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Hi guys,

I am an international student from Scotland, UK. Came to the US on a tennis scholarship. Since then I have reached the NCAA div 1 sweet 16, won conference championships, top 15 ranked team and some cool athletic stuff.

The Georgetown coach wants me to play for their team for my last year eligibility at law school. I have wanted to go to GULC for forever!

Unfortunately I have :
3.8 GPA
159 LSAT.
(3.88 degree GPA)

I don't know if I have any shot at all - I know they accept/waitlist some people that have great applications but not quite the numbers.

I want to get into this school so badly. I'm retaking the LSAT but I put in so much effort the first time, it wasn't the type of test I excel with at all. I might get a 160 -162 this time but thats all I'm banking on if that.

Please be kind! I know everyone here has great grades and fantastic scores. Trying to make this dream come true.

Not to hijack, but does recruiting for NCAA have any weight at all on admissions to schools? Would be pretty interesting to know, esp. for T14.

If you aren't willing to put in the work to get a higher lsat than 160 do you really think a t14 law school is the right fit for you? Going from a 158 to a 165 doesn't take as much work *dedication as being a D1 athlete

I understand your point and of course I'm going to retake but I don't believe the LSAT is a predictor of success in law school or at least not a concrete one.

I put sooo much work in for my first LSAT attempt, I can't see myself going from a 159-165 in the 3-4 weeks I have left.

Debateable. But it is a definate predictor of admissions. So, study harder and then retake instead of rushing.

anrobinson wrote:I understand your point and of course I'm going to retake but I don't believe the LSAT is a predictor of success in law school or at least not a concrete one.

I put sooo much work in for my first LSAT attempt, I can't see myself going from a 159-165 in the 3-4 weeks I have left.

Statistically speaking, LSAT is the best (still not great, but best) predictor of 1L grades. 1L grades (plus employment stats of your school) are far and away the best predictor of your employment outcome.

PSPSPSPS wrote:Debateable. But it is a definate predictor of admissions. So, study harder and then retake instead of rushing.

Issue is I have to go this year, I run out of eligibility otherwise so unless i come up with something incredible in february (which I won't) , I'm screwed? I've taken over 30 practice tests and studied extremely hard for my 160, it's just not something i'm good at.

No not screwed. I would apply. But it is late in the cycle and you're hoping the tennis factor will provide a 5 point increase in the lsat number. (25% is 163 I believe)
But the chances of getting money are slim and sticker is not worth it IMO.

PSPSPSPS wrote:No not screwed. I would apply. But it is late in the cycle and you're hoping the tennis factor will provide a 5 point increase in the lsat number. (25% is 163 I believe)
But the chances of getting money are slim and sticker is not worth it IMO.

Yeah you're correct. I have no idea if it would even help at all. Maybe if i was basketball or something.

And I would get at least one year fully paid for by tennis so its kind of worth it to me.

Get a 163 on the test and you have a better shot. And they take Feb scores right?

anrobinson wrote:

PSPSPSPS wrote:Debateable. But it is a definate predictor of admissions. So, study harder and then retake instead of rushing.

Issue is I have to go this year, I run out of eligibility otherwise so unless i come up with something incredible in february (which I won't) , I'm screwed? I've taken over 30 practice tests and studied extremely hard for my 160, it's just not something i'm good at.

Don't remember too well from my college athletics days, but can't you redshirt and save your year? I know once you stop playing the next year begins to burn like you were still playing; however, I think you can talk with the coach and the NCAA and redshirt your way out of it.

Something to look into anyways, that way you can have time to retake the LSAT.

PSPSPSPS wrote:Get a 163 on the test and you have a better shot. And they take Feb scores right?

yep they do. I think I would probably get in with a 163 but I don't trust myself at getting it. I don't know why, normally I'm good at tests. But I'll work hard and maybe!

stig2014 wrote:

anrobinson wrote:

PSPSPSPS wrote:Debateable. But it is a definate predictor of admissions. So, study harder and then retake instead of rushing.

Issue is I have to go this year, I run out of eligibility otherwise so unless i come up with something incredible in february (which I won't) , I'm screwed? I've taken over 30 practice tests and studied extremely hard for my 160, it's just not something i'm good at.

Don't remember too well from my college athletics days, but can't you redshirt and save your year? I know once you stop playing the next year begins to burn like you were still playing; however, I think you can talk with the coach and the NCAA and redshirt your way out of it.

Something to look into anyways, that way you can have time to retake the LSAT.

This year is/was my redshirt - I had surgery in summer. Otherwise your definitely right but you have to finish your eligibility within 5 years of starting, next year will be my 5th.

It's only like 5 or 6 more questions. I'm sure you'll get it. Good luck

Going to law school to play one more year of collegiate tennis is a bad idea. Playing a Division 1 sport during 1L is an AWFUL idea. 1L is already a challenge without having to worry about practice, matches, and travel. I honestly can't imagine it would be possible to do that well in law school while playing a division 1 sport, especially at a school like Georgetown where your peers are going to be very bright and focusing 100% of their energy on school.

Mullens wrote:Going to law school to play one more year of collegiate tennis is a bad idea. Playing a Division 1 sport during 1L is an AWFUL idea. 1L is already a challenge without having to worry about practice, matches, and travel. I honestly can't imagine it would be possible to do that well in law school while playing a division 1 sport, especially at a school like Georgetown where your peers are going to be very bright and focusing 100% of their energy on school.

well theres always 3 hours in a day which most people spend socializing/watching tv etc. I chose to play my sport. Theres a few athletes who do it currently - not many though. A football player at Northwestern is one of them.

PSPSPSPS wrote:It's only like 5 or 6 more questions. I'm sure you'll get it. Good luck

Thank you!

Depending on tennis scholarships, what about going to Georgetown next year and playing while getting a masters degree in something other than law? If they're willing to pay for all of it, or a reasonable portion, this would give you time to retake the LSAT, get your chance to play at Georgetown, and then apply to Georgetown and even better t-14's for the next cycle.

anrobinson wrote:

Mullens wrote:Going to law school to play one more year of collegiate tennis is a bad idea. Playing a Division 1 sport during 1L is an AWFUL idea. 1L is already a challenge without having to worry about practice, matches, and travel. I honestly can't imagine it would be possible to do that well in law school while playing a division 1 sport, especially at a school like Georgetown where your peers are going to be very bright and focusing 100% of their energy on school.

well theres always 3 hours in a day which most people spend socializing/watching tv etc. I chose to play my sport. Theres a few athletes who do it currently - not many though. A football player at Northwestern is one of them.

I go to Northwestern, I am not aware of this person and the school isn't very big. There's a former NFL football player, but I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone on the football team at the law school (the campuses aren't even in the same city and are about 30 minutes away). During 1L, some days there is not 3 hours a day to do anything else but law school, especially in the run up to finals. I honestly just don't think this would be worth it. Is there any reason you could not get a one year master's degree and then go to law school? Also, why do you want to go to law school and what do you want to do with a law degree?

.

stig2014 wrote:Depending on tennis scholarships, what about going to Georgetown next year and playing while getting a masters degree in something other than law? If they're willing to pay for all of it, or a reasonable portion, this would give you time to retake the LSAT, get your chance to play at Georgetown, and then apply to Georgetown and even better t-14's for the next cycle.

Thats a good idea!! Something I've thought a little about recently. Especially since grades in masters don't even matter right?

I just worry about getting older and not getting into real life, its a whole three more years for law. But I can't have everything my way I guess!

Mullens wrote:

anrobinson wrote:

Mullens wrote:Going to law school to play one more year of collegiate tennis is a bad idea. Playing a Division 1 sport during 1L is an AWFUL idea. 1L is already a challenge without having to worry about practice, matches, and travel. I honestly can't imagine it would be possible to do that well in law school while playing a division 1 sport, especially at a school like Georgetown where your peers are going to be very bright and focusing 100% of their energy on school.

well theres always 3 hours in a day which most people spend socializing/watching tv etc. I chose to play my sport. Theres a few athletes who do it currently - not many though. A football player at Northwestern is one of them.

I go to Northwestern, I am not aware of this person and the school isn't very big. There's a former NFL football player, but I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone on the football team at the law school (the campuses aren't even in the same city and are about 30 minutes away). During 1L, some days there is not 3 hours a day to do anything else but law school, especially in the run up to finals. I honestly just don't think this would be worth it. Is there any reason you could not get a one year master's degree and then go to law school? Also, why do you want to go to law school and what do you want to do with a law degree?

My bad, it is Notre Dame!

Theres no real reason except my parents freak out about me finishing education and getting into a paying job blah blah blah!
I really want to become a great lawyer, its literally the only thing I have any passion for other than tennis/sport.

anrobinson wrote:

stig2014 wrote:Depending on tennis scholarships, what about going to Georgetown next year and playing while getting a masters degree in something other than law? If they're willing to pay for all of it, or a reasonable portion, this would give you time to retake the LSAT, get your chance to play at Georgetown, and then apply to Georgetown and even better t-14's for the next cycle.

Thats a good idea!! Something I've thought a little about recently. Especially since grades in masters don't even matter right?

I just worry about getting older and not getting into real life, its a whole three more years for law. But I can't have everything my way I guess!

I would strongly consider the masters degree, I know that putting it off another year can be scary, but there's really no downside to waiting. If you don't 4.0 your masters it won't hurt you for law admissions, the degree may help you in admissions (seems to be up for debate, but it's a legitimate soft to have), plus it seems older students do better in getting jobs after law school.