I found this thread while browsing SDN for stories similar to mine. I'm a California resident with a low undergrad science GPA and I'm applying to MD schools right now.
I graduated from an Ivy League school (Harvard, Princeton or Yale specifically) in a science major but my BCPM was a hair above 3.0. I applied to a non degree-granting, record-enhancement post-bac program at a Cal State (but it was more like a DIY post-bac than a structured program). The CSUs are not community colleges but the classes were less rigorous than at my undergrad institution and the medical schools didn't seem to mind that. It costs ~$10,000 for 4 quarters. I retook some pre-reqs (o-chem and physics), took more science classes, and took classes like medical anthropology as well. I raised my science GPA to a 3.1, which sounds meager but it's because I was mediocre in so many science classes as an undergrad and because I was working full time while doing the post-bac so I couldn't take that many classes. I believe you can take classes at community college or "extension" courses to qualify for the minimum GPA required to apply to post-bac programs as long as the other parts of your post-bac application are stellar and convincing. I initially didn't get into my CSU one because one of my letter of recs never arrived to complete my file. However, I called the post-bac office in the summer and they just let me in.
I applied to my post-bac program after getting my MCAT scores. I got somewhere in the 37 - 40 range so I was confident I stood a good chance if I could raise my GPA. My ECs are probably average based on comparing mine to my friends'. My letter of recs were probably at or above average because I knew each recommender well. Basically, after finishing my MCAT, I knew that the rest of my application would be decent. I liked that I did my MCAT before committing my time and my money to raising my GPA because the MCAT score was the thing I was most unsure about. Getting good grades in more classes is much more certain than doing well on one long test. Doing well on the MCAT gave me the confidence to spend the time, effort, and energy on a post-bac program. However, this does mean that you need to apply within the time that your MCAT is valid for.
These next 2 paragraphs are mainly about events far in your future but I'll say them anyways. My undergrad premed committee told me to wait another year before applying, apply to more schools, apply to DO schools, rewrite my personal statement 2 days before I was going to submit my primary, etc. Had I listened to them, I would not have applied to and gotten interviews at my "reach" schools. I only took heed of their second piece of advice and applied to many schools with a range of matriculant statistics. I trust they meant well and wanted to give me the best chance at becoming a doctor. However, they had nothing positive to say about my candidacy and it hurt feeling like they wrote me off but I took their concern to heart and focused on making my secondary applications unique. I really tried to write things I felt no one else could. Therefore, when you're choosing activities, maybe focus on making them meaningful as well as unique. Whenever appropriate in the secondaries, I also explained why I got such bad grades in pre-req classes and what I learned about myself and what I would do differently.
Another thing I realized later on, and therefore didn't do, is that you should add your schools all at once to the primary because schools can apparently see when your primary was verified and if you add them later on, it could seem like that school is an afterthought. I just added schools in batches as I got my paychecks but I wish I had known to not do that. No one likes feeling like they're second class, especially medical school admissions officers with thousands of other eager applicants to choose from. This is one of the many minor things you'll have to consider if you apply. Once you raise your GPA, research all parts of the application process itself as well.
After months of waiting and worrying and wondering if what I did was good enough, I now have 7 interviews, 3 hold-for-interviews, and one acceptance! I still haven't even heard from over half of the schools I applied to. Without having any personal connections, I got interview offers at schools I was told were way above my reach due my low GPA and ORM-ness (e.g. Washington University in Saint Louis).
Anything is possible. Just apply when you're ready ("ready" being when you're confident that you will get enough interviews to clinch one acceptance) and apply to a lot of schools. Do everything you can to make sure your primary and secondaries are done well, correctly, and quickly. It's better to spend the money and time now than in a second round of applications. OP: It's a good thing you're prepared to do this the right way and not the quick way because that's the only way to do this without relying heavily on luck, and personal connections, and praying to every deity out there. I know that the situation I needed to redeem myself from was much better than yours so you'll have to do the hustling I did, but a lot more of it. However, just know that there are some real people out there reading your applications and all it takes is for one school to see your potential and dedication. Good luck!
BUT I am hoping still 
