<p>Likely they want to give him a chance. He definitely needed respite this year from my involvement. By next year he will likely be ok for more intervention on my part. Trying to rebuild self-esteem and acceptance this year so I did not push it. His performance in junior high was so disappointing but his attitude was even worse. S has matured so much this year and I feel like he will be open to more help from me soon. If not I will go back to school and try for the 504 or IEP. What discipline was your Ss coach???? Teacher? Counselor?</p>
<p>Zagat-good call. I needed to hear this. I have read so many posts on CC about kids like my son who go to college and flunk out after a year or so. I really don't want this to happen to my son. Unfortunately we had so many social issues (thank God now resolved for most part) that I had to let go of academic worries for awhile. I will go to our GC and reopen the 504/iep discussion.</p>
<p>Momnipotent----I also love the name!-- my son was accepted to BU this year early decision with merit aid. If your D has great stats and falls in love with the school, she will likely get a half-tuition merit scholarship if she applies ED. It's a risk, but the BU website says "ED applicants have priority consideration for the University Scholaship" which is half-tuition.</p>
<p>My S also takes Latin and your D may be interested in taking the Latin Scholarship exam next November. S didn't qualify for a scholarship but the school awards about 10 scholarships based on that exam alone. Some are full tuition, some are half-tuition. The full scholarships require the winner to take one Latin class each semester for the first two years. The half tuition scholarship has no such requirements. And you don't have to declare a major in classics.</p>
<p>Also, there is the Trustee Scholarship, which is full tuition and very competitive. Deadline for this scholarship is December 1.</p>
<p>Additionally- thanks to everyone for input. The history of my Ss diagnosis with ADD is complex. We are in an outstanding school district. I have known since 2nd grade that S had ADD but the schools were so impressed with his giftedness that they were adamant against the diagnosis. At that point I put S in music lessons to try to help with work ethic/study skills--got call from piano teacher within 2 months that S was amazingly gifted,etc. I finally took son in junior high to 2 different docs to get him diagnosed--for my own sanity and his. Off the charts ADD. By then we had encountered horrible conflict over school performance. He took ACT in junior high and only missed 1 question in Reading/Grammar sections- he told me most of the high school kids he sat around did not finish the test. Math/Science scores were good but not as outstanding. GPA is currently around 2.9- that is with the help of A's in orchestra and gym:). I have very limited financial resources and would like for him to be able to earn rewards for his giftedness- his personal goal is 3.5 GPA but he can't stay with a plan yet. Do you think college admissions would see the 504 as red flag- is 504 revealed to colleges?</p>
<p>kinasha- wow! My D only missed one on the National Latin Exam last time she took it---don't have this years score back yet. She is taking Latin independent study this year because it was during the same period as band---she likely would have crammed for the test if she knew about the scholarship. Maybe next year!!! Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Our son's coach was a "learning specialist." A very smart guy who was far more knowledgeable about ADD than anyone I've met before or since. Ph.Ed. He did the testing battery that established ADD for my son, and in his extensive report, listed a series of "recommendations" such as those described by Zagat, and that put the IEP process in motion. The school really doesn't have an option once that's presented to them (at least in PA). It's a legal obligation, and they take it seriously. Several people in the school district commented that the evaluation was the most thorough they had ever seen, and I have to say, as person who was initially very skeptical of the whole ADD concept, it impressed me as well. He also had a real knack for establishing rapport, and my son actually enjoyed going through his heaps of papers and organizing them with this guy's assistance. He took his suggestions to heart, and was willing to allow us to follow through on them upon this counselor's recommendation.</p>
<p>Just saw your latest post (2:24 AM), and I totally identify. Our son was known as the absent-minded professor all through elementary school. Just off-the-wall smart, with a huge fount of disorganized information at his disposal (near-photographic memory). Brilliant musician (began violin at age four, switched to piano at seven, is considering conservatories now). Things began to fall apart after fifth grade, when sheer intelligence began to require organization in order to be meaningful. In my opinion, many boys don't really "get it" academically, until the end of ninth grade, so now is the time to act decisively.</p>
<p>driver- I live in Ohio. Any chance you could ask your ed specialist if he knows of anyone in the Columbus area who could provide similar assistance? I am sure this is costly but letting it go will be too. A few extra shifts a week might be worth the help.</p>
<p>I'll check it out asap and email you. :)</p>
<p>Bless all of you! Driver- thanks so much. Could you provide a thumbnail of your Ss progress with the ed spec? I haven't been too hopeful about this for awhile- I am truly inspired.</p>
<p>driver, </p>
<p>My son is so similar. Also only discovered in Jr. High when he began traveling from room to room & the subject matter got harder-- innate intelligence did not cut it any more. He is in now a private school with an on site specialist; he sees her during study hall in lieu of taking a language.</p>
<p>We are so far not medicating but we may do so. I have mixed feelings about that. If he has an "A" brain but gets "Bs" and is happy, is this worth the potential risks of meds? Not really sure how I feel about this yet. Of course if he were miserable or the difference between potential and achievement was much greater I might feel differently.</p>
<p>We do have the 504 plan, etc, because I was told if you don't have it by 8th grade it is hard to get the accomodations for SATs. He is allowed time & a half on tests under the plan.</p>
<p>SBmom-sounds like school is a nice fit. My son and I often discuss whether he will need meds in college. Many issues to consider. He will need to be profoundly mature- controlled substance on college campus- imagine the possibilities. He is very compliant with taking his meds and has a "bad day" if he ever misses it. I used to hate it that he was on meds but now I am thankful for the help. Does the "site specialist" help with day to day keeping up or long term solutions to ADD.</p>
<p>My daughter was just like your son and now, in 12th grade, has just been admitted to all the colleges she applied to with the exception of her reach school which was Cornell, and they offered her a guaranteed transfer after a yr at another college. How did this happen? Let me tell you it wasn't easy for my husband and me. The best thing I did was to try the Feingold diet which helped her to become a different person. Her college essay was about how she followed this diet and the other techniques she has used to consistantly raise her gpa to a 3.5. The second best thing I did was to read the book Driven to Distraction every time I became discouraged - this kept me motivated to never give up on pushing her to be the best she could be. The third best thing was to put her in a small private school where she received no special services, but where there was only 12 kids in the classroom.</p>
<p>Am I worried about her going to college - absolutely! Will she continue to follow her diet? Will she be able to get out of bed in time for classes? Will she remember to hand in her papers? Will she sit in the front of the class like she needs to? Only time will tell. I know she will do something great with her life (become a doctor?) when she is ready. My fingers are crossed that she will be ready this coming fall.</p>
<p>wow, screenname sister,</p>
<p>I need to know more about the Feingold diet...</p>
<p>Driver, </p>
<p>Would you be able to e-mail me about your coach's info? I am in PA (Philly burb) and would be very interested. My e-mail address is on my profile.</p>
<p>Great that you have found someone who is helping so much!</p>
<p>I believe that Peterson's guild to schools with Learning Disability programs will help you a lot. </p>
<p>My son also has ADD. He attends Fairleigh Dickenson, Madison Campus, in NJ. It has been a fabulous experience for him. The learning center has been top notch. They demand that the kids sign a yearly contract to attend all learning center tutoring and other sessions. As a result he has over a 3.25! I can't recommend this school enough for LD kids. </p>
<p>They also have a lot of good program to choose from too and a beautiful campus.</p>
<p>Thank you taxguy- I just checked out the website. At this point, I am apprehensive about him flying too far away but if as much changes in the next couple years as has changed in the last year....we'll see.</p>
<p>SBmom -
(I noticed your screen name after I registered and got a kick out of it too)
The Feingold diet has been around for years. I doesn't work for everyone and it is hard to follow, but it works 24 hrs a day, not just when medicated, and there are no side effects. For more info check out - <a href="http://www.feingold.org%5B/url%5D">www.feingold.org</a></p>
<p>SBMOMOF3- my S does not have the hyperactivity component to ADD, does Feingold benefit these kids? I checked the website-looks interesting.</p>
<p>momnipotent-
yes it will. It has also helped my husband! He didn't have add, but he definately had sensory intergration disfunction (probably why my daughter has it). He used to fall down the stairs once a month and constantly bump into things - now he never falls.</p>
<p>My D would not have gotten into a top university without ADD drug therapy. Throughout high school she took 40 mg of Adderall XR in the morning and 10mg late in the day to do her homework. Some of her classmates were on half that dose and did not get as good grades. Since reports surfaced about sudden death and Adderall, my D switched to 40 mg long-acting Ritalin, which is less strong than the same dosage of Adderall. She hates the Ritalin and is begging to go back on Adderall. If your ADD child is not responding to drug therapy, perhaps the dosage is not strong enough.</p>