The thing is while I enjoy all that I have done while learning Chemical Engineering I have always been drawn to nuclear power mainly because my father is a operator at Columbia Generating Station in Washington. What would be a more realistic way to get into nuclear power then if NUPOC is not a option
Come on, man. If you're going to claim that you're ChemE degree is one of the hardest engineering degrees (and I stand by that belief as I too have one) then at least do some research and try not to make yourself look so ignorant. You've been given great advice here from plenty of people.
As a chemical engineer, you should know that we are just as well equipped, if not better, as MechE's in doing fluids, thermo, and heat transfer calcs, including valve sizing and heat exchanger design. And guess what there are a lot of in a nuke plant? Although most plants will favor MechE's for these types of jobs, you are just as qualified for such a position.
Why do you think going back to school for a MS will not benefit you? Has more education really ever been a bad idea? If you really want to get into the nuke field and are finding trouble trying to leverage your skills as a ChemE, how about going back for maybe a MS in Nuclear Engineer?
While the most obvious option for a Nuclear Engineering grad would be to work for a utility, it is not the only place these engineers can work. The education obtained from such a degree is useful in working with one of the many national labs, companies that build reactor components, companies involved in the enrichment of fuel, decommissioning organizations, oversight organizations, regulatory organizations, etc. The education can also give you a foundation for radiation shielding, health physics, detection, and the like.
NUPOC is only one way to get into the field. I was in a similar situation as you in that my application to NUPOC was not as strong as it should be. I decided to get a MS in Nuclear Engineering and am finishing up at the end of the year. I will submit one last application before I graduate and if I still don't get in, then I know I have a lot of options still open to me both in and out of the nuclear field bc of the diversity of my degrees and internships.
We can't do anything about our GPAs. The only thing we can do is keep trying for every option open to us and working hard so that we can put more positive things on our record - the reality is that after a few years in the industry, nobody will look at our GPAs anymore.
I too was under the impression that ChemEs were the highest paid starting salaries. But after looking into it, I found that Nuclear Engineers get more. It doesn't matter though, its not all about the money. As JustinHEMI pointed out before, NLOs can make as much or more than entry level engineers and they education requirements for them don't include a college degree.
Take a closer look into the nuclear field and find out what it is you really want to do, then go for it. Best of luck to you.
Lastly, this week is Engineers Week. You might be able to find some type of networking opportunities/events around your area. I suggest going and making some connections. Try looking up your local ANS section or AIChE chapter (also note there is a nuclear engineering division within AIChE).