As long as your scores are around these averages, you can stay in the running. You can stay in that pile. The longer you stay in the pile, the better your chances are of getting into the school. If you have the basic credentials, the things that enable you to stick out from the rest of the applicants are going to get you admitted into the program.
Most graduate programs are at large universities where faculty are under pressure to publish.
Prospective applicants who have demonstrated they are capable of undertaking research projects and have acquired a number of research skills are very attractive to a program. These are skills faculty members won't have to spend time teaching a new student. There are a number of ways to get involved. You can begin by looking up your undergraduate professors' names in the literature and seeing what types of things they are interested in, asking other students around the department, or simply going up to your professor and asking. Ask the faculty at your undergraduate institution for help on a research idea you have developed.