<p>My daughter has no interest in the whole college process. This year she seems to have given up about school. Off medication this year for first time. Real bright child, been struggle always. Do we push or what</p>
<p>Can you tell more about the situation?</p>
<p>Given that her loss of interest seems directly correlated with her being off medication... can she go back on, or were there major issues with those medications? If she cannot go back on the medication she was using, is there an alternative drug that can be used? I suspect pushing may or may not have a strong effect if the underlying psychiatric problem is not treated; there's only so much you can do to fit a square peg in a round hole, as it were.</p>
<p>Be very careful about pushing too hard. Our sophomore son has ADHD also and after we backed off A LOT he began to show much more interest. As I've told my husband a million times, you can't force desire. But why did she go off of her meds? I think that's most likely a big factor. Keep in mind that ADHD/ADD is truly a disability, and can make school a nightmare, especially I would think during that critical junior year.</p>
<p>She went off her meds this year because she was feeling foggy on them. She has been on various different meds since she was 8. She is on a mood stabilizer now, although it helps her mood, does not help her attention situation. She says she wants to go to the local community college. While we have no problem with a JC, we are afraid that the non-achievers that she is currently hanging around with will also be attending with her. We just want her to look at alternatives, which she has totally closed her mind to. She is at least taking her SATs, and going to and SAT tutor without too much complaint. Like others who responded, we too have tried to back off quite a bit, but it is difficult watching such a bright child fail.</p>
<p>How about looking for the colleges that have good history with accommodating Learning Disabilities to show her that there might be ways to find a niche with some support?</p>
<p>Also, have you looked at the LD section of CC?</p>
<p>Has the doctor who let her go off the meds heard that her grades have fallen since then? One thing about changing meds is to hear back a report about how things are going since then. I can see where she'd be tired of taking meds since age 8, but nonetheless, another medical review might be needed. To me it sounds as though she lost her attention focus but decided she doesn't care; but the meds are about the attention focus. Her teenage opinion about how significant it is that her attention isn't there so her grades fell...that's not a medical event. The loss of her attention focus is the medical issue. </p>
<p>Are there some activities that are in-between all this achieve/low achieve student
polarity that she might try, to make a few more friends? For example, service voluinteer groups or religious youth groups have all kinds of kids participating where their academics aren't the whole point. Maybe she could add to her friendship circle that way, and not be pressured in either direction re: grades.</p>
<p>It's good that she's going to the SAT tutor without complaint. That might indicate she's willling to try things and is open to your support. I wouldn't back off OR push, I would "scaffold" and still try to help her find options. The more she'll do with you as a family, right now, the better. Go to movies together, take walks, whatever she'll do with you recreationally, so you keep the family communication steadily there. Just a hunch.</p>
<p>Have you looked into behavorial therapies to treat ADD? You could look into seeing a psychologist about this.</p>
<p>All of you who have answered have been helpful, but we have tried all that has been suggested. Her doctor is aware, her psychologist is aware, the biggest issue is I can't get her interested in any of it. She feels too overwhelmed and pressured by the mere mention of college.</p>
<p>what are some of the schools good for ADD</p>
<p>I'm looking in Google, meanwhile found this (probably you've heard of it all, tho)
by googling up college ADD:</p>
<p>ADDvance</a> - Assessing College Support Services for Students with ADD (ADHD)</p>
<p>My parents taught at New England College in Henniker, NH, which had an emphasis on this for more than 20 years, and there are more on lists. I just need to find the lists..am searching..</p>
<p>if anyone has more names or a way to a list, please chime in...</p>
<p>another resource with "ideas" and guides for you, but I'm still looking for LISTS of colleges that offer..gimme time/ and others please chime in..</p>
<p>Here's the link I remembered that included other CC posters but more importantly some links of lists. I hope it helps you this day: </p>
<p>Oh, frustrating,,^^^^ some of the links don't work any more, although the postings are still fine suggesting some individual college names.</p>
<p>Let me keep trying..</p>
<p>Google up these words: Colleges with Programs for Learning Disabled Students.</p>
<p>Let's see if it works. That has the list I remember but am not getting them to post here as linking thingies. </p>
<p>Have to go to a meeting now...let me know if it came up.</p>
<p>If your student is telling you that she wants to go to Community College for two years, says she feels "foggy" on her meds and prefers not to take them, I can't see where she is "failing" which is how you articulated your concern. She may just be going to take a slightly different path to the finish line. It may not suit you but it may suit your child. Frankly, even without the ADD, I might flinch if one of my kids wanted to go to a commmunity college for two years, but I couldn't morally deny them that path should that be what they choose. I would be flinching not because I believe that community college will be a detriment to them, but because I really loved my four years in college and I would hate for them to miss the excitement of being a freshman and so on. Many, many students go to junior college for two years and transfer. It might not have been your vision for her, but at least for now it is her vision. I'm assuming she's a junior and she may very well change her mind prior to fall, too. You know your daughter, if you push and she balks, then best to stop pushing. Also you mentioned that she's taking SAT prep classes? Maybe she thinks you're shooting too high for her (otherwise why take prep classes except to try to raise scores to get into a more competitive college?) and she's tossing community college in your face to lower your expectations. Sometimes our children know themselves better than we know them. She may simply be trying to tell you she needs a less competitive environment. Again, you only give clues as to some of the situation.</p>
<p>Is there anything that she is interested in? Music, sports, theater? Could you go to some performances at a local college, than have lunch in the cafeteria, Just to get the feel of college life. I don't know if it will increase her interest in the college hunt, but it might.</p>
<p>Back from meeting. Yes, it worked for me; so repeating: google up "Colleges With Programs for Learning Disabled Students." It covers many geographic areas, too.</p>
<p>For more related articles, also googl up these exact three words: college learning disability.</p>
<p>At the top you'll see the article that is the LIST I had wanted for you. See also many other interesting articles, including one from "Kidsource" that deal with motivation issues, and more...</p>
<p>My guess is she's scared and uncertain how to be the bright kid without the grades to apply like her non-LD classmates. At the same time, maybe (or maybe NOT), JC is the right path for her. But I believe there could be something in-between that would be her niche.</p>
<p>I recognize your problem right now is motivating her. I thought if she or you saw there were possibilities ahead for her, different than anything anyone's discussing right now at her h.s. (either the academic powerhouses or the junior college-bound kids), it might give her more hope.</p>
<p>One more idea: have you found out whether she feels as though "taking meds" is like "taking drugs"? There's a big difference but in h.s., lots of really fine kids who don't want to be "drug-dependent" toss away their meds for a while. It's their pride to not depend on them. With all the news from athletic steroids to street drugs, some kids who really need meds take up the wave and think they are being weak to take meds.
Sigh.</p>
<p>I am the parent of two ADD kids. I have recently come to the conclusion that if I had it to do over again, I would let me child flunk out of high school rather than go through the hell of trying to push them in a direction they are not motivated to go. The pressure your daughter is feeling could lead to depression or worse. Perhaps instead of worrying about how damaging a community college might be, think about it as an opportunity. Find out what your particular community college offers that might interest her. If she likes photography, for example, make sure she takes a class in that. My son took a class at the community college during his junior year; he hated HS and I wanted him to see that college was different. Some ADD kids find college classes easier than the high school grind. I know my younger son cared a lot more about getting into college after taking a college class and realizing he was better suited (as an ADD learner) in that environment. Also, keep in mind that most ADD kids can go to college with a reduced course load, but still be classified as a full time student. I honestly think that college with three classes, a note taker, and tutors (all normal accommodations at many colleges) would be a thousand times less stressful than most high schools. You also may want to consider hiring an educational consultant. My friend had one who specialized in finding the best schools for her LD son and really brought to light suggestions my friend would have never thought of. Hey, she may want to take a year off from the pressure. It is hard to think about that, but now that I have one ADD in college and another one the way, I can honestly say that with hindsight, it is an option I should have considered. It sounds like she could use some time to appreciate her talents in a low pressure setting so she can re-frame the way she sees herself as a learner and can reduce the anxiety that so many ADD kids build up over the years. Good luck. There are all different kinds of paths. It is easier to accept this as your kids get older. The most important thing is that in 10 years, what she remembers is your love and acceptance of her as she is. Where she gets an education (formal or informal) will only last a few years... you want your relationship to last forever.</p>
<p>Bessie, I liked that. My son has been taking meds since he was four, and at 15 I am wondering if we should let his older sister use his college fund! He seems quite hopeless about how he will get through HS, let alone college, and I work with enough kids like this to want to avoid hopelessness. So far I have been able to walk the line of keeping him a little motivated without overwhelming him, and feel this is all we can do for now. We are hoping for a community college class this summer (but he'll need the OK of his HS, and that might be hard given his last progress report). Interestingly, he at first felt this was beneath him ( he used to think he was going to Stanford to play soccer).</p>
<p>Momof3boys, you make a lot of sense, as to many of you who have written. both h and i have tried note to push our d, but no matter what we say she considers it pressure. I really have no problem with her going to a cc, but i just want her to know from what she is choosing. She has never even set foot on a college campus. I'm not sure who mentioned it, but you are absolutely right about the possibility of add leading into depression and other mood disorders. Often add is a preamble into depression and bipolar. She is interested in photography and our cc and a wonderfuly photography program.</p>