Thanks Nate!
Wish I could attend, I am in New Orleans now.
I think you definitely have chance to get in UIC or NW because of your work experience. UIC emphasizes a lot on technology, their dean is very charismatic in person!
Also, I think neither open house nor interview is a decisive factor for you being accepted into a program.
In my case, I was skyped-interviewed by Penn State's eight admission committee members for like 40 minutes, but I was never asked to their open house.
I have know fellows that were asked to open house but never interviewed. Also, I know phd friends there who were never interviewed or asked to open-house. They also told me interview and open house didn't mean anything at this point; the process is confusing in nature.
You are definitely right! We need to distract ourselves as possible as we can. But it has been raining all day down here!