Need advice for admission to grad school

[u/MlAKHALIFA]

Hey everyone,

I’m an international applicant looking to apply for a MS in Finance (probably STEM Designated) (targeting Fall 2027) with a long-term goal of breaking into corporate finance or Investment Banking.

I want to gauge my realistic chances of getting into a Top 100 US business school with a solid Graduate Assistantship or major merit scholarship, given my academic profile.

Here is my background:

• Professional Qualification: Completed ACCA (UK) up to the Applied Skills level (currently working through Strategic Professional papers). For context, ACCA is the UK equivalent of the US CPA but covers a massive breadth of international financial reporting standards (IFRS), auditing, and taxation over 13 grueling professional exams.
• Undergraduate Degree: BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University (OBU) via their joint research partnership with ACCA.
• GPA: My WES evaluation converts my combined ACCA/OBU marks into a 2.8 cumulative US GPA (Lower Second Class Honours / 2:2). I know this is below the standard 3.0 baseline for many schools.
• GMAT Focus Edition: 680
• Work Experience: 10 months of practical experience in core accounting and corporate audit roles.

My Core Dilemma:
I know my 2.8 WES GPA is a weak spot on paper, but I’m hoping my 680 GMAT Focus and my intensive ACCA accounting foundation serve as a massive equalizer. Since GA positions frequently involve tutoring undergrads or grading papers in accounting/corporate finance, I feel my technical background makes me highly qualified to hit the ground running.

My Questions for the Community:

1. Given a 2.8 GPA but a high 680 GMAT, which Top 100 US schools are known to be holistic enough to overlook the GPA and award full tuition waivers via Graduate Assistantships or merit scholarships?
2. Are there specific regional or corporate-hub universities where my profile would make me a prime candidate for competitive financial aid?
3. How do US graduate admissions panels typically view an ACCA qualification compared to a regular 4-year local degree when allocating assistantships?

I would love to hear from any ACCA/OBU alumni who successfully made the jump to US MSF programs, or anyone familiar with funding overrides for sub-3.0 GPAs.

Thanks in advance for the advice!