3 Tips for Selecting the Right Reach Schools
According to the Department of Education, there are roughly 3,000 four-year colleges in America. You likely should not apply to all of them.
In fact, you should leave the majority of them off of your short list. Each school that you apply to during senior year of high school will cost you time, effort and money, so it is important to choose colleges carefully.
We have previously discussed how to create a short list of one or two safety schools, four or five target schools and one or two reach schools. Of these three categories, identifying your reach schools may be the most difficult. Here are three tips to help you with this task.
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1. Consider your personal statistics -- to a degree: Your GPA and standardized test scores are both the most and least important factors to keep in mind as you choose reach schools.
They are important in the sense that your academic statistics should be within range of those for the college in question. If your GPA and standardized test scores are well above the school's average, you may find yourself lacking motivation. If they're too far below, you may struggle in your classes.
With that said, many admissions departments will give greater weight to your essays, letters of recommendation and other evidence of excellence such as leadership in extracurricular activities and meaningful volunteer commitments. Challenging course work, such as AP or IB classes, can also help to balance a somewhat lower GPA.
Simply put, do not be afraid to apply to colleges and universities that are slightly above your statistical range. However, do not apply to schools that are dramatically out of reach. For instance, a 2.8 GPA will not qualify you for a college with an average accepted student GPA of 3.8.
[Consider the downside of attending a reach school.]
2. Look beyond the Ivy League: For many high school students, an Ivy League university is the quintessential reach school. If attending Brown University or Cornell University is your dream, then by all means apply. But if you are submitting an application just because it is a prestigious school, look elsewhere.
If you dream of studying marine biology, for example, the University of California--Santa Cruz hosts the Institute of Marine Sciences, a world-renowned center for research. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is also close by and offers many opportunities for collaborative studies and summer internships.
Although U.S. News ranks UCSC as tied for No. 82 overall among National Universities, most out-of-state freshmen will have a minimum GPA of 3.4, with an emphasis on science and math.
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3. Leverage extracurricular interests: If you can demonstrate long-term engagement in an area that falls outside the traditional academic arena, seek out those colleges and universities that are just out of reach academically, but that also have an existing interest in your skill set.
For example, if you have competed in a national singing competition, choose a reach school that has a renowned choir. Bucknell University, for example, is a selective, private liberal arts school with a strong music program that offers a number of merit-based scholarships.
Next, ask your choral director or singing instructor for a recommendation letter that commends your dedication and enthusiasm.
You can also mention this interest in your college application essay, as well as contact the program coordinator at the school in question. Identifying an advocate among the faculty or staff at your target reach school may prove advantageous come decision time.
The three strategies discussed here are not magical solutions. They will not guarantee you entry to the most competitive colleges or universities in the U.S. However, they may position you to receive an acceptance letter from a school that you may have never dreamed of attending otherwise.
Brian Witte is a professional SAT tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University.
