College Prep: Why You Should Apply to a "Reach" School
When it comes time to think about what colleges students should apply to, we think it’s important to consider a range of schools. Students should apply to schools that they are likely to get accepted to, but we think its’s equally important that students also apply to at least one “reach” school. Here’s why.
What exactly is a “reach” school?
If you’re currently undergoing or preparing to undergo the college application process, you’re probably familiar with how to generally determine if you’re likely to be granted acceptance to a certain school. You can look at factors, primarily GPA and academic test scores, to help you figure out if your academic performance is in line with that of the average academic performance of students at a given college. After all, there’s a good reason that colleges ask for so much information on your grades and standardized test scores.
The OPPOSITE of a reach school would be a school where your academic standing is in line with that of the average college student there. You can determine this by doing a quick web search of the average ACT and SAT test scores of the current student body at a particular school. You can do the same search for high school GPAs by college. If your own GPA and test scores fall into a college’s average area or above it, there’s a high probability that you will be accepted to the school should you choose to apply.
In contrast, a REACH school would be an institution for which your academic standing is below the average of their student body and likely, therefore, the general admission guidelines or requirements. For example, a student whose ACT score is a 26 may choose a college with an average 31 ACT score as their reach school. On average, students at this college will have an ACT score well over 26.
How to pick your reach school(s)
For many students, a school like Harvard or MIT would be a reach school. But just because it’s Harvard isn’t a good enough reason to make it your reach school and just apply. After all, it’s a lot of work to prepare college applications and supplemental essays, so we don’t recommend sending off useless applications to schools where you don’t even want to go.
For many students, their reach schools will be easy to identify. Perhaps you know that you want to stay close to home and would love to go to the local university but know that your grades aren’t quite strong enough. That would be your perfect reach school. A school you want to go to but that you don’t think you can get into based primarily on your academic record.
Ultimately, what we would recommend is taking some time to reflect on the personal and academic goals that you have for yourself. Really dream big and think outside the box. What would be your absolute best case scenario for your college career? Is there a school or a program that you would absolutely love to be part of but that you’re convinced you would never get accepted to? That is your academic reach school.
Why should you have at least one reach school?
The point behind applying to at least one academic reach school is simple: to give your big dreams and goals a chance. You never know; you just might be completely surprised when you get that acceptance email or a request for an interview with an admissions counselor. After all, what do you really have to lose by not at least giving a college the chance to consider for acceptance? Sure, you may end up bummed out in the end if you don’t get accepted, but remember—this is your REACH school. You already know that statistically the odds are not in your favor, so try to hold onto that to keep from feeling too disappointed if you don’t get the results you’re after. Even if you receive bad news, this is a great opportunity for personal growth. We promise you’re more likely to regret not trying at all than trying and failing.
Reach for more than academics
Furthermore, we think there are other types of reaches outside of academics alone. For some students, maybe it’s a new city or a joining a particular club. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of living in New York City and going to college there, but it seems scary and impractical to move across the country for college. Or maybe you struggled with getting involved in your high school community and would really like to participate in Greek life during college but you’re apprehensive about the idea of moving out of your comfort zone.
College isn’t about academics alone. In college, you’ll learn a lot, of course, but it won’t be just in the classroom. You’ll forge new connections with your peers and educators, you’ll have a social life, and you’ll prepare for a future in the workforce. You’ll spend years working toward the day you’ll finally be handed your diploma, so do yourself a favor and sit down and ask yourself “What do I really want my college experience to look like?”
The point of a reach school isn’t to set your sights on only it but to at least give your big hopes and dreams a chance at materializing rather than quit without shooting for the moon.
Still not sure where to start? Check out our blog post on how to find the perfect school for you.
Good luck, and happy applying!
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