Nasty Undergraduate Academic Record, which MSF should I apply for ?

I read someone mention FT is the only website that ranks Master of Finance program and there are other articles about "target school" such as Business Insider.

Anyhow, I am an undergraduate student at Northeastern University, had 2 accounting co-ops, one as audit intern in Deloitte but the branch is outside of U.S. and one as corporate accounting intern in Boston (worked in a very small local firm, my boss did not like me); I declared my concentration as Finance in my last year of study and now applying to Master of Finance. My current GPA is 2.98, and I have 3 withdrawn courses, 2 repeat courses (previous grades were D ) and 1 C, 3 C+ on my transcript. My admission counselor is helping me tailer my application material, but I want to ask:
DOES GRADUATE SCHOOL REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY SINGLE PEICE OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT?

Also, I am repeating one of the courses that has a "D", my overall GPA should be above 3.0 by the end of this semester. And I have not taken the GMAT yet, plan to take it in November. What score I need to get for GMAT in order to make up my GPA? With this crappy academic record, I think I probably should look at an okay school instead of a top rated school. Which tier of schools I should look at? Can someone give my some advice on school choice? (realistically speaking) Is location more important than reputation? Such Depaul University is located in downtown Chicago but Washington U St. is in the middle of Missouri....

Also, I looked at Master of Financial Analysis, there are only 3 program in U.S. one in Columbia, one in Rutgers, one is U San Francisco. I know Columbia is too out of my league, Rutgers is a quality school (I want to apply but it seems like it is hard to get in based on my record) and not sure about U San Francisco, the location is goo though.

 

Hey Kateeeee, what a lonely thread. I'm here since nobody responded ...so maybe one of these discussions will help:

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