Hi, I was in the same situation you were last year. I had a slightly higher GPA and a slightly lower mcat score. I made up for them with several things, one I got really good LORs, I spent time thinking about people who actually knew me and my abilites (favorite prof that I spoke with outside of class, professor who mentored my research, etc) and not just a name and a grade. Second, I invested a lot of time in my personal statement, I made it as fluent and as well written as I possibly could and I didn't make it into a list of my activites as a lot people seem to do, I wrote very passionately about my beliefs and motivations. Lastly, I had a ton of extracurriculars, played DI sports, published twice, clincal experience, etc. Also, apply strategically, really spend time researching schools that you a) want to go to and b) you realistically have a shot of getting into. I only applied to eight schools, and to be perfectly honest most of my apps weren't done until october or november, and I still got four interviews (compared to some of you out there I know that sucks, but hey I was even surprised I got one interview let alone got in).
Though, I am highly advising against waiting that long, early and broad is a much safer tactic. Really, it can be done, but you have to be really careful about how you do it.
'Nother quick note, in your year off do something that you enjoy and that is somewhat medically related, I didn't take a year off per se, I graduated a year early and started working for a pharmaceutical company and took grad classes. Also, being a biochemist might help you, at least at my school it is well known that biochemists, chemists, and physicists had to run the gauntlet in terms of classes and a lower gpa was a little more acceptable than lets say a plain bio major, how it works for you I don't know.
If you want some more advice, on what I did anyway, PM me.
