Yeah, I would take the testimonials and ratings on AMSA with a grain of salt, especially when there is a stark contrast between testimonials (i.e., one is a glowing endorsement of the school, another a scathing criticism of it). WashU, for instance, has some poor ratings on the site, and the testimonials aren't exactly overflowing with positive commentaries; yet, WashU has a very strong academic reputation, one of the best in the country. Something doesn't compute there.
At any rate, I think there's a better way to compare medical schools. The factors that I looked as an applicant were the following:
1) Cost (does the quality/reputation of the school justify the cost?)
2) Location (safety of area, weather, entertainment options, general atmosphere of place)
3) Curriculum (PBL vs. traditional, compressed preclinical years or full 2 years, exam schedules and format, USMLE preparation, organ-systems based or discipline-based, etc.)
4) Research opportunities
5) Clinical training (hands-on vs. theoretical, level of responsibility given to med students, presence of VA and/or public hospitals, length of training, electives setup, etc.)
6) Residency placement
7) Gestalt feeling during interviews (VERY important)
8) Happiness of student body (do the students seem happy with their choice?)
9) Appearance of preclinical and clinical facilities (are the lecture halls and hospitals clean, modern, etc.?)
10) Prestige
11) Departmental strengths (e.g., internal medicine)--if you already know for sure what specialty is right for you, go to a medical school with a corresponding departmental strength
12) Average MCAT score and GPA for matriculants
