A question for smokers please. I know it may seem like a dumb question...

[gemini528]

Ok. I know I'm probably going to get lectured for being a smoker...and as I'm starting to prep for the June LSAT, I'm curious if I'm able to have a cigarette during the break? (I'm bad under pressure.)

I know I should quit by then!!

thanks!

[Jeffort]

Ok. I know I'm probably going to get lectured for being a smoker...and as I'm starting to prep for the June LSAT, I'm curious if I'm able to have a cigarette during the break? (I'm bad under pressure.)

I know I should quit by then!!

thanks!

It's actually a good question and an issue I faced. 

First of all, you certainly do not want to radically change your habits at the last minute in the time leading up to test day.  If you do you will be facing withdrawal and adjustment symptoms that, no matter what it is from, will screw up your brain chemistry for a bit and throw you off your game.

If you are a smoker, DO NOT try to quit cold turkey in the final weeks leading up to your test administration, do that later.  According to the LSAC rules the test centers/proctors are not supposed to allow people to go outside the test center during the break, meaning no smoke break.

The patch is good and so are some of those other nicotine replacement substitutes like the gum or lozenges.   As far as I know they qualify as health/hygiene products you are allowed to have on you in your ziplock bag in the test center. 

The ziplock bag may contain only the following items:  LSAT Admission Ticket stub ;valid ID ;wallet; keys ;(nondigital)wristwatch ;medical or hygiene products

Suddenly going off of nicotine for many hours on test day if you are conditioned to ingesting it regularly for a long time can be disastrous to your cognitive skills and performance.  The drug is medically known to stimulate/improve cognitive, comprehension, memory and analysis skills.  If you've tried to quit before and gone even 6-8 hrs without a smoke I bet that you became super irritable and could not concentrate and focus on things very well. 

I used the gum when I took it but it doesn't appear that you are allowed to have access to it except during break anymore, so maybe the patch. 

[LSAT Eliminator]

Ok. I know I'm probably going to get lectured for being a smoker...and as I'm starting to prep for the June LSAT, I'm curious if I'm able to have a cigarette during the break? (I'm bad under pressure.)

I know I should quit by then!!

thanks!

It's not a dumb question at all, and plenty of people face the same issue. Jeffort has covered the rules on that, but all I'll add is don't try to modify your routine in the days or even few weeks before the LSAT. You want to be in the best rhythm possible when you hit test day, and if you are used to smoking (or drinking coffee or whatever), keep on doing it up to and through the test if possible. You may have to try some workarounds--like the Patch--but do your best to keep things steady, regular, and comfortable (damn, this sounds like a laxative commercial!).

[Jeffort]

Ok. I know I'm probably going to get lectured for being a smoker...and as I'm starting to prep for the June LSAT, I'm curious if I'm able to have a cigarette during the break? (I'm bad under pressure.)

I know I should quit by then!!

thanks!

It's not a dumb question at all, and plenty of people face the same issue. Jeffort has covered the rules on that, but all I'll add is don't try to modify your routine in the days or even few weeks before the LSAT. You want to be in the best rhythm possible when you hit test day, and if you are used to smoking (or drinking coffee or whatever), keep on doing it up to and through the test if possible. You may have to try some workarounds--like the Patch--but do your best to keep things steady, regular, and comfortable (damn, this sounds like a laxative commercial!).

lol at the laxative commercial comment!  It gave me my first laugh of the day.  

And yeah  

Do not make any major lifestyle changes in the weeks before the test, otherwise you will feel like a fish out of water.  

That includes stuff with medications.  

This is a big issue that comes up all the time:  Certainly DO NOT start taking adderall/ritalin/stimulants or other drugs just for the test to try and get an edge.  

If you have legitimately been on such meds for a while because you are actually and have been properly diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, keep following the medical advice from your doctor.  If you are having a lot of test anxiety (everyone does!), don't suddenly go on some anti-anxiety meds you have not previously been medically advised to take regularly.  

The way I've liked to say it to every group of students I've taught when test day is near is "If you are not already a long time registered member of the Valium club, adderall club, or smokers club, do not suddenly join right before the test, if you are already a long time member, stay a member."

Otherwise, if you start abusing adderall or whatever, It will 'F you up and possibly lead to other problems down the road if you get hooked on the habit of using them for finals/work/the meth energy boost feeling/whatever else/the buzz/to sleep with the anti-anxiety drugs, etc.  I could write out a long real life nightmare story that is still going about what adderall abuse can do to you but don't want to violate my GF's privacy rights.  She's in the hospital again right now because of what abuse/misuse of various Rx meds did to her.  

[wannabeexteacher]

I know your pain! After simulating the hours and time limits, plus the small break after session III, I searched to find an answer as to whether or not people who are unfortunately addicted to a habit that is snubbed by most would get to smoke during the break. Needless to say, I found zero information about whether or not tobacco products could be an item in our clear ziploc purse. So, I bought Nicorette gum for testing day and even practiced using it (believe me, there are directions for the gum...how often and how fast to chew, etc)! Luckily, the gum wasn't that bad and plus I had a super cool proctor...but, a word of advice, get the gum at least a day ahead of the test and you will be fine.

[widespreadLSATpanic]

Nicorette gum sounds like the best idea. Thanks for bringing this up...God, I hadn't even thought about it! 

[gemini528]

Hey guys, I quit smoking a couple of weeks ago...phew. But i still use the patch...

Welp, if anything good comes out of this dreaded LSAT, it at least motivated me to really quit this time! hehe!

[JurisDad]

Check out the Camel Snus--smokefree, spitfree tobacco pouches.

[CWalker]

I haven't even thought of this! Thanks for posting the question gemini528!

[Jeffort]

Hey guys, I quit smoking a couple of weeks ago...phew. But i still use the patch...

Welp, if anything good comes out of this dreaded LSAT, it at least motivated me to really quit this time! hehe!

Congrats!    It's one of the hardest things to quit.  I've quit many times for several months at a time but somehow keep getting sucked back into buying a pack.  Did you just use the patch to do it?

For now I'm doing pretty good and have cut down a lot.  One pack lasts for 3 days now, which I think is progress in the right direction.  Although part of the reason I've cut down so much is that I am not allowed to smoke inside the place I recently moved into.  I have to go outside, which involves going up and down stairs, plus they are varnished wooden plank stairs so I have to put on my shoes.  Walk those things with just socks on and you'll slip and eat $hit.