Profile Evaluation - Journalism Early Career Applicant

Hi Linda!

I would appreciate your input!

I'm afraid that because I don't have a quant background and my GPA was only a 3.3 that as an early career applicant, getting into a top b-school would be next to impossible.

Here are my stats:

Female, first generation American, Haitian descent

Undergrad: Howard U
Major: Journalism, Spanish (minor)
GPA: 3.3/Cum Laude

Few quant courses undergrad and I was a B student in the ones I did take (Economics, Algebra, Applied Topics in Math).

Awards/Honors: I was on full tuition scholarship and I received another large scholarship for excellence in journalism. I also have received a handful of awards for journalism/multimedia convergence and one for entrepreneurship.

Work Exp: I have completed 14 internships/fellowships at mostly top companies (InStyle, New York Times, Cosmopolitan) and freelanced while undergrad. I also worked part-time for a big name in entertainment for two years in a pr/mrktg function with a focus in programming and event planning--the position was part of a one-year program but I was asked to return for a second year after being the first to break membership goals since the program's inception. In the position I managed six campus reps.

Extra Currics: I started an online magazine my sophomore year which doubled as an unofficial training program for students interested in new media and magazine journalism and served on the e-board for a few orgs.

Community Involvement: I did two alternative spring break programs in New Orleans and spent a summer volunteering at a media org for at-risk youth but other than that my service has been less formal/event based--walk-a-thons, Thanksgiving meal prep, mentor programs, etc.

Recent Developments: I started a tumblr blog on social media/digital marketing and music. It's very new so I can't claim amazing traffic but I've written a few informal case studies on viral successes and mixtape releases. Not sure if admissions will consider this a hobby or just an extension of my journalism profession.

Test Scores: I am enrolling in a prep course to insure high scores. Also, I have been advised to take the GRE instead of the GMAT due to my journalism background and the fact that many top schools accept them (Thoughts on this in particular would be appreciated)

Right now I am looking at the following schools:

U Penn
MIT
Columbia

And I will apply with the consortium common app to the following:
NYU, Yale, and Dartmouth

I can apply to up to six with consortium so I may add three of the following:
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Virginia
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Wisconsin-Madison

I think that about covers all the major areas in applications. What do you think are those schools completely out of reach? They are all schools that accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT but in general what schools do you think I have a shot at? Also, should I explain my GPA in an optional essay? My transcript lists four courses as "Directed Study," two were substitutes for major journalism courses and two were independent study courses I developed. Is this something I should mention?

Thanks in advance