i have a friend and she has a little problem. i always knew she worked hard but she never got extremely good grades. she has about a 3.5 GPA. she always complained about concentration problems but everyone thought it was normal and nothing to be concerned about. well she got tested for ADD and it turns out she has it. she’s been on medication since the beginning of this year (she is a senior) and has gotten awesome grades. she is upset because she knows she could have done better if people had paid attention to her earlier and if she had been on medication. is this something she should mention to admissions when submitting her application? will it help or hurt her?
<p>I have ADD, and yeah, mentioning just that will help her a lot. Most colleges have a special section to explain special circumstances; if not, I strongly suggest your friend mentions her ADD in college essay. Oh, and also, it's too late for your friend, but if you get marked as special ed at your with ADD you get 50% more time on standardized tests. It's how I got 5's on all three AP's I've taken so far, a 1570 on SATI, and 800's on writing, Math IIC, and Physics. :-).</p>
<p>Good to note: From many stories that I have heard, of the Ivies, Brown is particularly lenient with extenuating circumstances. If she is looking at any Ivies, than she should give it a try.</p>
<p>Earlham and Vassar are two schools which seem to be very supportive of learning differences.</p>
<p>My son has been admitted to Earlham and we are trying to get a more "inside" view of what the school is like for a kid with ADHD and/or learning disabilities. Can you be more specific on why you would recommend the school? Do other parents or students have any insights to share on Earlham?</p>
<p>All my kids had ADHD, they inherited it from their mother (me). ADD doesn't help you get into college but how you deal with it in your essay and in your life can help your friend. For instance, how have you overcome the problem, where has it helped/hurt you (made you more aware, compassionate...) My girlfriend's daughter, who has severe learning disabilities and has suffered greatly because of them, did a movie that has been shown to numerous teen groups. She goes to UC Berkeley where they seem to be compassionate. (Her mother was once told, "Don't expect much from your daughter." ). My daughter doesn't use Disability Services yet, but may in the future.</p>
<p>Well said... My S, diagnosed ADHD in middle School would give anything to be able erase the grades he got as a freshman in high school. They adversely affected his GPA and class rank. Through accomodations and maturity he has gone from a 2.9 student to a 3.5 student that includes 3 APs. He did write a cover letter that accompanied every application, explaining his disability, how it affected him..etc. In addition, what really came through in his esays was his confidence. ADHD kids are notorious for having low self esteem, but he tells how understanding his disabity and knowing how he learns best has helped him to work through these obstacles.<br>
While it is true that more and more schools are empathetic towards kids that learn differently, it is also true that the talent pool has never been stronger. There are simply too many talented kids and not enough spots. I'd like to believe that in an effort to create diversity, each school leaves room for kids like my S who have made tremendous strides academically and achieved success far beyond anyone's expectations. But, there is the "old school" that wants to admit only "proven" students. I wonder...</p>