kohntarkosz

I got accepted to a school in Italy and I have to pay a deposit by mid-April in order to secure my spot. Too bad it's on COVID-19 lockdown.

Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science, PhD (F20) Rejected via Phone on 10 Mar 2020 ♦ I 10 Mar 2020 5 papers leading author. Solved ENIGMA during WW2. Fought the Nazis bare handed.

I definitely think it's worth reapplying. After 7 years, your experience should be more important than your transcript. I would make your SOPs very school-specific and clearly indicate exactly what you want from them, what you can contribute, and how your experiences fit your future plans. In terms of the bad grades, I think the best bet is to be upfront and explain, and then show how you've succeeded in areas you may have failed classes (for example, quantitative work you've done since graduating). Having a really strong GRE score will also help you-- admissions staff at SIPA told me that if an applicant doesn't have a very obvious quant background they value the score more.
I think it also matters which schools you apply to. I don't have any inside knowledge, but the two you mentioned (SAIS and SIPA) don't have reputations for being super holistic in reviewing applications (that doesn't mean they aren't, just not their reputation). In my experience applying/talking with admissions staff/meeting students, two schools that are quite holistic in their approach and accept applicants with varying backgrounds and academic histories etc. are Fletcher and Chicago Harris. Check those out!

@Ceebz Just wanted to say thanks for your reply- it restored a lot of hope :) I forgot to mention that I had also applied to Harris in January, which I honestly thought would be a huge stretch given its quantitative focus. However, I was accepted to the MPP program last week with 35k funding! I am honestly so shocked (and happy). Whatever my final decision is, I'm relieved to know that it is possible to get into a top policy school despite having a less-than-stellar academic record!

Hey you guys, OP here. 
I'm an idiot. Your comments helped though.  All calmed down here....and D is happily heading towards the school of her choice....

This "Princeton rejection" made me laugh:
 

I was clearing my computer desktop of all application materials. I had put them there for easy access. I randomly opened my writing sample to remind myself that it was good, when what do I see?? It is an earlier draft, with several typos and a formatting problem that had later been fixed. This is what I sent to every school.  Mind you, this is WEEKS after deadlines. I panicked. Then I died. Then I came back to life and cried. I spent two days reading blogs telling me to let it go. I couldn't. 
Today, I wrote a letter to every school, explaining my mistake. 11/12 schools responded with kindness and understanding and allowed me to submit the correct draft. One school also responded with understanding, but informed me it was too late (to which I responded that I understood).  I will send thank-you notes to all who helped me. 
I'm just sharing in case there are others in my situation who think it is too late—it might not be! It won't hurt you to ask. This is your dream, do whatever you can to help yourself succeed. 

If you have your own self-named grant or your senate father is willing to give you a strong recommendation