No, no offense taken at all. I know that Irvine and Davis are not safeties, and like I said, that's why I think I should apply to other schools where I might have a better shot.
I know that schools like Temple, Jefferson, and RF won't forgive a low GPA, but I am within the 10th-90th percentiles of their entering classes for both overall GPA and BCPM (according to the 2009 MSAR).
I don't want to apply to any schools where I definitely don't have a shot, so I'm curious to know why you think that Mt. Sinai is out of the question. Looking at the numbers in this MSAR, it seems like my numbers fit more closely into Mt. Sinai than Columbia, Cornell, or NYU. So I'm wondering why you pulled out Mt. Sinai specifically -- is there something I don't know about the kind of applicants they prefer?
As for criteria, location is very important, as is emphasis on research and the curriculum. I'm interested in international medicine, so I'm also interested in schools with international electives and exchange programs.
Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate any and all advice.