Stats: recent graduate, top school, sub 2.6 cGPA, 3.0+ major GPA , irrelevant work study experience, no internships or major ecs; no upward trend, especially low quant grades
Currently taking quant courses, but they won't be done in time to provide an alternate transcript.
Contacted the m.s. admissions office to check leeway on high GMAT/low GPA; m.s. admissions rep stopped short of telling me not to apply but says very unlikely. Person was horrified by my transcript (I am too) and I could only mention immaturity, family problems, etc. All true, but I know not to mention that I was severely depressed for the last few years. Toxic family, no health insurance, illness, and friends who had checked out - it wasn't pretty, not wanting to live and knowing that things will really be over if I give up on myself.
Now that I've regained my sanity, I'm trying to play damage control and rally. At this point, I just want to be employable. It doesn't matter what kind of M.S. (econ, stat, finance, management, etc.), but I need to rebrand. I need a new GPA to get decent work experience.
1) Should I apply to said school anyway after receiving extremely unlikely? Or save myself the app. fee?
2) Which types of masters (econ, stat, finance, management, etc.) is easier to get into with high GMAT/GRE? Any experience with conditional admits? Any suggestions for decent schools that might take my stats?
3) Any good ideas for job experience, internships with low bars of entry? I'm willing to work for free for a few months, but the worst thing is that even working for free requires experience. Will labor laws allow me to work for free now that I've graduated?
4) Any suggestions/info for decent MiM (or related masters, MMarketing, etc.) schools that might take/have taken low GPA as long as GMAT is high? Which non-obvious schools have GPAs as big component, so I should save myself the application fee? Not trying to break into banking/finance, but vague interest in consulting/corporate roles.
5) I don't really want to be an accountant, but what about possible M.Accounting schools?
I've combed the boards, WSO and all the others, but I'm posting just in case there's anything I missed. I really am at a loss as to what to do. Thanks in advance to helpful replies.