5 reasons you should apply to reach schools

Key Takeaways:

• Reach schools are colleges where you have a lower chance of acceptance – below 40% – often due to lower academic scores.
• You should still apply to reach colleges as admissions counselors look beyond GPAs and SAT/ACT scores, reviewing extracurriculars, character, and more.
• You can boost your acceptance chances with well-written essays, demonstrated interest, and early applications.

Flickr user Helmuts Rudzītis

As you narrow down your college list, you might be focusing heavily on schools you know you have a good shot at receiving an acceptance letter, your match and safety colleges. However, those reach schools, institutions where you’re unlikely to be accepted deserve your attention, too. Don’t write them off completely. You never know what will happen and you might be pleasantly surprised. Here’s a deep dive into reach schools and why you should take the extra time to apply.

What is a reach school?

A reach school is a college or university where your GPA and test scores fall at the lower end of the academic spectrum of admitted students. The classification is relative to each individual and will depend on your grades and scores, so your idea of a reach school could be quite different from a friend’s categorization.

“Reach schools” can also refer to colleges with very low overall acceptance rates, such as Harvard University (3.7%) or MIT (4.9%). These are essentially a reach for all applicants as these schools simply can’t admit everyone who fits within the perimeters they’re looking for. As a result, students who are “qualified” receive rejection letters.

Here are some examples: you have a 2.8 GPA with a 27 ACT score, and your friend has a 3.4 GPA with a 33 ACT score. A school with an average accepted GPA of 3.25 and 30 ACT score would be a reach school for you but not necessarily for your friend. However, if the college has an acceptance rate of just 5%, the school is essentially a reach or huge reach for both of you.

Should you apply to reach schools?

Yes, you should still apply to reach schools as long as you meet at least some of the qualifications the college is looking for in an applicant. Write a stellar essay, get outstanding recommendation letters, and give your application plenty of attention to increase your admission chances.

What are safety, match, and reach schools?

“Safety, match, and reach schools” is a way to sort colleges based on the GPA, standardized test scores, and percentage of students accepted. Looking at these metrics, you can have a good idea about your chances of getting an acceptance letter to any particular school.

You can break down your college list into five categories:

5 reasons why you should apply to huge reach schools

Your college applications require attention, time, and money. As a result, some students may hesitate to apply to reach schools. However, here are some reasons you’ll still want to submit your applications, especially to colleges you’re truly interested in applying to, reach or not.

1. You may get in! You never know unless you apply, and you could be a better fit than you realized. Getting that acceptance letter can give you a confidence boost, even if you decide not to attend.
2. Colleges look beyond grades. While GPA and standardized tests matter, admissions teams are also reviewing essays, character, volunteer work, and more. The school might see something in your application that makes up for lower academic scores, such as a stellar essay or an impressive commitment to your community.
3. You challenge yourself. Reach school applications often require more work and attention. If you can meet these challenges, you can improve the quality of your other applications, too.
4. You could receive a generous financial aid package. Many huge-reach colleges are higher ranked and cost more to attend. They also tend to have larger endowments, meaning there’s more money for larger financial aid packages. Don’t let the sticker price scare you off of a school.
5. You don’t need to give up on your dreams. Many students’ dream schools are also their reach schools. The fear of rejection shouldn’t stop you from applying. Look for ways to boost your submission, such as giving more attention to the SAT/ACT, essays, and personal statements.

How to improve your acceptance chances to reach schools

Even with a lower GPA than the average accepted student, you can take steps to improve your acceptance chances at your reach schools.

• Apply early. Many colleges accept more students out of Early Action and Early Decision pools than Regular Decision. At Rolling Admissions schools, the earlier you apply the more likely you are to receive an acceptance letter.
• Get involved. Join clubs and extracurriculars that speak to you and get involved in your community through volunteer and/or paid work. Focus on quality over quantity. Colleges value commitment and leadership.
• Give your essay extra attention. Your essays and personal statements are a chance to stand out from the crowd and go beyond the numbers on your transcripts. Think about what you want the college to know about you and how your selected topic could improve your admission chances.
• Study for the ACT/SAT. You can take the ACT or SAT more than once, and some schools even superscore your results, taking the best scores from each section. Use practice tests, join study groups, and focus on your weaker areas.
• Demonstrate interest. Some colleges account for students’ demonstrated interest. Request information online, talk to representatives at college fairs, and sign up for official campus tours.
• Prepare for any interviews. Many huge-reach schools request interviews. Practice with mock interviews with a trusted adult so you can become more comfortable answering the potential questions.
• Take rigorous courses. Even with a lower GPA, you can have a higher weighted GPA thanks to rigorous classes, such as AP and dual enrollment courses. These classes show the college you’re ready to take on advanced work.

Find a good mix of safety, match, and reach

While you should apply to some reach schools, they shouldn’t make up your entire college list. Instead, you want to find a good mix of safety, match, and reach to improve your overall admission chances. Be sure that the schools you’re applying to are ones you want to enroll in. Don’t apply to a college simply because it’s a household name – you’re wasting time and money that could be put towards other applications that matter.

As you narrow down your college list, reflect on your academic and personal goals, choosing schools (and reach schools) that align with your intention. You can simply increase your chances of acceptance letters by showing genuine interest on your applications!

Want to find schools that fit what you’re looking for? College Match from College Raptor makes it easy and helps you determine your admission odds. Get started here for free!