my friend's older sister actually works with the admissions committee at a large state school in my area, and when i asked her about it she answered: (cut and paste from an old e-mail)
"Well, to answer your question, there isn't one answer. The committee uses the AMCAS to sort through your scores and grades - but even at this first stage those are crucial. Obviously, if you just bombed everything they'll pull you, but anything above a B average and the national MCAT average will keep you in the running. (I can't give you exact numbers on those because there isn't really a guide in determining. Believe it or not, most members just scan over everything and make an educated guess/decision of your aptitude.) But they love to pour over the AMCAS personal statement, once the scores are looked over. This is your voice, and perhaps most important to them. There is actually kind of a joke about essays that we receive that go on like: "I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a doctor, but after I volunteered my valuable time at a burn clinic and saw the poor children with my eyes, I knew immediately what I was supposed to do in life," and so on. Sure, that's a noble thing to volunteer and witness, but focusing on it with that degree of egocentrism is quite humiliating to read. That might sound cynical to you (and especially to somebody who really WAS changed by volunteering at a burn clinic, haha), but I think you know what I mean. Be humble, but passionate, and most of all - interesting and even perhaps entertaining.
Extracirricular activities and work experience only prove your reasons for applying, and are thus probably more important than GPA beyond a certain point. Again, most committee members scan over these papers, and the more interesting and well-rounded you appear, the better. Don't clutter things up with irrelevant volunteering ("I served food to homeless."). Yadda, yadda, yadda.
If you appear like a rounded, happy, good-natured applicant, the secondaries go out, and from there the additional personal statements carry even MORE weight. Even letters of recommendation are used SOLELY for the judge of your character.
Before I worked here, somebody once compared the process like a dating game. Sure, it helps to look good and be presented nicely, but from that point - its all about what you say, what you think, and how you put a smile on people. I'd say that's my best advice. And if you get an interview here, don't prepare answers - just look in the mirror and be yourself.
Good luck."
her advice really helped me, hope it helps others. (and i hope she doesn't mind me posting it! hehe)
