Should I Even Bother?

I like to keep my GPA / GRE scores personal so I'm writing to you guys and gals to get some honest anonymous feedback! I am about to finish up my masters and I am interested in PA studies, but I'm afraid that my undergraduate GPA may be my undoing. Unfortunately when I started my undergraduate studies I didn't really know much about graduate school or fathom that I would ever be interested in furthering my education beyond a bachelors (naive I know, unfortunately at 18 / 19 I thought I knew everything... ha!). As a result my freshman and sophomore years I got a number of C's (along with B's and the occasional elusive A). Although I never got below a C, they still had a profound effect on my GPA. My last two years I only made A's and B's... Well, anyway I'll get to the goods, here are my stats:

Undergraduate:
UNC Wilmington Dec '05
BS Biology / Minor Chemistry
BA Anthropology
GPA: 2.89
(Last 66 hours 3.14)

Graduate:
East Carolina University
MS Biology (molecular concentration) May '08
GPA: 3.5

GRE: 1140

OK as far as clinical experience mine is perhaps a little unconventional? This may also be another weakness. I do have direct patient contact. For research purposes we collaborate with a number of OB surgeons. Whenever a TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) comes up for one of these surgeons I goto preop 2 hours before their surgery and discuss their surgery with the patient. After which I try to get them to consent to a tissue donation (of two types of fat, blood, and a little abdominal muscle). If I get a thumbs up I snag a bunny suit and head into surgery to collect the samples - there I interact with the nurses, surgeons, and anesthesia (for the blood). I'm guessing I'll need to do a little private practice shadowing on top of this?

Should I even bother applying? In your opinion is my sub 3.0 undergrad GPA a complete deal breaker? Do you know a success story - someone who overcame a mediocre GRE score or GPA?
Thanks!

I think it may still be possible because many look at the last 30-60 hours too. Now Im not sure how long it took you to complete everything but make sure that youre pre-req courses havent expired in the eyes of your prospective programs (some want them to be within the last 7 years). Also you have to evaluate what youre science GPA is because many require a min of 3.0 so if any of those Cs were in pre-req classes I would take them over again.

Yes you should have shadowing time in as many programs require it. Should definitely be with a PA not a nurse or MD.

Also not sure how many hours exactly you have with direct patient contact but there ares ome schools that do not accept the research hours as contact so verify with the programs you are looking at. If you can get a certification as a CNA or EMT to work and gain experience while retaking some of the preqs that you may have to take, that would be great

You can always take the GRE over

Now keep in mind that there are some schools that do not require expereinece, but I would expect that those with it will have the advantage. Also there are schools that do not require the GRE. Also there are at least 4 schools (I think) that accept a GPA of 2.9.

CASPA breaks your GPA up into so many combinations that its not funny: overall, science, undergrad overall, grad overall, science undergrad, pre-req etc. They also included all grades (even previous attempts even though the second time you got a higher grade) however, some programs look at the transcript GPA. All of this really depends on the schools you are looking at.....all in all dont be afraid to apply out of state too!

Thanks I appreciate your response. It's good to know not all hope is lost!

Also to address some of the comments: It took me 4 years for the undergrad double major and 2 for the masters. My clinical research experience has been over the 2 years with ~2000 hours of verifiable direct patient contact. The rest of the time was spent running the samples etc. I will do some shadowing though, I have it set up.

From what I've seen my GRE score is average.

My C's are in mostly introductory things like a Botany class, a History class, random stuff. Most of my prereq's were taken later while my grades were the strongest.

Thanks again!

Go for it. I got in and did very well! I was in a non science field. Try to get in and then take some science classes again if you need to.