Getting the conversation started about Accommodations on the MCAT or LSAT
A Free GradMissions Resource for Parents & Partners
Getting the conversation started about Accommodations on the MCAT or LSAT
A Free GradMissions Resource for Parents & Partners
If your student is eligible for accommodations and does not use them, they are up against a great headwind.
AUTUMN LOCKETT, gradmissions
What accommodations are
A tool to level the playing field.
Tailored to the needs of the test-taker.
Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What accommodations are nOT
Cheating. They don’t give test-takers an unfair advantage.
Guarantees of a higher score. This is about leveling the playing field, not leveling up.
A stigma. There will be no indication or reporting that accommodations were given. (Schools WILL NOT know).
The reality is that tests were not designed with everyone in mind.
Accommodations help make those changes.
Who qualifies for accommodations?
Documentation of disability in previous plan (IEP, 504 Plan, Private School, Written Performance Plan, etc.).
Documentation from a qualified professional or medical doctor.
Examples of accommodations
Anxiety
Extra time and a private or individual testing room.
Autism
Permission to use noise-canceling headphones and access to clarified written instructions.
ADHD
Extra time and a distraction-free space.
DYSLEXIA
Screen reader technology and extra time.
Migraines triggered by
fluorescent lights
Testing room without fluorescent lights or permission to wear tinted lenses.
Broken arm
Extra time for hand-written essays and permission for breaks.
Let's go back to that final example...
Reframing accommodations
Did you read about the broken arm and think – no brainer?
We can all conceptualize the broken arm and the need for extra time. If your arm is broken, you’re going to write slower. You’re also going to hurt while uncomfortably writing and typing during a long test, and you’ll need breaks.
That is the reality for every individual who needs accommodations for their LSAT or MCAT. Although sometimes it's hard to understand the needs for unseen disabilities, they are no different than the broken arm.
Accommodations are not unfair advantages. Accommodations remove barriers.
Starting the conversation about accommodations
If your student is hesitant
Possible hesitation
Your student may have been through years of IEPs and college disability services. It’s common for them to feel weary of the process or that they want to “prove” they can do it without accommodations.
Starting the conversation
Remind them that accommodations are common in LSAT and MCAT exams.
Ask:
How did your accommodations help you before?
Possible hesitation
They may be afraid of stigma or that this will get them labeled in their next academic program.
Starting the conversation
Fact check: requesting accommodations on the MCAT or LSAT will not result in flags or reporting attached to the test results.
Reframe accommodations as strategy, not identity.
Possible hesitation
They may feel frustrated at what they perceive are limitations, especially when going up against such a great talent pool.
Starting the conversation
Fact check: 45% of C-Suite execs are neurodivergent. You aren’t up against the talent pool…you are the talent pool!
Let’s reframe:
Your need for accommodations might be one of the reasons you’re applying to med or law school in the first place. It’s part of what makes you look at the world different.
Reframing accommodations
If you are the one who is hesitant
Possible hesitation
The biggest hesitation we hear from parents is worry that accommodations could stigmatize their student and follow them to med or law school.
Starting the conversation
Fact check:
Requesting accommodations on the MCAT or LSAT will not result in flags or reporting attached to the test results.
Possible hesitation
“If my kid is going to be a doctor or lawyer, it’s not like they’re going to get accommodations in real life. So why should they get them now?”
Starting the conversation
Of course the MCAT and LSAT aren’t real life. They’re high-pressure exams designed for a typical student under typical circumstances. Your student’s ability and future career will be determined by skill, judgement, empathy, and competency. Not by how fast they can fill in answers in a testing room. Accommodations help make things more equal between applicants.
Professionals use accommodations all the time: noise-cancelling headphones, canes, screen readers, even eye glasses and planned breaks are all technically accommodations.
Possible hesitation
If I let my student apply for accommodations and they get in, am I just setting them up to fail out of law school or med school?
Starting the conversation
We get it. Many of us at GradMissions have children who use accommodations, and the instinct to protect your kid from disappointment doesn’t disappear with a diploma.
But here’s the reality: accommodations simply remove barriers. They don’t guarantee success, but allow admissions officers to see your student’s true potential more clearly.
Requesting accommodations
One of the biggest obstacles to obtaining accommodations is the process itself. Just like the rest of the steps in high-stakes admissions, the process is not clearly defined.
At GradMissions, helping clients request accommodations is one of our specialties. We have experience helping students with many different types of accommodation needs, and know the ins and the outs of the process.
Book a free 20-minute consultation call to see how we can help you and your student!
