How many people got into one of their reach schools? Forum

[OmbreGracieuse]

I am just curious to see who got into a "reach" school, and if so what you think the largest factor in your acceptance was. GPA, LSAT, PS?

[Bert]

I got into a reach, but not my super reaches. I think my biggest beneficial factor was either PS or addendum.

[TheCheerfulPessimist]

I am just curious to see who got into a "reach" school, and if so what you think the largest factor in your acceptance was. GPA, LSAT, PS?

I got into one of my reaches. (About 10-15 ranks higher than other schools I got into.) My GPA was lower than the 25th percentile and my LSAT was just the median. I think an upward trend in grades, very strong soft factors, a personal statement that was well-tailored to that particular school, and some very good recommendations were what gave me the edge.

Currently waitlisted at even higher reaches. We'll see.

[cardinalandgold]

I got into one of my reaches. LSAT around the median, GPA at the 25th. Had a note about my personal statement on my acceptance letter.

[doinmybest]

I got into a few of my reaches. I think my soft factors played a larger role than I thought they would. It seems like the reach schools that did a holistic review accepted or WL'd me, and the ones that didn't rejected or WL'd me, either way half my decisions are WLs haha.

[09042014]

NU, 2.8/176, my lsat.

[09042014]

Also in before a shit ton of posters post TTT schools where they are autoadmits and call them reaches.

[hotdog123]

In after splitter posts T14 school where they are autoadmit and calls it a reach.

[Mattalones]

In almost T20 I applied to, should have been out of all TTTs

[Bogie]

I had about a 25% chance of getting into my number one choice (GPA at their median but LSAT a little below their 25th). People may not consider that a reach but I do. Anyways, I think what eventually helped me get off the waiting list was all of the face time I was fortunate enough to get, plus sending in another LOR from a distinguished alumni and writing a LOCI. Basically, I was lucky enough that they looked past my LSAT score to all of my softs.

[frecklesmclean0002]

I was below the LSAT 25th by a few points but above the GPA 75th (with the help of some CC grades) and I got in so it felt like a reach. I expected a rejection so it felt like winning the lottery! I think it was my PS. I wrote about a unique experience abroad and tailored it to International Law which is the #1 strength of my school.

[TrackTony88]

I got into my reach which was also my number one choice.

LSAT below 25%, GPA at 75%, URM, Went to Undergrad at my reach as well. I hope I had a good PS, seems to have done the job.

[Silence Dogood]

MY GPA, PS and URM status helped a bunch.

[KraftEZ]

3.67/152

I was seriously reconsidering retaking the LSATs since I scored lower than my average on practice coming into the test this past September (I averaged 161) and I became almost depressed when I saw my score.

But I applied anyways to see how this cycle would go almost bent on waiting until next year's cycle but lo and behold I got into a reach school and the school I wanted to attend in the first place (L&C).

[OmbreGracieuse]

So, for the few of you who said you think your 'soft' factors may have played a large role...

who wrote your LORs?

Were they professors... people you volunteered with?

I am curious only because I am getting ready to start applying this fall, and am trying to figure out who would be best to ask.

[OmbreGracieuse]

On that topic, too, how many did you have? LORs I mean?

[evilgenius]

Got into 4 out of 5 of my reaches, including a T20 and two T50's. I was well below the 25th percentile on the LSAT score and GPA for all of them. I think my personal statement and LOR's helped. I'm a little older than the average applicant so I submitted 3 LOR's from professors and one from an employer.

[doinmybest]

So, for the few of you who said you think your 'soft' factors may have played a large role...

who wrote your LORs?

Were they professors... people you volunteered with?

I am curious only because I am getting ready to start applying this fall, and am trying to figure out who would be best to ask.

Had 3 LORs. All 3 were from profs that I had for at least 2 classes each, both of which I made As in. I doubt my recs played any kind of significant role in my decision.

[Mattalones]

So, for the few of you who said you think your 'soft' factors may have played a large role...

who wrote your LORs?

Were they professors... people you volunteered with?

I am curious only because I am getting ready to start applying this fall, and am trying to figure out who would be best to ask.

I had a bunch or LORs, but I remember a few specifically

1) Professor from undergrad who I took 5 classes with and TAed for 3 times; knew each other pretty well.
2) Phd. TA from undergrad who I took several classes with and have become and stayed friends with ever since.
3) Grad school research advisor who I have a great relationship with.
4) Director of the bridge program at my undergrad who I also had a strong relationship with.

I was allowed to see (3) and (4), and they were quite strong, but I don't think they were as strong as (1) and (2).

I would guess that my PS and DS played a very large role.

Doing TFA probably helped a little

Coming in with a graduate degree from a T5 ed. school (4.0 w/publication pending) and three years of WE probably helped a bit too.

In sum, softs may have been hard for me.

[JRMjr]

got into my reach... it was the "Why X" essay and LOR's from bosses (one of whom went to the reach university.) I was hovering around median age, LSAT, GPA with no strong softs and had the app in the first day they could be submitted