Applying to reaches is a humiliating waste of time and money Forum

[GermX]

Don't ever do it.

[dakatz]

I got into one of my highest reaches...

[dk8]

only if you view rejection as humiliation. you shouldn't

[OneKnight]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=101596

HTH

[nowinGA]

I got into a bunch of reaches and wish I would have applied to others...

[RayFinkle]

I got into a bunch of reaches and wish I would have applied to others...

Are you sure you didn't just misconstrue what a reach was with your credentials?

[GermX]

God to the people who say they got into "a bunch of reaches", STOP IT. You don't even know what a reach is! A reach is when you barely edge into the 25th on one of your stats and not even on your others. A reach is when you apply with a 3.4 and 169 to the University of Chicago, which, on LSP, was only a 5% chance to get in. THAT'S a reach.


Sorry even that thread you posted, 90% of posters in that thread don't even realize that they are not reaches.

[ggocat]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=101596

HTH

A lot of those don't seem like reaches. (LSAT above the median = not a reach.)

[GermX]

Admissions is ALL about the LSAT and GPA. I got into every school that I was a "strong consider", got waitlisted at "Considers" and outright rejected at "weak considers".

I volunteered, have lots of work experience (real work experience, not some college job shit), a decent gpa and LSAT IMO (3.4, 169 isn't terrible), and on top of that, I had a great explanation for why my grades slipped (death etc...) and also an upward trend in GPA and everything else that supposedly tips the balance.

EXCEPT IT DOESN'T. ALL THEY LOOK AT IS YOUR LSAT AND GPA. Period.

[dk8]

Admissions is ALL about the LSAT and GPA. I got into every school that I was a "strong consider", got waitlisted at "Considers" and outright rejected at "weak considers".

I volunteered, have lots of work experience (real work experience, not some college job shit), a decent gpa and LSAT IMO (3.4, 169 isn't terrible), and on top of that, I had a great explanation for why my grades slipped (death etc...) and also an upward trend in GPA and everything else that supposedly tips the balance.

EXCEPT IT DOESN'T. ALL THEY LOOK AT IS YOUR LSAT AND GPA. Period.

wrong. a couple of schools have looked past my lsat and gpa to reject/wl me.

[nowinGA]

Maybe it was not your numbers that hurt you (that is, maybe you were, in fact, in "reach" range)...did you get any feedback about your resume? And your PS? And your other softs when you put your packages together?

[OneKnight]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=101596

HTH

A lot of those don't seem like reaches. (LSAT above the median = not a reach.)

Many of them are not, but a good number of them are. My LSAT for UVa is 25th percentile and Tintin's LSAT is one point below both Chicago and NYU's 25th percentile. Yes, we have good GPAs, but so do many others. I consider those reaches and you'd be crazy not to because there are many many candidates with similar credentials (High GPA/Low LSAT) that don't make the cut.

Anyway, applying to a few reaches is a good idea, just so long as you don't expect to get into them and have applied to targets and safeties as well!

[bigben]

All depends what you mean by "reach" obviously....

[nowinGA]

Admissions is ALL about the LSAT and GPA. I got into every school that I was a "strong consider", got waitlisted at "Considers" and outright rejected at "weak considers".

I volunteered, have lots of work experience (real work experience, not some college job shit), a decent gpa and LSAT IMO (3.4, 169 isn't terrible), and on top of that, I had a great explanation for why my grades slipped (death etc...) and also an upward trend in GPA and everything else that supposedly tips the balance.

EXCEPT IT DOESN'T. ALL THEY LOOK AT IS YOUR LSAT AND GPA. Period.

They may look at that, but if you have a glaring error in another part (resume, ps) that could kill you. Many of the admissions counselors talk about that...a misspelled word, or typo...sends you to the circular file. If all you say above is true, perhaps that is what happened.

[smov_operator]

I agree that getting into 20 schools where you are above median at is not a "reach." But, I definitely got into a bunch of reach schools. I can definitely understand the frustration of trying to be a complete applicant, but feeling like a number.

[bigben]

God to the people who say they got into "a bunch of reaches", STOP IT. You don't even know what a reach is! A reach is when you barely edge into the 25th on one of your stats and not even on your others. A reach is when you apply with a 3.4 and 169 to the University of Chicago, which, on LSP, was only a 5% chance to get in. THAT'S a reach.


Sorry even that thread you posted, 90% of posters in that thread don't even realize that they are not reaches.

So your definition of "reach" is correct, and any other definition must be wrong. lol

[JOThompson]

Depending on how you define the term reach, I was accepted with scholarships by a couple reaches. My GPA is above UMN's median, but my LSAT is far below 25th. Non-URM also. I can only attribute my fortune to holistic adcomms who were open minded about my unusual soft factors. Not a waste of time, but possibly a huge waste of money (sans waiver) because I was rejected by the vast majority of my reaches.

[gdane]

Its worth a shot. You never know. Strange things can happen.

Its not humiliating. Personally, it was exciting. I applied to Gtown, which was the biggest reach in the world for me. I was certain that I would be rejected and get an email a week after applying. I ended up being under review for over a month. I thought that I might possibly get waitlisted or accepted. I didnt get either, but it was exciting holding out for the possibility.

The biggest thing is that you remember why you refer to the school as a "reach". Dont set any expectations. You never know what happens.

I also disagree about LSAT and GPA being everything. They are a HUGE part of admissions, probably well over 75% of what is considered, but they arent the only things considered. I believe that personal statements are important because they demonstrate an applicant's humbleness and writing skills. I think that if you come off as a jerkoff or if you dont put any effort into your statement, admissions notices. There are a ton of 165/3.8 applicants, you have to make sure you come off as genuine and humble.

Good luck with everything else though.

[RayFinkle]

Its not humiliating. Personally, it was exciting. I applied to Gtown, which was the biggest reach in the world for me. I was certain that I would be rejected and get an email a week after applying. I ended up being under review for over a month. I thought that I might possibly get waitlisted or accepted. I didnt get either, but it was exciting holding out for the possibility.

You sir, are a masochist.



But serious, I know what you're saying.

[Veyron]

Op is an idiot/should grow a some balls.

[RayFinkle]

Op is an idiot/should grow a some balls.

[gdane]

Finkle is Einhorn...

[gdane]

Marino: Hey Ace, have any more of that gum left?
Ace: That's none of your damn business Dan.

HAHA!!! Love this movie. One of my all time favorites.

[evilgenius]

When my cycle started I had this mentality. I only applied to the reaches that were waived their application fees, so that I wouldn't waste money. ITW I got into all but one of my reaches (that one is still pending) with fairly generous scholarship offers. And I was far (far) below the 25th percentile for all of them. Now I wish that I'd applied to more reaches, and higher ranked schools.

I agree that its mostly about LSAT and GPA, but there are other factors that - if one is able to frame to their advantage - can get he/she into a reach.

[smov_operator]

Finkle is Einhorn...

your gun is digging into my hip

It's not a woman, it's a man!!