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I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:59 pm
by nycparalegal
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:13 pm
by Shaggier1
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:20 pm
by misformafia
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:31 pm
by tintin
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:27 pm
by sckon
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:52 pm
by crackberry
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).
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:56 pm
by CardinalRules
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.

Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:58 pm
by 09042014
GPA: 2.8 , LSAT 176
URM: No
Northwestern
Optional Essay: Why NU?
WHAT GOT ME IN:Work Experience and LSAT
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:58 pm
by crackberry
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."
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:16 pm
by bighead715
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)
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:27 pm
by wired
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:57 pm
by robin600
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...
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:02 pm
by Delinquent
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?
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:05 pm
by MC Southstar
GPA: 3.2, LSAT: 171
URM: ORM
Name of reach school: Penn
Optional Essay: Why Penn and Art/Lit
What got me in: Iuno
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:12 pm
by amputatedbrain
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
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:16 pm
by dwoolsto
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
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:23 pm
by Vincent Vega
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:29 pm
by z*z
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
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:36 pm
by Whatisthis
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:40 pm
by clevinger33
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:50 pm
by mhernton
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
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:12 pm
by thorntll
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Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:30 pm
by pikalove
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:43 pm
by johnstuartmill
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.
Re: I made it into my "REACH"
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:53 pm
by CardinalRules
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.