Can I Apply to Law School if I'm a Division I Athlete?
By Sydney Montgomery, Executive Director & Founder
Being a Division I athlete is a full-time job, demanding intense dedication, discipline, and time management. As you prepare to apply to law school, you might wonder if your resume, heavily focused on athletics, will stand up against those filled with internships and other extracurriculars. The good news is that law schools recognize and highly value the unique skills and experiences that come from your athletic commitment.
In this blog, we'll explore how being a student athlete, an Olympic athlete, or someone with a highly demanding extracurricular activity can impact your law school application. We'll address common concerns, such as the potential lack of traditional resume items and the impact on GPA, and provide strategies to effectively highlight your athletic experience. Through real examples and expert advice, we'll show you how to turn your athletic dedication into a compelling narrative that sets you apart in the admissions process.
Applying to Law School as a Student Athlete
We received a question at our 2023 Break Into Law Conference that I believe many of you can relate to. Here's the question:
"Hello! I'm a D1 athlete at my university, and I'm getting ready to apply in the upcoming cycle. I am worried, however, that my resume may not be as impressive as my peers. Athletics has taken up so much of my time, and I had to miss out on internships and other extracurriculars. Will this be something that could hurt my applications?"
First off, let me reassure you — being a student athlete will not hurt your application. In fact, law schools highly value the experiences and skills that come with being a student athlete, an Olympic athlete, or even someone in the military. Let's dive into why that is and how you can leverage your unique experiences to stand out in your application.
Admissions officers and deans understand the immense dedication, determination, discipline, and grit required to excel in athletics at a high level. Whether you're an Olympic athlete or a Division I athlete, these experiences showcase your ability to persevere, overcome obstacles, and manage your time effectively. These are precisely the soft skills that law schools value in their incoming students.
Highlighting Your Athletic Experience
Your law school application is a narrative of who you are and what you bring to the table. Here's how you can effectively highlight your athletic experience:
1. Personal Statement: Depending on your reasons for pursuing law school, you might choose to discuss your athletic experiences in your personal statement. This could be particularly relevant if your interest in law stems from issues related to sports, such as sports law, contracts, or advocacy for athletes' rights.
2. Diversity Statement: Your experiences as an athlete can also be a rich source of material for a diversity statement. This statement doesn't have to be about race, gender, or culture alone—it can also encompass unique aspects of your life, such as being a Division I athlete. You can discuss how your athletic career has shaped your perspective, taught you resilience, and prepared you for the challenges of law school.
3. Optional Supplemental Statement: If your athletic career isn't central to your reason for pursuing law school but is still a significant part of your life, consider discussing it in an optional supplemental statement. This can add depth to your application and provide admissions officers with a fuller picture of your background and experiences.
Addressing GPA Concerns
If your GPA has suffered due to the time commitment required for athletics, don't worry—admissions committees will take this into context. You can write an addendum to explain how your rigorous athletic schedule impacted your academic performance. This is similar to how students might explain working multiple jobs or other significant time commitments. The key is to provide context and highlight how you've managed to balance these demanding responsibilities.
Personal Statement Examples
Your personal statement can either directly relate to your athletic experiences or focus on other aspects of your life while still mentioning your athletic background. Here are two examples:
Athletic-Centric: One of our students at a top 20 law school wrote about his NFL experiences and his growing interest in the policies and laws affecting athletes. His athletic experiences directly influenced his desire to study law and advocate for athletes' rights.
Diverse Interests: Another student, training to be an Olympic athlete, chose to focus his personal statement on family experiences and other college activities unrelated to swimming. His athletic career was highlighted in a diversity statement, where he discussed how it intersected with his faith and ethnicity.
Final Thoughts
As a Division I athlete or someone deeply involved in a demanding extracurricular activity, you possess unique skills and experiences that law schools value highly. Don't view your athletic commitment as a drawback—it's a significant asset that sets you apart. Highlight what you've learned, how you've grown, and how these experiences have prepared you for the challenges of law school.
If you need further assistance, remember that we're here to help. At Barrier Breakers® Admissions Advising, we specialize in working with diverse applicants, including athletes. We are excited to support you on your journey to law school.
Keep striving, and good luck with your applications!