Non-Traditional Woes (reallly having a tough time on academia re-entry due to 15-year-old poor transcript)

Hi all,

A bit out from entering a cycle (gearing towards 2028/2029 hopefully) but I was looking for some feedback or general support from similar experiences. I am an EMT-B currently doing pre-reqs at the city college, hoping to transfer to a medical-hubbed school to complete my undergrad. I'm a non-traditional student coming back into academia in my 30's, and have truly never felt so compelled with a career change than from becoming an EMT and working in a few ED's for a patient advocacy program. PA is the perfect intersection of my clinical/educational potential, and practical skills I've accumulated form three different careers.

I attended liberal arts college at 18 and was clueless. Fucked around as a PoliSci major before getting an internship at a music venue while working restaurants and called it a day. Now, I wasn't academically expelled from the university, but I left after a year (40 credits) and a 1.04.

I am back in higher education at the city colleges, received a presidential scholar award my first semester back for a perfect 4.0, and all A's at midterm right now rocking 20-credit hours. Just applied to undergrad as a sophomore for Fall 2026, was denied due to poor cumulative, despite the admissions office saying they weigh recent grades much more than cumulative.

QUESTION TIME:

1. How do I get out of this cumulative hell??? My science GPA should be rock solid by the time I graduate bachelors (my poor cumulative is all liberal arts), and I've looked into amnesty from my old transcript. The only way amnesty could be applied is if I am "readmitted" into the school. Is it worth it to reapply to the school to get amnesty despite the school being a much more Tech/Liberal Arts focused with limited health science resources / opportunities? Would that set me back considerably with undergrad requisites?

2. I think I have a strong case as a non-traditional applicant for PA. Overcoming the cumulative seems like a big strength almost as a "hey he got serious and really faced adversity because he wanted it" -type argument. Is this not necessarily the case?

3. Am I putting too much weight on wanting to get my undergrad from a school with a great pre-med / biology program with extensive resources (experienced instructors for LOR, research hour potential, medical prestige). How true does CASPA really not consider the where or the what of the undergrad? Should I wait to transfer to the same university as a junior (will be tough to only take transferable classes the higher I get, as this uni only takes Fall transfers so I would need to wait another cycle)-- or--- just find another school with less difficulty (easier to boost my cumulative) but less prestige.

Other notes: 500 PCE on the rig, will be interviewing at Cancer Center at well-known institution for MA position this month (place has a PA program as well, great networking opportunity so fingers crossed). Two years of patient advocacy work in high volume ED's. (Technically not PCE bc it was deemed "non-clinical"- but still patient facing, no less.)

THANKS