Pencil sharpener rant and other rants

Comments

• Tom_Tango Alum Member

  February 2018 902 karma

  I recommend forwarding this email to LSAC. Hey you never know what might happen
• 10000019 Alum Member

  February 2018 3279 karma

  1. I don't see why bringing a phone is a necessity. I didn't bring my phone, and used a strangers phone after the exam.

  2. According to Kaplan you can't bring an electric sharpener. I didn't bring a sharpener. Instead I brought a ton of pencils. I didn't want to spend any of my intermission time sharpening pencils.
• 7 Likes

  BD Alum Member

  February 2018 edited February 2018 128 karma

  Imagine a room full of people clicking their mechanical pencils endlessly...I would go crazy.
• FixedDice Member

  February 2018 1804 karma

  1. (1) I am more than ready to bet on the possibility that there would be at least one person who would sue or otherwise harass the test center or the LSAC for his or her lost cell phone; (2) mere storage is not the issue - for instance, I can picture the LSAC trying to soothe candidates who were distracted because someone decided to not silence his or her ultra loud and distracting alarm before turning the device in.

  2. Mechanical pencils can be used for cheating.
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  February 2018 8392 karma

  Yeah, it's a bummer but 99% of the time, you don't need your cell phone on you. I'm an oldie though and remember the days when none of us had them lol. Didn't have a phone until my freshman year of college, and I would sometimes turn it off and forget to turn it back on for days at a time hahaha.

  But anyway - yeah, I'm sure it's a liability issue. LSAC doesn't want to be responsible for losing anyone's $800 device, ya know? If you don't have a car, best thing to do is leave it at home. People have mentioned getting away with having it on you as long as it's turned off (and absolutely do not turn it on during break - you will get caught) but I strongly advise against this. You've seen yourself, the consequences of being caught with one are very high, and not worth it.

  I just re-read the LSAC guidelines and you're right, I don't see anything specifically prohibiting a battery-powered sharpener. But please, please don't bring it! I can only imagine how distracting it would be to hear the whirrrrrrring of a sharpener. I really feel like it's unlikely they would allow one anyway. It's unfortunately more of a plan-in-advance item. There are some awesome sharpeners on Amazon. This is the one I have and it rules: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003G560JQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  Is there a Target in your area? They tend to have school supplies year-round. I got an awesome pencil case there, and feel like I remember seeing sharpeners.

  Good luck!!
• Seeking Perfection Alum Member

  February 2018 4428 karma

  Here is an idea. Take your electric pencil sharpener, sharpen a bunch of pencils and take them into the test.

  Even if you could use mechanical pencils, why would you. The goal is to fill in the bubbles quickly. That is not possible with a mechanical pencil's thinner lead. I actually pre-dullened my pencils a little to help with this.

  As far as the phone, you can pay someone not from the test center to watch over it(a local business owner maybe?) Leave it in your car, leave it with the person dropping you off, or hide it sonewhere (preferably outside the test center). A nearby business's bathroom could work fine. Plastic bag it and put it in the water tank. Finally, you could not bring it. I can see how this would be more inconvenient than the pencil thing though. My phone is my GPS and I wanted to call lots of people when I finished and tell them how it went.
• AudaciousRed Alum Member

  February 2018 2689 karma

  I am kind of surprised that schools do not offer to hold it at the front desk or library. But I get that it's likely liability. It does give me a great idea for a business, though. Sit out front with a desk and check people's stuff into secured pouches or lockers for a fee and just guard it during the testing.
  The mechanical pencil thing is supposedly because they can come apart, and you might be able to hide a little piece of rolled up paper inside one to use as a cheat sheet. Bizarre, but whatever. I never considered the clicking. That would drive me nuts. Rather glad they are banned.
  FYI, Walmart and some other places sell pre-sharpened natural wood #2 pencils (Ticonderoga I think?). I adore them. Ready to go, right out of the box. They'll be my go-to for testing. I haven't read that there is a limit you can bring. Anybody know? I mean, is 3 or maybe even 5 considered too many?
• plspeer Member

  February 2018 58 karma

  I’ve brought all 12 of the pencils that came in the box to three LSATs with no trouble. I don’t think there’s a limit.
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  February 2018 8392 karma

  Yeah, no limit. Only limit is what can fit in your ziploc bag.
• LCMama2017 Alum Member

  February 2018 2134 karma

  @xadrianas6x said: FYI, Walmart and some other places sell pre-sharpened natural wood #2 pencils (Ticonderoga I think?). I adore them. Ready to go, right out of the box. They'll be my go-to for testing. I haven't read that there is a limit you can bring. Anybody know? I mean, is 3 or maybe even 5 considered too many?

  Ha! What a great idea. I'm def doing that. For the Sept lsat i had a regular sharpener but I would prefer not to deal with that again
• kshutes13 Member

  February 2018 edited February 2018 634 karma

  I agree that LSAC can be really stingy and strict. I get why there's no mechanical pencils allowed though. For starters, the clicking would be super annoying. Secondly, it's easier to hide things within a mechanical pencil (for cheating) compared to a standard HB pencil. Re: the phone, I left my phone at home and had no trouble; I just hailed a cab when I got out of the testing center and headed home. I do see the trouble it would be for someone who doesn't live in the vicinity of the test centre.

  The lack of storage is a good point. Some people at my testing centre clearly came from long distances and the proctors made them leave all their belongings (bags, larger coats) outside in the hallway, unmonitored, in a public building. Seemed kind of sketchy.
• bratty_nix Alum Member

  February 2018 16 karma

  I actually rented a car today specifically to avoid that cell issue. I uber everywhere so not having my phone/trying to figure public transport was giving me too much anxiety while prepping. I honestly couldn’t believe they don’t at least offer to hold it outside the room.