Really need advice: I'm not sure my dd can physically take the SAT...

Parents Forum
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<p>Dd's been sick for a 1.5yrs but docs aren't sure what's wrong. She has a lot of abdominal pain & can't go without eating for more than a couple hrs. Dd gets time and a half on CB exams (unrelated issue) but I called them a few wks ago, told her the then-diagnosis and explained that I didn't think she could get through 5 hrs in one sitting. The lady was nice but basically made it sound like dd <em>might</em> get "extended and additional" breaks which I understood to mean that instead of 2 mins she would get 4. Anyway, dd needs to actually eat a meal to get through the test and she usually feels really poorly in the morning. (At school, she gets best time of day for exams and they never go on that long so we've not had break problems.) </p>

<p>Dd started throwing up in the middle of today's SAT (her first) and had to cancel her scores and leave. She's a junior & has one more SAT II to apply ED. In other words, we're running out of time.</p>

<p>Questions:
1- Does anyone have any ideas regarding what accommodation to ask for? What she needs is probably to start later in the day, to be able to stop the test if she gets sick (and resume when she feels better) and to split the test in 2 or get a longish break. I doubt I'll get that-- especially without a confirmed diagnosis.
2- Does anyone have any ideas at all?
3- I am advising dd to take the SAT II in June and take the SAT I in Oct since she was scoring a bit low on her SATIs. She just finished a course and wanted to cancel the SAT II for June and take the SAT I. What would you do? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>It's best to eat something 30 minutes-1 hr into the morning, so I would suggest that she wake up at around 4-5ish am. Wait an hour or two, then eat, then go to testing. I also have this problem of not feeling well in the morning but by giving it time, the problem eventually subsides. Regarding the actual testing, try contacting those "up there" in Collegeboard; I doubt a lady from customer service has the power or knowledge to impact such a situation. I believe you can find management phone numbers or something from Collegeboard's website, and if not, please respond and I'll take a look.</p>

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<p>Are the SAT IIs required for the school she would want to apply ED to, or just suggested? If not required, then you could probably use something else, teacher rec, a supplemental paper, or something to give them that piece of the puzzle, but for pretty much most schools you're going to need an SAT I score...</p>

<p>Also I do not know this but someone here must - how long is the ACT and how long are the breaks? I think it must be about as long, at least with writing, but maybe there are more breaks?</p>

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<p>azsxdc, Yes, the problem isn't that she gets sick on an empty stomach. The problem is that she <em>is</em> sick. The diagnosis they're debating are all pretty bad and she's been hospitalized and had surgery. I was talking to the SSD office; the lady just didn't sound very hopeful. </p>

<p>Princedog, the SAT II is required. She could make it through that (since it'll only be 1.5 hours). It's just that that 'takes up' a test date, iykwim. I don't know the ACT breaks. I have heard they're better about granting accommodations but the parents in her school <em>insist</em> that the kids who've submitted ACT scores haven't had any luck in the top schools. Maybe it's too small a sampling though or maybe it raises eyebrows. (Kids here overwhelmingly take the SAT.)</p>

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<p>If you have an ED college in mind, can you find out what is the absolute latest score they'll accept towards the ED deadline, and if you can use rush scores? I'm wondering if she can squeak in the November date for the SATII if she uses rush scores.
It's a bit more valuable to know your SAT-I result to see if she's got a real shot at the ED school she wants. She might just feel better with the SAT'I's out of the way.
In general the advice is to take the SAT-II's right as you finish up the course; however, my kids couldn't work that out so just brought out their notes and re-read them in the fall, taking SAT-II's in fall. It depends on which SAT-II's and how she 'll be with revieiwng her notes.</p>

<p>This is really a strange approach, but there's a religious SAT taken the next day on Sunday; is it possible that it's given later in the day than the Saturday? I think it's supposed to be reserved for religious purposes not medical, but maybe you can sweet-talk someone. Only valuable if it's later in the day, of course.</p>

<p>Can't you supply your D with the kind of food that is highly caloric but quickly consumed. In 4 minutes, could she down an entire milkshake with homemade ingredients including bananas (very caloric), yogurt, berries that you make in a blender and she takes in a thermos to keep safe and cold.
And alongside it, something solid she can eat that packs a lot of food energy but doesn't have to be chewed slowly. Something like a "hermit bar" (a new england recipe like a brownie but it's got more healthy ingredients and no chocolate) </p>

<p>Meanwhile, I feel really sorry for her and you today.</p>

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<p>What does the gastroenterologist suggest?</p>

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<p>Paying3tutions, I did see that the Sunday exam is reserved for religious. I can call -- not had much luck on the sweet talking but maybe my mom's prayers will help. She seems better tonight than earlier today. I wonder if it's worth showing up standby for a Sunday administration? Probably not, huh?</p>

<p>As far as food, she took some along (pasta with mushrooms) but I don't think she ever got to the first break. Her stomach is very sensitive. (She often spends as much as 4-5 hours in day in bed :( Today was just a bad day; there's almost no way to predict those. She had a lot of sick days this week. </p>

<p>And thanks for the SAT I / SAT II advice. She <em>does</em> want to get it out of the way (at least a first attempt at them).</p>

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<p>That is a very difficult situation. I agree with P3T about trying to find foods that she can eat quickly. They only allow one break for eating, but if she puts a shake in a thermos, she should be allowed to drink some during the 30 second breaks. She can try taking practice tests at home with these foods to see if it works.</p>

<p>In terms of working with the college board, try writing a letter and then calling to follow up. Get one of her doctors to write a short statement about her need to eat meals often. I'm sure that there are other medical disorders that require frequent eating or other breaks, so it seems as if the CB must have dealt with this before. It may help to take the SAT IIs in order to allow for more time to figure out the SAT I situation. </p>

<p>Definitely look at the ACT. The parents at your daughter's school are being silly. Part of it may be that in SAT popular areas, the students who take the SAT are often the ones who don't score as highly as they would like on the SAT. Students who submit the ACT from your daughter's school may simply have lower scores. If her school has a good college advisor, ask him or her for advice. </p>

<p>Finally, if worse comes to worse and none of this works, talk to the schools and their disability people and ask them about the weight they will give her SAT scores (which she can take and do as well as she can on) if they have an explanation of the situation, including your efforts to make the SAT or ACT do-able. This can come in the form of a letter from her with a statement by a doctor and/or from her college counselor at school. </p>

<p>I believe that somehow this will work out if you keep on it. Good luck.</p>

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<p>mardad,</p>

<p>The pediatrician said just to talk to the proctor and see if they'll let her take a break. (roll eyes) The current (new) gastroenterologist really didn't address the testing issue. She wants to run some tests because she has a different opinion of what dd has and wants to take a look. She put dd on a different medicine this week but it doesn't seem to be helping. When I called about the throwing up, they prescribed some anti-nausea. </p>

<p>Our previous gastro thought dd had something completely different, said he didn't believe dd had nausea (because it didn't fit in with his working diagnosis). He actually thinks it's sm bowel/ colon but his office kept forgetting to schedule the tests he wanted to run. That's why we changed gastros.</p>

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<p>I'm not sick like your daughter, so I don't know how much help I'll be, but I thought that the break-spacing of the SAT was much better than that of the ACT. The ACT sections are longer, and I think that there are fewer breaks spread further apart (or maybe it just felt that way...)</p>

<p>The way that the SAT was broken up made the sections easier to focus on and the breaks seemed pretty well-placed...I didn't feel thirsty or have an upset stomach or have a desperate need to pee in between break times.</p>

<p>Anyway, I wish your daughter the best of luck. It's hard dealing with college admissions prep when you're well...I can't imagine the stress she's facing.</p>

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<p>My impression of the Sunday testing is it must all be worked out ahead of time, so I'm afraid it wouldn't work as a "stand-by" to just show up for it. They have to have the test paper sitting right there, with the approval notices, etc.</p>

<p>I agree with everyone above who is suggesting an assertive request, by letter or phone, to get way up to the higher-ups at CB.</p>

<p>They have front desk people and others who are supervisors. We had to wait some days for finding out when a supervisor would be in and call in at that time. </p>

<p>Here's how I asked it of the front-desk person, "Who would make the decision about this situation (and described the situation), which supervisor handles and reviews anything in that category of problem?" The front desk guy identified the person by name and I got her voicemail contact info. I only knew to do all that b/c my dr. said to do it that way.</p>

<p>Also, you can find out if you can have the gastro talk to the CB person.
Remember that every doctor went through this testing themself at some point, so perhaps can identify with how important it is to you. I had to have a psychologist phone a supervisor at CB and it meant I did the digging to find out the name and number of the supervisor and when she worked (since it' wasn't every day). Then I gave that to the doctor's office. Dr. said it was VERY difficult to get through the bureaucratic phone tag but finally the doctor and the CB supervisor spoke. (It had to do with which would be the acceptable test for a disability waiver...) It only worked b/c the doctor was very passionate to solve it.
Can you schedule a "consultation visit" with the gastro to talk about all this?
It's such a shame that this is in the way of getting the tests done. On another level, she'll need her health to get through college itself.
You sound sweet, maybe a bit too sweet for the tough discussions ahead. I'm not saying to be rude but maybe very much more assertive. Bring out your inner tiger and talk to these doctors and CB folks for your D; she's too sick to do it herself right now. Good luck and blessings.</p>

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<p>My kids were granted special conditions by the college board to have frequent and extended breaks (never did get a definition of what that meant) plus ability to eat and drink during breaks because of their medical conditions. Neither kid mentioned whether they ever used these conditions because generally they felt OK during the exams & then came home & crashed for several days.
During the ACT, my D felt poorly & did poorly & cancelled her scores & came home to rest.
From all I've read & heard it's really tough to get the CB to grant you a later start for the exam and also tough to get them to split it into two days. </p>

<p>Good luck & let us know how things go for you.</p>

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<p>I can't figure out how to send a private message right now. I was wondering if your daughter could tolerate Ensure during a test. I'm the parent of a kid with IBD (long road to a diagnosis) and can relate a bit although your situation sounds different. Hang in there. Once there is a correct diagnosis, there is often a treatment that helps.</p>

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<p>I don't consider myself litigious (I don't even know any lawyers), but it does seem as if the CB is unwilling to provide fair accommodations for your d's condition. Therefore, if the advice above for you/your d's MD to reach the decision maker with additional medical information doesn't work out, is it feasible to have an attorney take over?</p>

<p>As to the SAT I/SAT II dilemma: I've read that seniors often perform better on the fall SAT Is, even without additional prep. If your d's knowledge of the SAT II subject is fresh, it might serve her better to take the SAT II in June, as you've advised her.</p>

<p>Have you been in touch with admissions at her ED school about your d's situation? Perhaps they could give you an idea of which test they'd recommend she take in June.</p>

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<p>I'm so sorry your D is having these troubles. It might take some pressure off to take a look at the list of testing optional schools as a back up. The list keeps growing and there are some very good schools included. It might just give you both peace of mind until you get this worked out. Good luck.
<a href="http://fairtest.org/optinit.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://fairtest.org/optinit.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>That's quite a list. I knew that some art schools and small liberal arts colleges didn't require the SAT, but I had no idea that test scores were optional at any big schools like George Mason and Oregon State.</p>

<p>I think my-3-sons has a great idea. While your daughter is still trying to get lucky by having a good day with the SAT, she might enjoy going through the list and finding some test-optional colleges to visit this summer. </p>

<p>And if her tastes run to liberal arts colleges, maybe she doesn't have to bother with the SAT or ACT at all. There seem to be plenty of liberal arts colleges on the list at every possible level of selectivity.</p>

<p>Avoiding the SAT might even be the best course of action -- if there are any test-optional schools that appeal to your daughter -- because she is caught between a rock and a hard place. Without a diagnosis and treatment plan, it's going to be difficult if not impossible for her to get appropriate accommodations. And it can take a very long time to get a diagnosis for gastrointestinal problems and even longer to get them treated. I have a son with irritable bowel syndrome, one of the least serious of the chronic GI illnesses, and it took six months to figure out what the problem was and another two years of trial-and-error to come up with reasonably effective ways to treat it, so I can appreciate your frustration.</p>

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<p>Do you have to have a diagnosis completed in order to get an accommodation, or just list of symptoms that make testing impossible? In other words, acting as if this were a "new" medical problem (which is not), I feel (but who am I?) the symptoms alone are bad enough to interfere with the test-taking process. And that IS the diagnosis, until a medical term can be put on it, which could take a year or more, meanwhile she's at that important jr. year.</p>

<p>On this basis -- severe symptoms, rather than finallly knowing the diagnosis by name -- can the doctor call the CB? Maybe that IS the diagnosis, a description of these symptoms and the names of all the procedures/trials/tests they plan to run in the next year or two to figure it out. Does it have to be in Latin to count?</p>

<p>The fact that the high school already gives her accommodations (best time of day) could be seen as an important precedent that the CB should know about, if they don't already. They like to point to another institution that's already dealt with it, to justify.<br>
If the doctor can't proceed based on symptoms, I'd call and ask a lawyer (if you can afford the consultation fee, that is) who knows LD law (ask Special Ed teachers at your school for names) and see if they're required to make an accommodation. I know they say they'll accommodate a medical diagnosis, but see if the lawyer can relate to my idea that the symptoms are the diagnosis. Who cares WHY someone vomits without so many meals; right now, you know with fair certainty that she DOES. Why isn't that enough. (Oh I get so steamed on your behalf!) There must be something about being unable to sit for 5 hours that a lawyer can use.</p>

<p>If so, then there's no need to make a lawsuit. So many times, a call or short note with legal letterhead kick-starts bureaucracies to SOLVE problems or MANAGE to "reach" the other party by phone. A phone call or one-paragraph letter from a lawyer, merely "inquiring" about that case and "hoping" for communication between parties, might get the CB on the phone with the doctor, or vice-versa, pronto. </p>

<p>That's NOT being litigious. That's avoiding lawsuits and solving problems.
So much of what's in our way in society is impossible non-communication between decision-makers. </p>

<p>My son is studying for AP Government and he tells me that they don't teach 3 branches of government any more (as I learned: Legislative, Executive, Judicial...). The fourth branch of government is Bureaucracy. And that's how it's taught now.</p>

<p>WHILE you decide if you can pursue this issue hard, like a tiger, I agree with Marian and the poster who sent a big list of schools that don't require the SAT's. </p>

<p>"Hard guy" and "soft guy" can go on at the same time, perhaps.</p>

<p>Does anyone have a suggestion how to make that list (of non-SAT colleges) more manageable to explore? (Hint; if you were on your way to rabbinic school or yeshiva, you'd know it by now so certainly cross off anything with "rabbinic, torah, or yeshiva" for advanced orthodox jewish study of Torah.)</p>

<p>I'm a big fan of many schools on that list. In my travels, places like Hampshire, Bard and Antioch might offer continued opportunities for scheduling flexibility or ways to do majors that might appeal to your daughter once in college. Connecticut College is right up there academically. Marian pointed out some larger places she likes. Great list -- just needs some focus for our OP, perhaps. </p>

<p>I'm aware that the OP had an ED place in mind, so I don't want to tread on that either. But why is it the ED, and could another place serve as well? Worth a thought, dear OP, since you're so thoughtful.
Hugs to you, too.</p>

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<p>P.S. How important is the ED process to your thinking? It occurs to me that if she went instead for RD applications, she could have use of the NOvember, December SAT dates. If you check with colleges, even next January's sitting with rush scores might be of use (but must check on that at every individual school!). </p>

<p>Perhaps if you let go of the ED, that might buy you time for more test dates.
ED is great if you have a clear first choice, or if you want to improve chances at a reach school. If you're only considering ED because it'll make senior year easier, well, maybe that's worth reevaluating against the current difficulty right now in junior year. Only you know.</p>

<p>If you go RD, everyone on CC will advise you about how many apps to file, (I think the current wisdom is 6-8...). Your GC can say if she'd be eligible for "fee waiver" based on financial need to save those nasty app fees.
If you apply some places "rolling decision" you wouldn't hae to wait all the way til next April 1 to hear from all the places. (But even waiting isn't the end of the world. We applied to 8 RD schools with no rolling admissions. Yes, it felt like torture around mid-March, but ended of course on April 1 with a mixture of accepts, rejects and a waitlist. Then he chose. All is well. He got to use the Oct, Nov AND Dec. test dates during senior year for various SAt-I's and II's.)</p>

<p>It is true that ED improves one's chances percentage=wise of gaining acceptance to your first choice...but it is also adding some pressure on you now, too. Maybe that's the piece to let go. Again, many hugs.</p>

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<p>The College Board website lists these amongst the available accommodations:
Timing/Scheduling
* Frequent breaks
* Extended time
* Multiple day (may/may not include extra time)
* Specified time of day
Also, I can't find it online but I believe it is possible to have the SAT administered one-on-one at a private facility. One of my kids took the SSAT that way at the office of an educational consultant. The College Board has a list somewhere of authorized places. You might be able to schedule it in the afternoon.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Is she going to be able to handle college? Sounds like she has accomodations in high school. Are you narrowing your college search to colleges that will be able to accomodate her issue? If so, are you certain they require the tests that you/she are planning on taking?</p>