Explain:: Reach schools versus Out of reach???

[Tweetie_bird]

I have heard it all over SDN. When picking schools, apparently some people break the schools down in 2 or 3 categories. What are the categories? And how does one determine them?

Since my GPA is a 3.35, I assume a school that has an avg GPA between 3.2 and 3.5 is my "reach school???" And how does it work for MCAT scores? I had a 7, 10, 10 Q. Could somebody please explain this to me? I am thinking of applying to 28 schools, so i would like to see what you think is a nice breakdown for me. Please?
Tweetie

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[Tweetie_bird]

come on people!! let's hear it.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

A reach school is a school you think you could never get into, but you apply to it just in case....it's always good for everyone to apply to a few reach schools because you never know what adcoms want....

 

[Dr.Su]

Tweetie,
i have similar stats, and i live in ny. even though i consider all my schools reach (i don't think that the adcoms will look past the c's and w's i got early on in college), some of the really reach schools for me are einstein, sinai.
what region do u want to got to school?

 

[lola]

tweetie,
it depends where you went to college, if you're a urm, etc... if you went to a really prestigious school are black and grew up homeless, fewer schools would be out of reach.
out of reach would probably be those in the top 10 or 20. reach would be those with ave gpa 3.5-3.6.
you're probably not getting responses b/c no one really knows for sure! just use your common sense. apply to a lot of lower tier and some mid-tier schools. maybe apply to a couple top 20 or 30 schools as your reach schools.

 

[Tweetie_bird]

Hi Su,
I am on the West coast, and my top choice is U of Washington. I want to stay on the west coast as much as I can. Oregon or Cali will also do.

I am having a hard time picking schools based on my stats.

 

[Trek]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Tweetie_bird:
•come on people!! let's hear it. •••••Chill! It's only been like 12 mins since you posted. Damn. --Trek

 

[lola]

tweetie,
apply to your state school and ohsu (both probably "reach" schools). also apply to usc and loma linda (if it floats your boat) in cali. as for the other cali schools, i really doubt you will have much luck. maybe if you're a resident you would have a little, but i am assuming you are a resident of washington. be prepared to move from the west coast. i know, it's sad i'm preparing myself for a possibly move too.

 

[Tweetie_bird]

Thanks guys,
I guess I already knew the info that you guys handed out to me earlier (except the one Trek gave ) I guess I'll find some common sense in the street and apply to a fair amount/distribution of schools.

Thanks for your help!
<img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> Tweetie <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

 

[Katie]

example of reach school for me (3.62, 9 10 10): Pitt
out-of-reach school: UCSF (not a CA resident)

 

[none]

A 27, particularly if the 7 is in verbal as you alluded, is pretty low. It's below average for overall matriuclation and West coast schools are particularly difficult to get into because everybody wants to come or stay on the West coast. Definitely apply to schools such as Finch, George Washington, Albany, and New York Medical. Also, PLEASE consider osteopathy. There are two osteopathic schools in California, one in Pomona and one near San Francisco.