What sort of personal characteristics are important?

Intellectual ability is just one factor medical school admissions committees consider. But intellectual ability alone is not enough to qualify you for a career in medicine. 

Admissions committees want to see that you are excited by the challenge of mastering the rapidly advancing science and technology of medicine, and that you are someone who will be empathic to the needs of patients. They look for evidence that you are willing and able to take responsibility and advocate for the welfare of others, that you can work collaboratively, that you are active in your community, and that you can sensitively evaluate your own performance. 

Although these attributes can be demonstrated through your academic record, they are more frequently found in the record of service and volunteer experience, as well as achievements in other areas and obstacles overcome, which you include in your application and which are referenced in the letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf. 

For More Information:

• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™)
  Published by the AAMC, this book is the most authoritative guide for applying to medical school. This accurate, thorough, and reliable resource is the only complete guide to U.S. and Canadian medical schools fully authorized by the schools themselves.  In it you will find information on application procedures and deadlines, selection factors (including MCAT scores and grade-point averages), medical school class profiles, education costs and financial aid packages, and much more.