Question regarding ADHD and the LSAT Forum

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LSAC to school: "[The] score(s) should be interpreted with great sensitivity and flexibility."

[ScottRiqui]

Okay op. here you go: aw poor baby.

This should be included in a separate thread: "How not to make an intelligent counter to arguments." _crystal_m and cahwc12 would particularly benefit from that thread.

Have you started your LSAT prep yet, or taken any practice sections/tests? If so, how is your condition manifesting itself while you're taking the test?

AFAIK, the only LSAT accommodation that would possibly be available to you would be extra time (the other accommodations like a large-print version of the test, wheelchair accessibility, etc wouldn't apply to you).

Depending on how severe your symptoms are, it's entirely possible that even though extra time might help (as it would anyone else), it might not be enough. But at the very least, you need to know what kind of shape you're in now as far as the timing of the test goes.

I did start my LSAT prep and have been studying Powerscore Bibles and doing PT's on and off the past year, because I wanted to go to law school for a long time and bought LSAT books when I was in high school. I want to get 175+ on the LSAT, but I can't score that high unless I take extra time (I took extra time in reading comprehension and one of the logical reasoning section in a test and got 178) and minimize all distractions.
When I take the LSAT under time constraints in simulated environments, even with medication, I can't achieve the score I want unless I take longer time (I require longer time because I'm often forced to read a paragraph or body of words more than once to fully grasp it). I have to minimize distractions as well because even someone flipping paper can distract me.

Unfortunately, none of the available accommodations will reduce distractions. As for needing extra time, that's almost a given with the LSAT - I don't know of anyone, with or without a medical condition, whose score wouldn't benefit from a few extra minutes on one section or another. The question is, are you outside the norm in your needs? If you got a 178 in practice and only needed extra time on one LR section and the RC section, you might be able to address that with more preparation (depending on how much extra time you took, obviously). Having to re-read passages in order to fully grasp them isn't unusual among test-takers, either. Basically, the problem is that even if a particular accommodation would allow you to get a higher score, that doesn't necessarily mean that the accommodation is warranted.

[tnot4w]

I lost all sympathy for you when you decided to use the word retarded. Do you realize how shitty and ironic it is for you to call someone retarded in a forum on which you're complaining about not being able to get disability accommodations?

My bad, I know the word I used is in poor taste and offensive. But I think you would agree that you would be angry too and use words impulsively if you had a debilitating condition and people were accusing that it doesn't exist. However, I was referring to the statement that person made, and I wasn't trying to attack his character.

I don't think it particularly matters if you get a 175+. If you take the LSAT with accommodations, it won't be reported in the school's LSAT distribution. They lose the incentive to accept you for your score.

What you said would make sense if schools only cared about their LSAT distribution. You don't think schools care about giving those who seek higher education a chance or helping the disabled achieve what they want, despite their disability? Have some faith in our schools.

[tnot4w]

Okay op. here you go: aw poor baby.

This should be included in a separate thread: "How not to make an intelligent counter to arguments." _crystal_m and cahwc12 would particularly benefit from that thread.

Have you started your LSAT prep yet, or taken any practice sections/tests? If so, how is your condition manifesting itself while you're taking the test?

AFAIK, the only LSAT accommodation that would possibly be available to you would be extra time (the other accommodations like a large-print version of the test, wheelchair accessibility, etc wouldn't apply to you).

Depending on how severe your symptoms are, it's entirely possible that even though extra time might help (as it would anyone else), it might not be enough. But at the very least, you need to know what kind of shape you're in now as far as the timing of the test goes.

I did start my LSAT prep and have been studying Powerscore Bibles and doing PT's on and off the past year, because I wanted to go to law school for a long time and bought LSAT books when I was in high school. I want to get 175+ on the LSAT, but I can't score that high unless I take extra time (I took extra time in reading comprehension and one of the logical reasoning section in a test and got 178) and minimize all distractions.
When I take the LSAT under time constraints in simulated environments, even with medication, I can't achieve the score I want unless I take longer time (I require longer time because I'm often forced to read a paragraph or body of words more than once to fully grasp it). I have to minimize distractions as well because even someone flipping paper can distract me.

Unfortunately, none of the available accommodations will reduce distractions. As for needing extra time, that's almost a given with the LSAT - I don't know of anyone, with or without a medical condition, whose score wouldn't benefit from a few extra minutes on one section or another. The question is, are you outside the norm in your needs? If you got a 178 in practice and only needed extra time on one LR section and the RC section, you might be able to address that with more preparation (depending on how much extra time you took, obviously). Having to re-read passages in order to fully grasp them isn't unusual among test-takers, either. Basically, the problem is that even if a particular accommodation would allow you to get a higher score, that doesn't necessarily mean that the accommodation is warranted.

I understand what you're saying. Based on what I've read, my chances of being approved for accommodation is almost zero, it seems. I'll give myself more prep, and hopefully I'll be able to achieve the score I want without needing accommodation. Thanks for your input, you were one of the few that was actually helpful in my inquiry.
I wish the moderator would lock this thread down because I don't want anyone else to write stuff like ADHD doesn't exist, people are faking it, etc. because those posts are insensitive and offend people with ADHD.

[somewhatwayward]

People are right that it will be nearly impossible to get accommodations without a long and storied history of your disability. I remember there was a legally blind girl applying during my cycle who I think just wanted the test printed much bigger, and they wouldn't give it to her.

The thing is that the tricky thing about the LSAT is that it is extremely time-pressured. Everyone's score will improve dramatically if they are able to have five extra minutes, let alone time and a half. LSAC knows this, and they really only want to give extra time to people who are on the extreme end of disabled and who truly struggle with the exam without it. These people are the types who did not get As in high school without interventions, usually medication and accommodations.

[izha]

Dear OP,
If you manage to get that special accommodations, please inform us, as I believe it would take me a week to talk a shrink into believing that I have it.

[A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A]

[longwalk]

I am severely ADHD, as are four of my children. Life's tough, and sometimes inconvenient. But this "disability" blesses me with the creativity and energy to pursue law school even though I am pushing 60. Yes, I will probably score 5 - 10 points lower than if I took the test 30 years ago, and/or was not ADHD. But the court room will not offer me any meaningful accommodations, so why should LSAC? Bottom line: Suck it up, and deal with it. Use the hyper-focus, perseverative aspect of our shared "disability" to study hard, and make it happen.
Good luck to you!

[Rubetta]

I lost all sympathy for you when you decided to use the word retarded. Do you realize how shitty and ironic it is for you to call someone retarded in a forum on which you're complaining about not being able to get disability accommodations?

AGREED

[KFV]

I am severely ADHD, as are four of my children. Life's tough, and sometimes inconvenient. But this "disability" blesses me with the creativity and energy to pursue law school even though I am pushing 60. Yes, I will probably score 5 - 10 points lower than if I took the test 30 years ago, and/or was not ADHD. But the court room will not offer me any meaningful accommodations, so why should LSAC? Bottom line: Suck it up, and deal with it. Use the hyper-focus, perseverative aspect of our shared "disability" to study hard, and make it happen.
Good luck to you!

Exactly. I also have ADHD and received accommodations during my undergrad. However, I decided that I will not ask for accommodations in law school. What for? Like you say, I won't get time and a half in a court of law.

Having ADHD sucks. We have to go through shit that other people simply can't imagine. But it's part of who we are and we're always going to have to deal with this disability. The more you frame yourself as needing or deserving of accommodations, the stronger the excuse you're building for yourself in case you don't succeed.

[LSAT Blog]

Relevant: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticlePr ... 2575623627

[existenz]

OP sounds like a fucking jerk.

[dingbat]

Having ADHD sucks. We have to go through shit that other people simply can't imagine. But it's part of who we are and we're always going to have to deal with this disability. The more you frame yourself as needing or deserving of accommodations, the stronger the excuse you're building for yourself in case you don't succeed.

You're making it sound way worse than it is.

But, like someone said, in the real world no one will give you special accommodation, so you shouldn't ask for it in law school (or UG and high school, for that matter)

[Jeffort]

^ RE: existenz comment.

Yeah, right from the start, OP appears to have been trying to bait people into fighting and was certainly not friendly.

[Grazzhoppa]

my first test i scored a 178 with 5 extra minutes on games and RC. TIME IS WHAT MAKES THE TEST HARD. you need to practice more brah. Most people think ADHD is a joke anyways. I wouldn't even tell people (much less law schools) I had it unless I wanted to be greeted with lots of rolling eyes.