DarkCharisma

Everyone is absolutely right, we are all here on similar boats. Nobody wants to judge you unwarrantly , but in order for you succeed, you have to acknowledge while unfortunate there are all these conditions that limit you, nothing will change even if you get accepted. The reasons obstructing you in the past will continue to be the reason until you overcome them, that's more than just addressing it. We all have something, but its fair in the sense that nobody gets to choose what they have, there are people who live worse, and we all have to rise above it. Your biggest weakness and source of rejection isn't going to be your GPA, personal conditions,or anything superficial; its the mentality that accepts having weaknesses enables you to be a weak person. Programs that accept you, companies that employ you are responsible for what you can offer to other people, before that you need something to offer; once you have that then find something where you can commit and show it for a respectable length of time—thats when your dream schools will accept you.

I know its piss awful to feel left behind, but I think the better option would to completely invest yourself working for 2 years even if its interning w/o pay in the field that your program is training you for, to then reapply again for decent schools. It is huge compromise if you choose this over an acceptance from a "noncompetitive" school. But unless you're shooting for a PhD and masters is only to give you a bump, to have a competent school even if not the best as the distributor for your working degree is far better than to go with anyone willing to take you. Most graduates no matter the school, will struggle to find employment initially from lack of to no experience, you who have some extent of working industry experience in the 2 years off, will already have leads and foot in the door and advantage in that latency period, in addition to coming from a competent program. No choice is wrong b/c it is your choice and what is life if you dont make it yours, just my two cents.