unipathfinder

Put your previous experience in a positive light, which will reflect your personality as well. It's important to show how you've maintained the optimism and drive throughout the experience. Happy to help with more feedback!

Career pivots are common enough, and I can see a fairly "logical" shift in your interests. You have enough experience to prove an understanding of the "real world" and have two relevant degrees; all the important pieces to tell your story are there. Do you have any specific programs in mind?

It's great that you're starting to look at schools to target at this stage, but without the GRE, you'll be casting a wide net. The 3.4 GPA, combined with a strong GRE and personal essays, can be a very strong application package. However, a low GRE score will change your target schools. You can certainly craft an essay that will explain your freshman year, and demonstrate success in the new direction that you're taking.