<p>I know, hear me out.</p>
<p>I attended a top 10 business school in my undergrad and just got out in May. Unfortunately, I was depressed, had an eating disorder, had to drop out for a semester, failed a class, got D's in other classes, hated my major, changed my major 4 TIMES, and as a result, graduated with a 3.0.</p>
<p>A stark contrast to high school, where I was a straight A student and got a 32 on my ACT.</p>
<p>I recently decided to go to graduate school after working a string of terrible jobs where I was under appreciated, underpaid, and treated poorly. My watershed came to me one day, and I realized I wanted - I NEEDED - to start over, do it right this time. Fortunately, I discovered my passion my senior year of college. I fed my love of writing and became deeply interested in marketing/advertising/PR aspects of companies, what grows them, what engages their audience. I started off as a staff writer of a local publication, was promoted to Editor in Chief within 2 weeks, and grew the readership by 200%. When I want to do something, I can, and will pour my whole heart into it.</p>
<p>The problems? 1) I decided to apply a little late, and only have a month to pull it together, and 2) I am shooting for the stars. My top choices are Northwestern's IMC program at Medill and Columbia's Strategic Communications program. It's a long shot, but I figure I won't know if I don't try. I plan to ace the GRE, blow them away with my essay, and spin it as "the girl who has promise, found her passion, and will work her tail off" because frankly, there's no other way I can spin it. I have unimpressive credentials, a mostly flubbed up track record, and even my rec's aren't world famous Deans or CEOs or whatnot (but they're well respected in their fields). </p>
<p>I guess I'm poking around for an honest response. Do you think I HONESTLY have a shot? I have back up schools, but I figure I've got nothing to lose, I'm hopeful (hence, the username) and I plan to pour everything into trying, then pray, pray, PRAY it's enough. It's all I can do at this point.</p>