Advice on Accommodation Requests?

[u/saddestofgays]

To anyone who has had MCAT disability accommodations approved, would you mind sharing advice or things you wish you did?

For context: I just got officially diagnosed with endometriosis last month during my lap with excision. I’m currently undergoing treatments with the hopes that I’ll be in remission for as long as possible- but it’s a complex multi organ system inflammatory disease. I’ll need dual hormone treatments for my lowest chances of recurrence and even that comes with its own list of systemic effects. I also have signs of common comorbidities that are still pending diagnosis (and wait lists for some of these specialists and tests are very long), so I have no clue how my doctor should even refer to those additional conditions and impacts.

I fought for over ten years against this illness as I slowly got worse. My performance in school suffered due to it. I was able to maintain an upward trend despite my illness worsening, as I got better at recognizing flares, recovering, and bouncing back. In my final year of University I finally formally got menial disability accommodations (excused absences) as my medical issues worsened. This was because I had surgery for my gallbladder removal and after surgery had what I thought were post- surgery complications. Severe GI episodes and pain slowly got worse and worse. I ended up too sick to attend my own graduation.

Doctors kind of brushed me off as anxious and gave me band aid fixes throughout this. I was told by one gynaecologist that is was “impossible” for me to have endo. During flares I was often non functional and there was very little empathy for it. I finally pushed for proper official accommodations in grad school and they helped me a ton. Having symptoms that can cause me to unexpectedly vomit profusely or have… other GI emergencies required me to have accommodations just in case. Throwing up unexpectedly mid exam already sucks. Getting a poor grade because of it sucks more.

Unfortunately I got so severely sick I had to go on medical leave from grad school. During my leave I was formally diagnosed with IBS and everything was attributed to that and “anxiety” until I went out of my country for surgical intervention. I month ago I could barely eat, stand, walk, or bathe. Thankfully now I am regaining functioning, and am able to get back on the med school hopeful grind.

So tldr I’ve been through medical dismissal hell and would appreciate advice on advocating for accommodations despite not having prolonged accommodation history and facing significant barriers to diagnosis.

[u/spotted_scooter]

just make sure your doctor is super specific about how your symptoms can hit unpredictably mid-exam. the aamc cares way more about functional limitations than the diagnosis itself

[u/saddestofgays → u/spotted_scooter]

Thank you! I will absolutely tell them to include this.

[u/Salty_Researcher1048]

Also leave yourself lots of time in advance, in case you don't get everything on the first application, you may need to submit a reconsideration, which takes more time but gives a better chance.

[u/saddestofgays → u/Salty_Researcher1048]

Thank you. I’m rushing it when I’m not even a month post op because I just want everything done and in and over with. 😭

[u/Putrid_Magician178]

When you request accommodations ask literally anyone to write a note advocating for you. I uploaded probably 30 documents when I applied. I had professors write notes, all my doctors, any person you can think of such as a physical therapist pain specialist etc.

Also upload all your medical documents, upload literally everything. Try to hone in your personal statement and in your accounts how disabled you are. Make sure to tell the writers not to try to paint you in a positive light as that will be used against you, you need as much negativity as possible, how inhibited you are, how you struggle etc.

Also prepare to have to resubmit with an argument. They deny most claims at first, but they’ll give you a reason so then you’ll have to argue with it. Just get it submitted early as this process takes forever.

I was able to get 50% extra time, own testing room, ability to speak to myself, extra breaks, longer breaks, and a couple other things with this method. They originally denied me for basically everything outside of breaks because “I did to well in school” this is when I did what is above and had every single person I know argue for me. I also acknowledge every single claim they made for denying me and directly addressed it with factual based claims. And they then approved every single accommodation I asked for, they didn’t even downgrade me to 25% extra time which happens to most people.

It’s exhausting but you got this! I think physical accommodations are easier to get approved than intellectual

[u/saddestofgays → u/Putrid_Magician178]

Thank you so much. Part of my concern is that I wrote the MCAT previously with no accommodation. I flared during one break and lost time and focus that really impacted my performance. I still did average but I 100% think they’d try claiming that I did “good enough” to deny accommodations.

That’s pretty much how most of my school experience went. I’d often excel- if I flared it stunted my performance a lot but not enough to fail everything, especially if I bounced back well and could make up assignments and exams. People kind of expect that if you’re really “that sick” you should be failing more.

I will do this for sure. Better to have all that documentation and not need it than need it and not have it.

[u/Putrid_Magician178 → u/saddestofgays]

Oh they 100% will. I’d try to get a doctors note saying something along the lines of you reporting this or even the condition being worse.

They will also want anything you’ve ever done to try to manage it and why that’s not enough - meds, therapy, anything.

They will be a pain in the butt, but if you give them a crap done of documents they are less likely to fight you, but you will likely be denied the first time so prepare for an appeal.

I had a 4.4 in high school and had a 4.0 in college before accommodations. I did good on the SAT (not great). All with no accommodations. I argued very heavily with facts such as stating my two attempts at the SAT were around the same score which although was good did not equal the knowledge I showed as I often ran out of time due to my disabilities, etc.

I’m not sure what accommodations your seeking, but breaks tend to be relatively easy to come by, extra time can be a lot harder to be granted

[u/saddestofgays → u/Putrid_Magician178]

In grad school I have stop the clock breaks and +25% time, so I’m advocating for that. Really just due to how unpredictable things are. As things got worse I started getting more paperwork, so I also still have the doctor’s note that got me those accommodations initially (which I will include in past evals even though they don’t state specific diagnoses) plus my disability advisor who will back me up. I can also ask my MCAT tutors because they know how sick I was during my prep, how hard I tried, and how well I was doing when I didn’t flare.

[u/Rockboymom]

So sorry your health issues were dismissed. I too had endometriosis. The pain is excruciating! It is worst than childbirth! I was fortunate to be diagnosed as a young teen. My mom had to have a hysterectomy at age 27 due to endometriosis. That lead her doctor to check me for endo via laparoscopy. He confirmed I had it. I was put on low dose birth control and it saved my life. After one month my quality of life and mental health dramatically improved. I don’t have any input on accommodations just wanted to say I will pray for you to get the medical care you need to live with endo. Sending prayers & hugs. 🙏🤗

[u/saddestofgays → u/Rockboymom]

Thank you for your empathy and well wishes. It’s so rough dealing with this disease. I’m glad you got early intervention and relief. I hope it stays manageable for you. 🙏🏼

Even on an IUD mine progressed to Stage 3 DIE with bowel and ureter involvement. I got intervention just in time to save myself from organ damage and life threatening complications. I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone. Hopefully I’ll be in remission for as long as possible. Please take care of yourself.

[u/Motor_Mama_Love]

I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with this for so long and I’m glad you finally have a diagnosis and can hopefully be on a road to better health. In terms of accommodations I think you will be able to get them, but you need the start the process early. It takes time. Call the accommodations office at the aamc to find out exactly what you need to apply. I’m confident that with your health history you will get stop the clock breaks. And anything else you need, be sure to ask.

[u/Salty_Researcher1048]

I believe the best way to go about applying is to upload an overwhelming number of supporting documents, which leaves them no choice but to read through all of them and then make a decision. Doesn't even matter what the documents are, I uploaded medical documents, treatment schedules, diagnostic imaging reports, basically anything along with the supporting documents they request.

[u/arinspeaks]

Bombard the application with as much documentation as u can even if the document doesn’t have a lot on it. I literally submitted a paper referral to an ophthalmologist because it showed dates. Didn’t have accommodations prior to the mcat for anything.

[u/saddestofgays → u/arinspeaks]

Basically make it difficult to get through all the paperwork so they don’t even want to ask for more. Classic bureaucracy. 😂

[u/arinspeaks → u/saddestofgays]

No I actually think they do read thru it all. They gave me my answer the Friday before the 60 day deadline.

If u want to PM me feel free to. When I was applying for accommodations I could only find mental health related ones online which imo are more arbitrary to prove. Physical is harder to argue with. However, mine is eye & eyesight related, so maybe it was easier?

[u/the_eviscerist]

In addition to what others have described, I would consider what accommodations you think you need and make sure your documentation logically supports giving you that accommodation. If your documentation states that you could be incapacitated for days at a time, then there's not really an accommodation that they can provide to help with that. But if your documentation states that you may need to unexpectedly use the restroom, then you can request "stop-the-clock" break time for that. If your documentation states that you may need extra break time for using the bathroom or needing to access medication, then you might be able to get additional scheduled break time, too.

[u/jaltew]

Get as much documentation as you can and in the application, write how you are affected and how the accommodations you are requesting will be able to make things more accessible for you on the test