Excessive flatulence: possible reason to seek accommodation? Forum

[HYS_or_Bust]

Ok, I know many of you will come out and dismiss this as some 'flame' or whatever. I don't care really. Please be sensitive towards others. Keep snide remarks to a minimum. Seeking meaningful and insightful responses ONLY!

Circa the past 3 years, I have developed a poor digestive condition. I have been undergoing treatment for this.

Everything is documented. >3 specialists are prepared to attest to my claims to LSAC.

Obviously this is embarrassing, but I am not too sure what else to do. I don't want to embarrass myself; I also don't want to 'inconvenience' other test takers with my 'condition'.

Three questions:

1. Is it worth it to ask LSAC for accommodations (ie - I take the test in a separate room, probably a proctor watching me through a video cam?)

2. How will law schools look upon the "accommodation notation" on my LSDAS report? I believe LSAC, even for physically disabled students, puts a special notation on every test-taker that is granted accommodation. This can be good or bad. Not sure as to how it'll look on my application, given that my 'condition' is not a permanent one

3. Do I have to suck it up and offer full disclosure on my law school PS as to why I sought an LSAT accommodation? If so, it will be painfully embarrassing.

Please advise. Thanks!

[Paraflam]

120

[FantasticMrFox]

Huh?

[Gemini]

Three questions:

1. Is it worth it to ask LSAC for accommodations (ie - I take the test in a separate room, probably a proctor watching me through a video cam?)

2. How will law schools look upon the "accommodation notation" on my LSDAS report? I believe LSAC, even for physically disabled students, puts a special notation on every test-taker that is granted accommodation. This can be good or bad. Not sure as to how it'll look on my application, given that my 'condition' is not a permanent one

3. Do I have to suck it up and offer full disclosure on my law school PS as to why I sought an LSAT accommodation? If so, it will be painfully embarrassing.

Please advise. Thanks!

If you're not a troll, I feel quite sorry for you.

I think your situation warrants special accommodations. I wouldn't want to be in a room with someone passing gas constantly. Not only is it distracting to other test-takers, but it's nasty.

Secondly, law schools will see your explanation and I'm sure they'll understand. Yes, full disclosure is best. Just be clinical about it: you have a health issue that impacts your digestive system, and consequently, it causes you to give off gas all the time. (or whatever the medical term for it is)

ORRRRR

You can just wait until your condition is treated to take the exam. If I was an adcom, I would imagine someone with a flatulence problem (even if it's legit) is not an ideal student for any law school.

[Paraflam]

YHBT

[HYS_or_Bust]

Gemini:

Thank-you for your helpful response.

I think you just raised another important issue that is tangentially connected: how will law schools react?

Doesn't the ADA prohibit such types of discrimination?

Doctors can not estimate as to how long this condition will last. Although with proper diet, medication, treatment and therapy we're looking at atlases more than a year. Surgery might be required in the worst case scenario. I am not sure I want to put my law school ambitions on hold for that long.

[tyro]

(ie - I take the test in a separate room, probably a proctor watching me through a video cam?)

Why can't the proctor come into the room to watch you?

[3ThrowAway99]

--LinkRemoved--

But seriously, if you have a documented medical condition it might not hurt to ask. I would probably phrase the condition other than "excessive flatulence" though if possible (maybe 'IBS'?). Have you tried eating gluten-free for a few weeks? I think sometimes wheat/gluten products can cause the type of (serious) gastrointestinal distress you are having.

One thing about getting an accommodation is that I think schools will see that you had special treatment (even if needed): especially if you get extra time adcomms may weigh that I think, and possibly wouldn't consider your score exactly on par with others. That might not seem fair, but on the other hand the timing component of the LSAT has an extremely critical relation to the score. I think many students would score much higher if given extra time. So while it may be needed for certain conditions, I think the nature of the test (in terms of how important the same time for everyone is) needs to be considered even where accommodation is made. But if the accommodation you are asking for doesn't involve a timing change, then I think your score should be given equal weight (if you can convince LSAC to give you the accommodation).

[dr123]

Just fart hella while taking the LSAT, itll throw everyone else off.

[Gemini]

Gemini:

Thank-you for your helpful response.

I think you just raised another important issue that is tangentially connected: how will law schools react?

Doesn't the ADA prohibit such types of discrimination?

Doctors can not estimate as to how long this condition will last. Although with proper diet, medication, treatment and therapy we're looking at atlases more than a year. Surgery might be required in the worst case scenario. I am not sure I want to put my law school ambitions on hold for that long.

Technically, they can't discriminate, but they can very easily admit someone who will have your exact stats (or higher) but without the flatulence problem.

I would say give it a year (with the proper diet, medication, treatment, and therapy) and see what happens.

[cinephile]

What would happen if you didn't eat anything the morning of the exam (and maybe the night before)? Would that make a difference?

[HYS_or_Bust]

Lawquacious:

I appreciate your genuine concern. Thanks!

I don't need extra time; I would, however, like to take the test seperately from the rest of the October LSAT test-takers, due to reasons that are obvious.

[Paraflam]

Are you guys really falling for this obvious of a flame??? Holy shit.

[Paraflam]

I feel like I'm being fucking trolled right now, and you're all in on it.

[DocHawkeye]

Gemini:

Thank-you for your helpful response.

I think you just raised another important issue that is tangentially connected: how will law schools react?

Doesn't the ADA prohibit such types of discrimination?

Doctors can not estimate as to how long this condition will last. Although with proper diet, medication, treatment and therapy we're looking at atlases more than a year. Surgery might be required in the worst case scenario. I am not sure I want to put my law school ambitions on hold for that long.

I'm not an employment lawyer but I do know that the ADA is very limited in the types of discrimination that it prevents. Essentially, if the job cannot be done with "reasonable accomodation" then the employer is under no obligation to hire you. You must be otherwise qualified for the job. I believe there is a seperate law that regulates testing and schools.

[tyro]

Flame?@!?!ldjf;lsadjf;ldsajfd;lsaasldfkjdls;kfj

I can't believe you're calling it a flame, as if making fun of the idea of lighting the OP's toots on fire. How rude!

[scammedhard]

The LSAT should be the least of your concerns. How are you going to be "accommodated" in law school? What about in an office? Or in court?

[Gemini]

Are you guys really falling for this obvious of a flame??? Holy shit.

Flame or not, this problem DOES exist and perhaps some of those people want to become lawyers.

[Jack Smirks]

This thread makes me want to throw up.

[HYS_or_Bust]

Gemini: thank you but no need to quibble with the naysayers. They can easily query this on the net. These clowns are the real trolls/flames. Ignore their drivel and invectives.

DocHawkEye & scammedhard:

Thanks for the informative tidbit.

Just to be clear - unlike a disability, this is not permanent. It is merely a medical condition which I hope to overcome in time.

My concern is an immediate and an interim one. I am concerned that LSAC and/or the law schools might think that I am attempting to "game the system" so to speak because any form of accommodation somehow puts one at an advantage over the regular test-takers, the LSAT being a standardized test and all.

[Paraflam]

Are you guys really falling for this obvious of a flame??? Holy shit.

Flame or not, this problem DOES exist and perhaps some of those people want to become lawyers.

Look at how it's written though...

(ie - I take the test in a separate room, probably a proctor watching me through a video cam?)

Seriously? I've seen this forum pick up on flames 9999999x more subtle than this...

[john1990]

we are the green lantern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iATpP9wT1r8

[cinephile]

Seriously, fasting might help for the exam.

[zozin]

What the hell do you do in class when you have an excessive flatulence attack?

[incompetentia]

A flame, or not a flame--that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The humiliation of outrageous trolling
Or to take arms against the possibility
And by opposing run them out. To try, to creep--
No more--and by creeping to say we wait
For trollface, and the thousand other posts
That "ain't even mad". 'Tis a consummation
Expected but surprising. To try, to creep--
To creep--perchance to blaspheme: ay, there's the rub,
For in that snark of trolls what interpretations may come
When others have assumed your posts are serious
Must give us pause.