Special Consideration

[driekus]

Hi All,
I just noticed going through some of the GMAT requirements that they make you use a felt marker pen. Is there anyway that they will allow any bending of this rule. I struggle to write with a marker pen for long periods because the pressure required aggrevates RSI. (particularly with some of the posts Ive read). Just a simple pen can make a world of difference.

[DanaJ]

I think it's pretty hard for you to get a different pen, unfortunately... I myself struggled with it, because I'm a lefty and tend to smudge the whole ink on the plastic pads. It doesn't hurt to ask (send an email to the people at mba.com), but I doubt it they'll allow it.

[driekus]

I will see what they say, they sent me a semi automated reply today which was meaningless and didnt answer my question. If the pens are the marker type and they go dry as easily as some people have indicated then I will have serious problems. If I have to push hard to get the pen to work I will have problems and end up in pain half way through.
I use a special pen to minimize RSI and I have never really ran into a situation where I could not use my own pen.
I will see what they say.
Can people tell me of there experiences with the pens?
I dont want to go through the whole special accomodation process if it is not that big a concern.

[uwhusky]

I don't recall having to put in a lot of effort in using the pen, so I think you might be ok with it. The problem with switching out the pen is that you will also have to switch out the pad, and they might have more of an issue with different pad.

[dav373]

I didn't think that the pen required much effort to write with. Sometimes I would press too hard and the pen wouldn't write correctly it seemed. I'm a lefty as well so I just started my scratch work in the top right corner and worked my way right to left.

[driekus]

Well I got a reply from regarding accommodations. Basically they won't budge as anticipated. The only way that they will budge is through the "special accommodation" form where I think they have to under the disabilities act. I would qualify as my one of my thumb joints is fused. The question is by the time it all gets sorted out my test could get bumped to October or November. So I think I will leave things as it is, too much hassle.
I can see the point of why they do things they do, but they are very inflexible about it.