What schools value?

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Generally, most of the top schools have high GPA/MCAT requirements as well as a heavy emphasis on research. However, other top schools, like UCSF, have a relatively lax median GPA/MCAT and value quality life experiences.
 
So this is kind of paradoxical but the top schools (top 10 or so) value narratives and experiences above all else. The next ten (top 10-20) schools value numbers because the tippity top schools get the lion's share of the interesting narratives (although everybody's narrative is interesting in its own way). This is a rule of thumb only, so there are exceptions. For instance, WashU is known to like high stats. UChicago also likes high stats but they're trying to shift away from that, I think. Mayo really likes personal narrative.
 
The schools I think should be on anyone's list if they have high numbers and a good amount of research:

WashU, Penn, U Chicago, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Sinai, NYU. Add Stanford if you're in the first couple authors on a peer reviewed pub.

The other schools in this same range of approx top 20 seem to place relatively less weight. That's my gestalt 2 cents.
 
They also like LOTS of service to others and clinical experience.

So this is kind of paradoxical but the top schools (top 10 or so) value narratives and experiences above all else. The next ten (top 10-20) schools value numbers because the tippity top schools get the lion's share of the interesting narratives (although everybody's narrative is interesting in its own way). This is a rule of thumb only, so there are exceptions. For instance, WashU is known to like high stats. UChicago also likes high stats but they're trying to shift away from that, I think. Mayo really likes personal narrative.
 
They also like LOTS of service to others and clinical experience.
they also like it when you've escape from slavery from a poverty stricken 3rd world african nation and have overthrown the patriarchy
 
They also like LOTS of service to others and clinical experience.

Well, there are some I know that prefer research over other experiences. I think most of the top 10 look for depth rather than breadth. You should definitely have shadowing and service, but it's okay if you are deeply involved in one activity that you are passionate about.
 
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