students sue AAMC over MCAT

[gdk]

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anybody else see this?
edited: i added that the intro is quoted from a WSJ opinion article. some people took offense at the way the intro to the article was worded...



quoted from WSJ opinion article:

"Operation Illiteracy
Here's a story to cheer you up the next time you need major surgery: "Four learning-disabled students sued the organization that administers the medical school admission test, alleging they were denied extra time to take the exam in violation of California's disability laws," the Associated Press reports from Oakland:

The discrimination lawsuit, filed Monday in Alameda County Superior Court, argues that students who have trouble reading can learn to practice medicine if they receive enough time and a distraction-free setting in which to complete the Medical College Admission Test."



http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=106&sid=230993

 

[willthatsall]

haha, i would do better eith extra time too.

 

[safrat]

omg, I would own the verbal

 

[Jonathan13180]

hell yea, i would spend a day on verbal alone, maybe even two.

 

[!dr_nick!]

I liked the intro, lol.

I hope i get extra time to do surgeries 😉

But seriously, having a documented LD is not a joke. Im sure many people with an LD in reading could become good docs.

 

[TiggidyTooth]

I think this complaint is crap. I mean look at the statistics surrounding the mcat in correlation with performance in medical school. There is a direct and significant correlation with performance on the exam and ability to succeed in medical school. If you can't hack it on the test how are you supposed to convince people you can handle the rigours of medical school. I may be wrong but from what I know about medical school, you aren't exactly given all the time in the world to finish it. I happen to know 2 people who made into medical school with dyslexia. Neither of them got any free passes on the MCAT or in any other part of their preperation. One of the guys actually ended up dropping out. He fought tooth and nail, but in the end it was just too devastating a handy cap to over come. The other guy finished by the skin of his teeth and is now enjoying the suffrage of internship. Point being these guys didnt get any hand outs anywhere, and if they did they surely would have been disillusioned by what lies ahead. I suck at verbal, and am terrified by it, but I know my limitations and others know their's. If dyslexia is a reason to get a extra time, who's to say that people with sub par intelligence can't get extra time either, or people with one eye, or foreigners to whom english is a second language. The reason for the exam being so rigorous is to weed out those who can hack it in medical school from those who can't. The exam is an example of blind justice and presents a level playing field. Throughout our medical education, standardized exams will be a fact of life, so you better get used to it now. I may sound insensitive, but I do empathize with those who have some ailment preventing from getting what they want. Unfortunately, the world is so competitive now that it just can't be used as an excuse. You either adapt and overcome or step aside. C'est la vie.

Tooth

 

[synapse lapse]

Inflammable means flammable?

 

[sshaltoni]

Inflammable means flammable?

in?flam?ma?ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-flm-bl)
adj.
Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. See Usage Note at flammable.
Quickly or easily aroused to strong emotion; excitable.

cutpastecutpaste

 

[bgreet]

Actually there was a guy on here not too long ago voicing the same opinion that he should be allotted extra time for his test due to a learning disability. If you do a search you can probably find it.

 

[maybemed2013]

just to let u know u bumped a really old thread.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Sorry, but that's illegal. The Americans with Disabilities act outlaws such practices.

You are aware you're replying to a post that was written in 2004, right? I don't think any of the people you've replied to in this thread are going to see your comments.

 

[JoshuaGuit]

Old thread, I know, but I figure I could add a fun anecdote--

Two days before I took the MCAT I realized I never called them to acknowledge a "medical device" that I had. I was told that I wouldn't be let in with my ostomy unless I had a physicians note for that accommodation, and that it was subject to being inspected by a proctor. I got them the letter and wasn't searched, so there were no issues. I still chuckle at when I told the AAMC woman on the phone that I didn't mind taking it off-- just, other students there would not be too happy!