LSAT anxiety

[ellyb]

Hello,
I'm hoping somebody can help me. I took the LSAT first in september and got a 160. I was shocked by this because I did much better at home on my PTs. Again, I went back and studied more, became faster, better etc. I took the lsat again in December and what did I get? 158. This of course looks horrible and will be difficult to explain, however i suffer from severe anxiety. I have medical documentation to prove this. At home, on timed PT's with all 5 sections I can hit the 170s. I've never fallen below a 168, for at least 2 months prior to my test and I was taking PT's at least 4 times a week. Even the new PT's that i'd never taken. I was averaging 168-174 consistently

I'm completely devastated and starting to lose faith. Unless you suffer from extreme anxiety you will not understand, but essentially i become dizzy and faint and nauseous. I need to constantly use the bathroom and i can not read english at all. For every stimulus, i had to read it 3 times over slowly and then I JUST about understood what was being asked. Even though on my practice PT's I read through my stimuli like a super fast whiz, i've always been incredibly fast. But with my anxiety on test day, I'm working against a massive disadvantage and the reality of that is disturbing.

From this point on, as it's january and i've taken the test twice, considering I want to start school in September, i think i only really have two options. Either accept my grade, apply to schools 'lower' in the rankings and explain my anxiety in my addendum as why my score was so far off what i'm actually capable of. I can provide medical proof of my anxiety but at the same time it feels like "an excuse", not only that but i feel that if i confess my anxiety to the law school they may be reluctant to take me on anyway, as i will not seem the desirable law school candidate with this holding me back. Surely they will think "well then she'll probably fail the bar and that won't look good on us" and decide not to accept me? Perhahps I should talk about family/personal stress instead? (also true)

The other option is to take the february exam and take beta blockers to reduce my anxiety, however it would be the last time to take the test for these 2 years and it's only a month away and although I am trained in the LSAT, i don't know if it's enough time to get my stamina right and also, it's really pushing it to get into a law school that i want. Worst of all, I may do worse yet again.

Desperately seeking advice. Thank you...

[Adam Tyson]

Hey there ellyb, thanks for the question. While I have no personal experience that translates to what you are going through, I still sympathize with the struggle you are facing.

First things first - have you applied to LSAC for accommodations based on your medical condition? It sounds like you might be a candidate for them, and getting approved for them might lay the groundwork for similar accommodations in law school. You might get more time and a better testing environment, giving you a chance to show your true capabilities. That should be your starting point at this point.

As to medication, talk to your doctor! We can give all sorts of advice about test mentality, eating right, getting sleep, exercise, taking appropriate breaks from studying, and ramping up the practice tests (take them in semi-stressful environments, not at home where it's comfy and familiar and quiet. Think coffee shop, mall food court, etc., as well as more peaceful settings like an open reading area in the local library). What we cannot do is offer any kind of medical advice. Be smart and be safe!

One last thought - an actual medical condition is not an "excuse", it's a reality that you, and your law school, will have to deal with. You are hardly the first student to be in this situation, and you won't be the last, and law schools will be especially sensitive to claims of discrimination based on a disability, so don't make any assumptions about how you will be perceived. Use your Letters of Recommendation, your Personal Statement, and any addenda that you feel are needed to supplement your hard numbers with strong "soft" factors in your application. Explaining your anxiety makes sense, but don't use it as a crutch. Instead, treat it for what it is - a challenge that you strive to overcome every day, and one that you shows how tough and persevering and dedicated you are. Instead of curling into a ball in the corner and giving up, you are out there fighting for your success against some high hurdles. That's impressive stuff, and the right admissions officer will see it as a positive as long as you paint the right picture for them.

Look into accommodations, and if you have missed the deadline for February then consider waiting out this cycle and getting the process going for June or the Fall for the next go-around. Or, you can do as you suggested - take what you have and get into the best program you can, and stop worrying about the LSAT forever. That's sure to relieve one source of your anxiety, and that might be worth it. Only you can know that for sure.

Good luck! You can do this!

[ellyb]

Hey there ellyb, thanks for the question. While I have no personal experience that translates to what you are going through, I still sympathize with the struggle you are facing.

First things first - have you applied to LSAC for accommodations based on your medical condition? It sounds like you might be a candidate for them, and getting approved for them might lay the groundwork for similar accommodations in law school. You might get more time and a better testing environment, giving you a chance to show your true capabilities. That should be your starting point at this point.

As to medication, talk to your doctor! We can give all sorts of advice about test mentality, eating right, getting sleep, exercise, taking appropriate breaks from studying, and ramping up the practice tests (take them in semi-stressful environments, not at home where it's comfy and familiar and quiet. Think coffee shop, mall food court, etc., as well as more peaceful settings like an open reading area in the local library). What we cannot do is offer any kind of medical advice. Be smart and be safe!

One last thought - an actual medical condition is not an "excuse", it's a reality that you, and your law school, will have to deal with. You are hardly the first student to be in this situation, and you won't be the last, and law schools will be especially sensitive to claims of discrimination based on a disability, so don't make any assumptions about how you will be perceived. Use your Letters of Recommendation, your Personal Statement, and any addenda that you feel are needed to supplement your hard numbers with strong "soft" factors in your application. Explaining your anxiety makes sense, but don't use it as a crutch. Instead, treat it for what it is - a challenge that you strive to overcome every day, and one that you shows how tough and persevering and dedicated you are. Instead of curling into a ball in the corner and giving up, you are out there fighting for your success against some high hurdles. That's impressive stuff, and the right admissions officer will see it as a positive as long as you paint the right picture for them.

Look into accommodations, and if you have missed the deadline for February then consider waiting out this cycle and getting the process going for June or the Fall for the next go-around. Or, you can do as you suggested - take what you have and get into the best program you can, and stop worrying about the LSAT forever. That's sure to relieve one source of your anxiety, and that might be worth it. Only you can know that for sure.

Good luck! You can do this!

Thank you so much! i already feel so much better, that's so helpful and kind of you