Top Law Schools

Actually I didn't, but I thought it would be fun to start a thread for people who got into their reach schools.

Please follow this template:

GPA: [X] , LSAT [X]
URM: Y/N, if Y then which type

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL(S)

Optional Essay: Y/N, If Y then which essay did you write.

Finally, what you think (totally subjective) got you into that school.

Edit: I think we should also add what month you sent in applications.

Cool idea for a thread.

GPA: 3.69 LSAT 167 (163 two years prior)
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Berkeley

Optional Essay: N/A (though I should add that I didn't really write anything extra fior the Berkeley PS, which allows for 4 pages.

Finally, what you think (totally subjective) got you into that school: soft factors (see my LSN profile, same name) and my personal statement.

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.

GPA: 3.9 LSAT: 168, 168
URM: no, but gay.

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: NYU, Penn

OPTIONAL ESSAY: Wrote the 5 year plan one for Penn, none for NYU

WHAT GOT ME IN: a combination of the fact that my application had a strong narrative thread throughout (having to do with queer work) and my transcript, which contained narrative evaluations for every class well as grades. but this is just speculation on my part obviously.

GPA: 3.47 , LSAT 166
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL(S) Notre Dame

Optional Essay: Yes, Why Notre Dame

Finally, what you think (totally subjective) got you into that school.
Visited and talked with admissions. Sold myself well imho.

Edit: I think we should also add what month you sent in applications.[/quote]
Right after the September Lsat score release.

GPA: 3.92; LSAT: 169, 161
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Stanford

OPTIONAL ESSAY: No (but I did add a "Why Stanford" paragraph into my generic PS)

WHAT GOT ME IN: Stanford UG, personal statement, softs (I think).

crackberry wrote:GPA: 3.92; LSAT: 169, 161
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Stanford

OPTIONAL ESSAY: No (but I did add a "Why Stanford" paragraph into my generic PS)

WHAT GOT ME IN: Stanford UG, personal statement, softs (I think).

If SLS was a reach, you've got a short arm.

GPA: 2.8 , LSAT 176
URM: No

Northwestern

Optional Essay: Why NU?

WHAT GOT ME IN:Work Experience and LSAT

managamy wrote:

crackberry wrote:GPA: 3.92; LSAT: 169, 161
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Stanford

OPTIONAL ESSAY: No (but I did add a "Why Stanford" paragraph into my generic PS)

WHAT GOT ME IN: Stanford UG, personal statement, softs (I think).

If SLS was a reach, you've got a short arm.

Hahaha I guess it depends on one's definition of "reach."

GPA: 3.98, LSAT: 164
URM: No

Name of Reach School: Miiiiiiichigan

Optional Essay: Yes, Why Mich? and Explanation of Low LSAT

What got me in? Perfect storm of factors (PS, High GPA, letter from LSAC saying I took the LSAT under poor conditions, strong softs)

Shaggier1 wrote:Cool idea for a thread.

GPA: 3.69 LSAT 167 (163 two years prior)
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Berkeley

Optional Essay: N/A (though I should add that I didn't really write anything extra fior the Berkeley PS, which allows for 4 pages.

Finally, what you think (totally subjective) got you into that school: soft factors (see my LSN profile, same name) and my personal statement.

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.

bighead715 wrote:GPA: 3.98, LSAT: 164
URM: No

Name of Reach School: Miiiiiiichigan

Optional Essay: Yes, Why Mich? and Explanation of Low LSAT

What got me in? Perfect storm of factors (PS, High GPA, letter from LSAC saying I took the LSAT under poor conditions, strong softs)

Dude this gives me hope on my Michigan application...

GPA: 2.96, LSAT: 171
URM: No

Name of Reach School: Georgetown
Optional Essay: No (wrote a few paragraphs into my PS on why Georgetown)

What got me in? Edit: applied ED; 4 years work experience in a non profit legal services org; PS?

GPA: 3.2, LSAT: 171

URM: ORM

Name of reach school: Penn

Optional Essay: Why Penn and Art/Lit

What got me in: Iuno

GPA: 3.89
LSAT: 164
non-URM
Reach school: UCLA

Optional essay: diversity statement about work experience

What Got me in: Work experience and PS if I had to guess

GPA: 3.5 , LSAT 172
URM: no

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL(S); Chicago

Why i got in: if I had to guess, very strong letters of recommendation and a decently interesting resume

robin600 wrote:Dude this gives me hope on my Michigan application...

He was ED and had pretty great softs, if I recall. His numbers are auto-reject under ordinary circumstances.

GPA: 3.84 , LSAT 164, 157
URM: No

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Michigan

Optional Essay: Yes, I wrote the "Why Michigan"

* I think it was a combination of ED, and independent research as in UG (supervising prof also wrote rec letter)

I applied in late September

GPA: 3.42, LSAT 174
URM: no

NAME OF REACH SCHOOL(S); University of Chicago

Why I got in: I applied ED with a very strong upward grade trend. I really think ED gave me the edge I needed.

GPA: 3.28 , LSAT 175
URM: Very white
NAME OF REACH SCHOOL: Penn

Optional Essay: GPA addendum, art/literature supplemental.

Why? I applied ED, wrote a solid GPA addendum (3.9 for past three semesters, without one semester of UG my GPA would be about 3.6), but really I'm kidding myself if I think it came down to anything other than my 175 LSAT.

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

.

GPA: 3.3 LSAT: 172
URM: Not even close

REACH SCHOOL: NYU

Optional Essay: nope, but I did a GPA addendum (explaining about the grade deflation in my program & first year illness)

Why I got in: I applied ED, have good softs, my program is very difficult and I am highly ranked within it. Also, luck.

GPA: 3.47, with a strong downward trend
LSAT: 175

REACH SCHOOL: Chicago

Not really sure how I got in. A combination of ED, interesting (but not great) softs, high LSAT, and bit of luck, I guess.

It's interesting how many of the reaches turn out to be Chicago. Perhaps they're using a more holistic review this year. But I wonder what other schools would feature in the list had this thread been started earlier; maybe those who got into reaches earlier in the cycle haven't posted here.