Desperately in need of help!!! Forum

[Jolly_J88]

This is such a stressful situation. But, here it goes..

I have taken the LSAT 4 times. Dec 2010, Feb 2011, June 2011, and Dec 2011. I canceled My Dec 2010 score immediately (as planned) because I wanted to take the test once just to calm my nerves for the next sitting (big mistake, I know. But I had no idea all of this would have happened). During the Feb 2011 sitting, I had a test center irregularity because of other test takers whispering during the test, so I canceled the Feb 2011 test, and filed a complaint to LSAC. During the June 2011 test I became severely ill (due to medications) during the fifth section of the exam and almost passed out. I kept the June 2011 score, but it was 9 points lower than my PT average (this was expected). So, I wrote a note to LSAC, and requested for them to let me take it a fourth time. I also had my physician write a note explaining my medical history and the side effects of the new medication I was put on. They approved....I took the December 2011 test and had ANOTHER TEST CENTER IRREGULARITY I studied day and night for 3.5 months again after the June 2011 test, and I was PT'ing 164-167. I didn't even get to a whole RC passage and a whole logic game This time, our room was right next to a kitchen and the kitchen staff were talking and laughing very loudly. The proctor had to quiet them down several times, and this definitely threw me off. I talked to the proctor during the break and he said he already filed a test center complaint and that he was very sorry. Another proctor also came up to me and asked me TWICE if I wanted to move my seat DURING the exam..This is all severely damaged my concentration. I filed my own complaint to LSAC, and they put a hold on my account, but my main concern is what am I going to do as far as my applications? This is so whiney, and I feel like a lot of schools will not even read this entire LSAT addendum...

I know a lot of people complain about LSAC, but they have helped me and have been really nice so far...I know that it wasn't their fault that our room was situated where it was....

I don't have the option of waiting another cycle...stuck in a really crappy internship and already took two years off school. Should I call schools individually and explain my situation? What should I write in my addendum? I want to go ahead and apply to the remainder of the schools on my list. Should I keep this score and LSAC put a "test center irregularity" note by my Dec 2011 score? Or cancel AGAIN and retake? Ughhhhhhhhhhhh I've already applied to a bunch of schools and had them put a hold on my file for this recent score....

Please please help me guys....any advice....Thanks

[BeaverHunter]

I would not write an addendum, or take the test again. The fact is taking the LSAT, or a law school exam, is not done in absolute silence. You are sitting with many other people. They're going to burp, fart, or god forbid even whisper. Get over it. Don't flag yourself to the places you are applying as a whiner. How would the addendum possibly help? Honestly, after 4 tries and 4 issues, do you think the problem is with the test administration or with you?

[Jolly_J88]

Clearly, if the test proctor made a complaint to LSAC ten minutes after the test started, there was a problem, and an IRREGULARITY. I don't think there is a problem with me, its just bad luck. But thanks any ways.

[Samara]

I would move forward with this cycle, write an addendum noting the irregularities (one that is concise and not whiny), and see how the cycle plays out for you. If you don't get the results you want, see if you can retake and try again.

Be careful with the addendum though. I would stick to noting the existence of irregularities and not get into details, especially with the whispering one. Being in law school and being a lawyer is going to put you in high-stress, non-ideal situations so you don't want to come off as someone who is so high-strung that they can't handle some whispering.

[pupshaw]

Even though it's not what you want to hear, I think you should wait a couple of cycles. Leave the crappy internship, get some work experience, and come back to the LSAT and law school apps in a couple of years.

[Jolly_J88]

Thanks Samara. I know, and usually I can handle situations like the ones I noted but, he was sitting right behind me and it threw me off completely. No excuse. I started taking PT's in coffee shops after February. But this past Dec it was just intolerable. So much, that the proctor opened the door and told them to hush several times during the exam...I've been so depressed this past week, thinking maybe its not meant to be. But I know this is what I want.

[Samara]

Thanks Samara. I know, and usually I can handle situations like the ones I noted but, he was sitting right behind me and it threw me off completely. No excuse. I started taking PT's in coffee shops after February. But this past Dec it was just intolerable. So much, that the proctor opened the door and told them to hush several times during the exam...I've been so depressed this past week, thinking maybe its not meant to be. But I know this is what I want.

Yeah, that sucks to have so many test center issues. Don't be afraid to wait though. Two years out from UG is not that long. I'm applying this cycle and I will be four years out from UG. The last thing you want to do is rush into law school, only to find yourself with crushing debt and poor job prospects.

[BiglawOrBust]

I would not write an addendum, or take the test again. The fact is taking the LSAT, or a law school exam, is not done in absolute silence. You are sitting with many other people. They're going to burp, fart, or god forbid even whisper. Get over it. Don't flag yourself to the places you are applying as a whiner. How would the addendum possibly help? Honestly, after 4 tries and 4 issues, do you think the problem is with the test administration or with you?

+1

You can't take the LSAT in a vacuum, dude. All your excuses are weak and it sounds like you're being a crybaby about it. Really, people whispering threw you off that much? I hope I sit next to you in LS -- I'll intentionally bust ass during the final exam!

[soitgoes9]

I would move forward with this cycle, write an addendum noting the irregularities (one that is concise and not whiny), and see how the cycle plays out for you. If you don't get the results you want, see if you can retake and try again.

Be careful with the addendum though. I would stick to noting the existence of irregularities and not get into details, especially with the whispering one. Being in law school and being a lawyer is going to put you in high-stress, non-ideal situations so you don't want to come off as someone who is so high-strung that they can't handle some whispering.

+1

It's a shame you have had to go though this but so it goes...

[BiglawOrBust]

I would move forward with this cycle, write an addendum noting the irregularities (one that is concise and not whiny), and see how the cycle plays out for you. If you don't get the results you want, see if you can retake and try again.

Be careful with the addendum though. I would stick to noting the existence of irregularities and not get into details, especially with the whispering one. Being in law school and being a lawyer is going to put you in high-stress, non-ideal situations so you don't want to come off as someone who is so high-strung that they can't handle some whispering.

+1

It's a shame you have had to go though this but so it goes...

It's like you made your account just to post that!

[soitgoes9]

I would move forward with this cycle, write an addendum noting the irregularities (one that is concise and not whiny), and see how the cycle plays out for you. If you don't get the results you want, see if you can retake and try again.

Be careful with the addendum though. I would stick to noting the existence of irregularities and not get into details, especially with the whispering one. Being in law school and being a lawyer is going to put you in high-stress, non-ideal situations so you don't want to come off as someone who is so high-strung that they can't handle some whispering.

+1

It's a shame you have had to go though this but so it goes...

It's like you made your account just to post that!

I did not but I could not pass up chance

[mrtoren]

I would not write an addendum, or take the test again. The fact is taking the LSAT, or a law school exam, is not done in absolute silence. You are sitting with many other people. They're going to burp, fart, or god forbid even whisper. Get over it. Don't flag yourself to the places you are applying as a whiner. How would the addendum possibly help? Honestly, after 4 tries and 4 issues, do you think the problem is with the test administration or with you?

+1

You can't take the LSAT in a vacuum, dude. All your excuses are weak and it sounds like you're being a crybaby about it. Really, people whispering threw you off that much? I hope I sit next to you in LS -- I'll intentionally bust ass during the final exam!

+2

I want first crack at him!

[89vision]

I would not write an addendum, or take the test again. The fact is taking the LSAT, or a law school exam, is not done in absolute silence. You are sitting with many other people. They're going to burp, fart, or god forbid even whisper. Get over it. Don't flag yourself to the places you are applying as a whiner. How would the addendum possibly help? Honestly, after 4 tries and 4 issues, do you think the problem is with the test administration or with you?

This.

The fact that you CAPITALIZED, added a bunch of emotional faces, have 3 exclamation points in the title, makes it sound worse. You need to calm down.

[z0rk]

You were PT'ing around 164-167. Did you score near high 150s? If so, apply, write an addendum addressing the medical cancellation in clear, non opinionated, and factual terms. I would not explain the other exams if you plan to do so in the same fashion prescribed above.