@"Seeking Perfection" Great, this is really helpful. NYU was the most concerning one to me, since that they explicitly say "average" in their admissions FAQ. Kinda assumed it's bs based on lsn, but figured to ask.
Are you considering Northwestern ED? Seems like you would be a really good candidate, especially if you're interested in Chi. and are debt averse. They'd appreciate all years of work experience more than most schools as well I'm thinking :)