I offer this insight as someone who had a lower GPA back in the day and wanted to get into PA school. My GPA was hovering above 3.0 for both science and cumulative, and I was really shocked to get interviews, but I did. Not a ton, but I was pleased with it because I figured that application cycle would be a "test cycle" for me to use to learn from for the next application cycle. What I found was that getting a clinical lab science bachelors degree, in addition to the biological science undergrad bachelors degree I already had was helpful in adding a bunch of really good grades to my science GPA, and by extension, my overall cumulative (but my GPA really wasn't fully in the tank like you say yours is). A clinical laboratory science degree also gave me a good paying job at the end of it, which a biomedical sciences degree wouldn't have. Biomedical science degrees are money makers for the for profit schools that play on the hopes of struggling students who want to end up as a provider... mostly pre PA's. They aren't cheap, and there isn't any certainty to it. I honestly wouldn't throw more money at something that will "maybe" help you. At this point, I'd want some certainty. Besides, how do you know you won't struggle in a biomed masters program as well? I understand the frustration and desperation, but don't throw good money after bad by looking around for all the schools that might be impacted by your proposed turnaround. Trust me, those same schools will still have oodles of good candidates applying for their seats, and it would be hard for them to turn those folks down. In fact, they won't turn them down. Most programs have some sort of points system that will ensure that students that did well in undergrad will rise to the top.
Just the other day I looked at a local PA program's stats on applicants and those that were able to gain acceptance and matriculate. The number of applicants had doubled in about 5 years to close to 1000 applicants for just over 60 seats. The odds were difficult 5 years ago when there was only around 500, so imagine how it would be now. Assuming that of that 1000 applicants, half of them are terrible and have no business applying, that still leaves 500 sharp folks throwing their hat in the ring. But its my belief that poor candidates are actually the minority of PA school applicants. The application process is tedious enough to drive away folks applying on a whim. What I am ultimately saying is that the overall picture for PA school is that its competitive enough across the board that any school that would be willing to take a look at a poorer candidate is still going to be inundated with enough quality candidates that the candidate that struggled academically isn't truly a consideration.
Keep in mind, schools that will allow risky candidates to apply will make more money off the applicant pool each cycle than a program that only wants to take money from folks with GPA's above 3.0. Schools that charge $100 for students to apply there will make $10,000 more for each 100 additional students they convince have a chance at getting in to their program. If I'm a dean of a PA program, heck yeah... I'd have the admissions secretary tell whomever calls that they will consider anyone who applies, regardless of GPA.
I know that sounds discouraging, but I'm trying to save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Go for a sure thing. Become a nurse, then a nurse practitioner. If your GPA really is in the tank, then you will appreciate how pursuing nursing will seem like it has more favorable conditions than the powerball-lottery-type odds you are relying on to get you into PA school. Honestly, what you are hoping for is truly something that will require the stars to align to make happen for you if you want to become a PA.
Using the money and time you would spend on that throwaway degree towards even a for profit nursing school with no waitlist would be a far, far better use of your energies. Then spend $30k on top of that and work while you go to NP school. Say you find a program that will make you a nurse in just over a year, and it costs $100k. Then you go to NP school right out of that for $30k. Thats $130k, which is as much as a typical out of state or private PA program. And you didn't have to pay Barry or Nova University a boatload for their worthless biomedical masters degree just to "hope" that a PA school takes a look at you. If they don't look at you... what do you do then? The next year it will be even harder to get in.
But thats just one person's opinion. If I was playing with someone else's money... money that I had to pay back... I wouldn't mess around. At this point, I'd want a sure thing.
