So OP, I have a very good story for you.
I had a 2.7 uGPA (from a top US university majoring in Chemical Engineering), and a 33 MCAT (10 VS, 12 BS, 11 PS).
I had a very good health professions adviser that worked with me over 3 years (senior yr, then 2 years after). His recommendation for me was to do a MS. Why? I had taken all the pre-med requirements so I was not eligible for the traditional post-bacc (the ones where you were an English major and decided to do medicine). That course work would count as your uGPA.
The MS, would be a step up - graduate level sciences with a chance to take actual medical school courses against 1st year medical students. What better way to compare yourself for admissions directors, right?
Now their are cutoffs for min GPA's for those post-baccs. The one that is really strict about that is Georgetown SMP. Most other schools say min gpa 3.0, but they really just accept you if they think you will get into medical school.
So I applied to 7 or so of these degree (MS) granting schools where I could take medical school courses as a grad student. I was accepted at 2 and WL at another one. I did not apply to Georgetown.
I picked one, got a 4.0 gGPA. With "Honors" in two medical school courses (physio, and biochem).
So far so good right? Well not exactly. It seems that even though I did very well and seem to be a very solid candidate for medical school (throw out top schools - not going to happen, need those stellar #'s) some schools have to have a min uGPA of at least a 3.0 to even be allowed to offer an interview. F-ck! Some schools don't however. So my plan (along w/ my advisor and some advice from an admissions director at a good med school) was once I finished my MS, apply. While that cycle is going - take as a non-matriculant as many EASY SCIENCE undergrad courses and get all A's (ones that have not already taken - just a different course title) as you can. Now this takes time and $ - and not kidding all A's. And if I don't get in the 1st time, then I'll have enough credits of A's to raise my uGPA.
So availability is a huge issue. I opted for online classes. Can take them anytime at some. Can take them on a quarter system. UCLA extension was great for me - EASY SCIENCE - I got 8 3cr A's by the time my life changed.
So I applied to 18 schools (15 MD & 3 DO). I did all of the secondaries at the DO & 9 secondaries at the MDs (I didn't do all of them b/c I found out which ones had that min 3.0 uGPA bs).
I got one interview at a DO (nothing from the other two) --> WL and never got in.
I got 3 interviews at MDs --> 2 WL, and finally 1 straight accpetance. Turns out I got in off one of the WL and I took that spot (mid-teir school, great matches)
So I got in my first try. No need to continue that uGPA raising plan. Although those 8 classes online and about $5,000 were for nothing (although I told the schools what I was doing - so maybe it helped at the time).
OP - I merely offer my story to you. I don't know what to tell you to do. In hindsight I see A LOT of caribbean school MDs that are matching and doing competitive residencies, so if I could do it all over again I probably would have still done grad school. Given it 1 try (no uGPA work). Then done caribbean. And I was THIS close to doing DO (if they would accept me). It is all about drive (in whatever school you do) and what you are willing to sacrifice (years, $, life).
I honestly could write a book on this - I have some more crazy stories that I left out b/c this is way to fn long.
OP you can PM me if need.