I made it into my "REACH" Forum

Luis Gomez · Post by **Luis Gomez** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:02 am

thorntll wrote:GPA: 3.83, LSAT 165, 168
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL(S): Chicago

Optional Essay: No, but I put a little paragraph on UChicago in my PS (I did that for all schools).

Why I got in: No freaking clue. I don't seem like their typical student (I'm liberal, public interest-y, and pretty laid back). Maybe they're trying to change their reputation? I think my PS and resume and LORs were pretty good, but I bet a lot of people's were pretty good...

OMG you have just made me bush with the idea of getting an acceptance letter. As unlikely as it is I enjoyed imaging it for a moment.

tumbleweed664 · Post by **tumbleweed664** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:05 am

GPA: 3.01 LSAT: 173
URM: No

SCHOOL: Michigan, UVA, Cornell (?)

Optional Essay: Diversity Statement, Why Mich, Why UVA

Why I got in: ED to Michigan, pretty good softs and PS (I think). I am also pretty solidly convinced my UG's reputation plus my LSAT score helped offset the GPA.

nycparalegal · Post by **nycparalegal** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:47 am

Just as a note to everyone who looks at this thread, I think it is going to be skewed towards people who ED just because we are really only at the halfway point in the application cycle, and most people haven't applied/or heard back yet if they did under regular circumstances.

So dont get discouraged from applying.

That being said, I look forward to seeing how this thread plays out this cycle. Good luck to everyone thus far, and I hope to see more people get into their reach schools - esp me

LSAT! Nooooooooo! · Post by **LSAT! Nooooooooo!** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:05 am

misformafia wrote:GPA: 3.77 LSAT: 159 (159)
URM: No.

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Washington & Lee

OPTIONAL ESSAY: N/A (Although I wrote many LOCIs + had an interview)

WHAT GOT ME IN: Persistence.

This was all last cycle. I'm still excited.

Congrats man. Mucho excited for you.

LSAT! Nooooooooo! · Post by **LSAT! Nooooooooo!** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:14 am

mhernton wrote:GPA: 2.2 LSAT : 155
URM: Yes
Reach The College of William & Mary School of Law

Optional Essay: Yes on 'Pride'

I got in because I'm a Combat Veteran, that was recalled to active duty as I was preparing for the LSAT while preparing for deployment, and then took the test once again while in the Middle East during operations. I have an MBA from UCSD, I'm over 30 with over 10 years of work experience both military, financial planning, and tech consulting, applied early (Oct). Before the cries of you only go in because you're a URM start, let me say that there are plenty of URMs that don't have my UGPA and my LSAT, both of which are well below the median. I'm truly a case where the Adcom looked beyond the numbers

Ladies and gentleman another "URM Powerball" winner! Thank you for your service to our country though.

Anastasia Dee Dualla · Post by **Anastasia Dee Dualla** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:19 am

thisisjacquie · Post by **thisisjacquie** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:23 am

sharthree wrote:G.P.A (3.4) LSAT (160)
URM: Yes--African American/Native American
Reach: NYU, UVA, Illinois, Cornell, GMU

Optional Essays: No.

What got me in: I've been told by all admissions offices that my personal statement and diversity statements were above average. I also had a very good LOR.

holy shit wow. good job

MC Southstar · Post by **MC Southstar** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:24 am

sharthree wrote:G.P.A (3.4) LSAT (160)
URM: Yes--African American/Native American
Reach: NYU, UVA, Illinois, Cornell, GMU

Optional Essays: No.

What got me in: I've been told by all admissions offices that my personal statement and diversity statements were above average. I also had a very good LOR.

grats on nyu.

Anastasia Dee Dualla · Post by **Anastasia Dee Dualla** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:27 am

joshhoward · Post by **joshhoward** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:02 am

for the "what got you in" answers like high LSAT" or "high GPA" make it, by definition, not a "reach." its only a reach if you get in despite both your LSAT and GPA (i.e., if you are below their index target).

stratocophic · Post by **stratocophic** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:09 am

kingabraham3 wrote:for the "what got you in" answers like high LSAT" or "high GPA" make it, by definition, not a "reach." its only a reach if you get in despite both your LSAT and GPA (i.e., if you are below their index target).

Hey now, splitters can reach too

The mitigation provided by the abnormally high number doesn't make up for the other... if it did, I'd wouldn't be sweating my applications like this.

MC Southstar · Post by **MC Southstar** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:09 am

kingabraham3 wrote:for the "what got you in" answers like high LSAT" or "high GPA" make it, by definition, not a "reach." its only a reach if you get in despite both your LSAT and GPA (i.e., if you are below their index target).

Well, ie, I am like a 30% chance WEAK CONSIDER(ED)/DENY(RD) on LSP, which means my index is well below average, but my LSAT probably still contributed strongly to me getting in...

NayBoer · Post by **NayBoer** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:53 am

GPA: 2.73, LSAT 172
URM: N
In at Northwestern (ED)
Optional Essay: Y - Why Northwestern and Diversity Statement

Applied early Oct, interviewed on campus a few days later, admitted Dec-22. Roughly 5 yrs WE. Also wrote a cover letter and submitted GPA addendum.

Obviously my LSAT and >2 yrs WE got me in the door. I think what helped me get in:
- several solid LORs from employers (had zero academic LORs);
- specific examples of professional responsibility and leadership cited in interview and in cover letter;
- pretty good interview on campus, in which I showed I'd done lots of NU-related research;
- several years legal WE, including a promotion;
- interest in a specific legal field, which Northwestern really caters to (tax).

I think the LSAT, WE and ED did most of the work getting me in, and the rest just showed motivation beyond my low uGPA.

smalltown · Post by **smalltown** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:07 am

G.P.A (3.4) LSAT (161)
URM: No
Reach: Colorado (in-state)

When you applied: Nov. 2008 (last cycle)

Optional Essays: Yes, how will you contribute to diversity at CU

What got me in: I'd like to think it was my previous career and demonstrated ability to write and research (long-time journalist prior to school), or my unique upbringing as a bumpkin. But I imagine it was really the call from a state Supreme Court Justice that got me off the waitlist.

jay115 · Post by **jay115** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:31 am

GPA: 3.5
LSAT: 164
URM: No
Reach school: UCLA (early decision)
Optional Essay: Essay on their critical race program; philosophy specialization
What got me in: early decision + interest in specific UCLA programs
Date Applied: Don't recall exact date; sometime in mid-October? I heard back in mid-November.

CardinalRules · Post by **CardinalRules** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:54 am

jay115 wrote:GPA: 3.5
LSAT: 164
URM: No
Reach school: UCLA (early decision)
Optional Essay: Essay on their critical race program; philosophy specialization
What got me in: early decision + interest in specific UCLA programs
Date Applied: Don't recall exact date; sometime in mid-October? I heard back in mid-November.

Question #7 seems to hit the spot for them; they mentioned my program-specific essay there when they called.

t_flores08 · Post by **t_flores08** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:35 am

GPA: 3.2ish
LSAT: 163
URM: depends. I am Hispanic (Cuban) so it depends on what you consider urm.
Reach school: Notre Dame (Regular decision) w considerable scholly.
(I was shocked when I got the email since it is pretty much my first choice/ a dream school for me and I thought I had 0 chance.)
Optional Essay: Did the why nd essay.
What got me in: I want to say my ps because I put a lot of work and thought into it. I took a lot of pride in my ps and also took time to write my why nd.
Date Applied: Late October

xanderdellus · Post by **xanderdellus** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:00 pm

barrinmb wrote:
kingabraham3 wrote:for the "what got you in" answers like high LSAT" or "high GPA" make it, by definition, not a "reach." its only a reach if you get in despite both your LSAT and GPA (i.e., if you are below their index target).
Hey now, splitters can reach too The mitigation provided by the abnormally high number doesn't make up for the other... if it did, I'd wouldn't be sweating my applications like this.

As an extreme splitter, I agree with both of you. A school can be a reach if one index or the other is low. However, if the high index is the only thing that got you in, it is not a reach. I could get in to most TTT with my LSAT despite a GPA below 25%. However, if I get into a T14, still with an LSAT above 75th and GPA below 25th it's a reach. In the first case, my LSAT alone got me in. In the second case, my LSAT plus x,y,z soft factors came into play.

GPA: 2.1
LSAT: 169
URM: No, but NT
Reach: MN
Optional Essay: Diversity statement on being old
What got me in: Unique work experience, Grad degrees, Killer PS, early application and LSAT

Still hoping on T14 and WUSTL
What got me in

tintin · Post by **tintin** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:09 pm

this thread makes me happy. congrats all!!!

Kiersten1985 · Post by **Kiersten1985** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:24 pm

tintin wrote:this thread makes me happy. congrats all!!!

+1 although it's again making me sad that I didn't ED to my #1 choice...

jay115 · Post by **jay115** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:05 pm

Kiersten1985 wrote:
tintin wrote:this thread makes me happy. congrats all!!!
+1 although it's again making me sad that I didn't ED to my #1 choice...

perhaps, but you have a stronger position to haggle for $ than those of us ED peeps

fulkersonr1 · Post by **fulkersonr1** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:49 pm

LSAT: 167
GPA: 2.98
Reach: Notre Dame
URM : No
Optional Essay: Why ND?

Why I got in: I think was because my Notre Dame essay highlighted how my background fits well with programs and philosophies of Notre Dame. Good LORs. Several years removed from undergrad. Graduate work in I.R. with International Law focus. Luck.

Shaggier1 · Post by **Shaggier1** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:03 pm

Whoa! Shaggier, I didn't see that you got into Berkeley! Congrats! I think you are the ideal Berkeley candidate. Please send UVA a letter telling them to shove off.

Hahah, thanks, Wired! Dugas and I actually had a nice email exchange after my rejection (though a part of me did want very much to tell them to shove off

)

amputatedbrain · Post by **amputatedbrain** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:11 pm

jay115 wrote:GPA: 3.5
LSAT: 164
URM: No
Reach school: UCLA (early decision)
Optional Essay: Essay on their critical race program; philosophy specialization
What got me in: early decision + interest in specific UCLA programs
Date Applied: Don't recall exact date; sometime in mid-October? I heard back in mid-November.

So you're the other 164 non-urm green dot on LSN

Congrats man . . . probably gonna be lonely for us in that 164 column

bighead715 · Post by **bighead715** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:28 pm

this thread is win.

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