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Related Discussions
Accommodations on the LSAT???
theLSATstruggs
Alum Member
Hi Everybody,
I am looking for some advice about applying for LSAT Accommodations. I know that there have been posts in the past about accommodations (and I have read all of them several times over), but it's a topic that hasn't been discussed in about 2 years. Thus a lot of those that had advice are already in law school and no longer on 7Sage.
Background: I have had a neurological disability since childhood that has become very severe in the last 5 years, and it has impaired my cognition significantly. I have been under the care of neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and other specialists for several years now, and I know all of them would be willing to write letters recommending that I receive extra time on the LSAT. However, I did not receive accommodations on the SAT/ACT because, frankly, I didn't know that was an available option when I was in high school. I also did not apply for accommodations when I took the LSAT in Sept 2014 because the law school adviser I was getting help from at the time discouraged me from applying for the accommodations because, according to her, having the *** next to my name that told the law school admissions panels that I was disabled was worse than a lower score.
All of that being said, does anyone have any tips or advice for applying to try and get accommodations this time around? Or any opinions on whether you think I should even take the time to apply or think I have any shot at having the accommodations granted?
Comments
I don't have any specific advice about the process / chances of getting accommodations but I wouldn't worry too much about having an asterisk.
I'm no expert but from my recent experiences with law school admissions they all seem to be very genuine, good people. On top of that, I would assume that your reported score would be calculated the same way for the USNWR rankings so the schools wouldn't be incentivized to treat you any differently. Who knows, maybe you would add to the 'diversity' of their incoming class and it would end up being a positive in your app?
I don't have any experience applying or know much about the process, but I know that since a somewhat recent lawsuit, LSAC was required to make the process a bit easier and also they can no longer identify students as having had accommodations. So, rest assured at least that schools will not know whether or not you received accommodations.
@mickey.caleb that's a good point about potentially writing my personal statement on overcoming my disability. I am just a little bit nervous to do this because a lot of people assume that those with a disability/brain disorder are unintelligent.
@Leah M B yes, you're correct - LSAC no longer identifies on law school applications if someone has received LSAT accommodations. That is why I am considering applying this time. I'm just not sure if I really even have a chance of having the accommodations granted, and if that's the case, I don't want to spend all of that time on the application when I could be studying.
@Rtwrtw8 you are so right - it looks like a rather difficult process. I am not planning on taking the test until September, so I am trying to start figuring things out now.
If you feel like you need an accommodation to perform at the level you are capable of, then you owe it to yourself to request an accommodation. I'm sure your condition will easily qualify.
There are no asterisks attached to your score, nor will anyone but those you tell ever know you received extra time.
ThinkingLSAT has several episodes on this issue if you're interested.
I don't know what the process is exactly, but if you need accomodations for a legitimate medical problem you should definitely get them. There isn't an asterisk. Even if there were, there would be nothing to be ashamed of.
Now as to your personal statement or your diversity statement, I think you should write about your neurological disability unless you have something you consider even more fundamental to your iddntity to write about. You can write anout something else in your personal statement and the disability in a diversity statement, write about the disability statement in your personal statement with no diversity statement, write about the disability in your personal statement and something else in a diversity statement, or not write about the disability as you choose.
I suffer from migraines which for me come with symptoms other than pain often including noise sensitivity, aura, and most worringly cognitive impairment. The first time I had this symptom I got a 14% on a Calc test(not typical for me I had recieved an A the day before on the other half of the test), couldn't find the words to ask for my teacher to write me a pass to my next class, and then couldn't figure out how to verbally respond when my prof in the next class asked why I was late. I wrote a diversity essay about how this stripped me of my advantages and made me empathetize more with others which ultimately drove me to want to help others through the law. I didn't end up using it though since I found a different diversity essay topic I liked better.
It seems like your disability has impacted your life to a much greater degree than just making you empathize more with others. I think it has been a challenge which you have had to overcome, has caused you to confront prejudice(your advisor), has made you worry about how other people perceive you, and perhaps at times has made you wonder whether others perceptions will prevent you from being able to do what you desire to do. That is going to be worth writing about. It's going to be inspirational. It won't hurt your application.
Great - thanks so much! I will have to check these out. I totally forgot about this podcast!
@Seeking Perfection I am glad to hear that you feel this way. It can just be difficult because I am a little bit embarrassed/ashamed of my disability. For a long time I have not wanted to be treated differently and avoided any assistance or accommodations, and the fact that I really need the assistance now is a reminder that I am not as strong as everyone else. Sorry if I am getting too real here, but I have been trying to pretend like I don't have this condition for years now, and this is my first time really confronting it in really life (outside of a hospital/doctor's office). So thank you for the encouragement and support. Its is very much appreciated.
I can certainly understand being embarassed. None of us feel completely comfortable when something about us isn't like everyone else, especially if that thing is generally a disadvantage, but I don't think you should think of yourself as less strong than everyone else. I'd be inclined to think of you as better tested, having weathered adversity and proven to be more strong than average. In that sense you are a better bet for a law school or an employer than someone who might fold at the first real challenge that they encounter. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck with both your upcoming application process including the LSAT and with your future legal career as well as with your ongoing struggles to overcome your disability.