HAs anyone gotten into their “reach” school before?

Me!!!! My law school was definitely a reach for me, but I had the “soft factors” (good personal statement, legacy status, exceptional reason to attend the university) to get me in WITH an unasked for scholarship. It can definitely be done, just make sure you convey to the school how much you want to get in and why (and if it’s a fairly unique reason–not “because you’re the highest ranked school in my area” or whatever–even better.)

That depends on how realistic your reach school is.

If your reach school is Harvard and your GPA is a 2.9 and your application has no amazing features to it, then your likelihood of getting in seems low.

If your GPA is a 3.2 and your SAT scores are solid… and the average GPA of admitted students in your school is a 3.5, then your likelihood is pretty good because remember the GPA presented is an “average” – meaning there are some higher, some lower.

Another reality is that you might get into your reach school but not get any financial aid to attend.

So apply. Do everything that you can – get those solid SAT scores, keep up the work at school, write an amazing essay, go to the school for an interview, etc. – and good luck.

(In a direct answer to your question, yes. I got into my reach school and am attending it now.)