<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I have an admissions question. My son was diagnosed with ADD just recently (he is a junior in hs) and since then, his grades are dramatically improving. He now seems to be working to his full poential in school and if his illness was diagnosed sooner, he most likely would be looking at going to better schools than he is currently considering. Is there anyway to inform schools of his situation during the admissions process and would schools take into account his problem and look at what he can and is doing now that he now can physically be focused on his work, opposed to before when he could not be 100% attentive in school? Basically what I am asking is there a way to inform schools of his situation during the admissions process and would they look at his marks after he recived medical attention opposed to before when he was not yet diagnosed?</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>My husband and I were alumni interviewers for a top 10 school. We had an interview once with a girl with a recently diagnosed eye problem. SHe explained the condition to us and we wrote about it (along with regular interview information) in our report. She wasn’t admitted. I don’t know how much this will affect him in going to a lower than top 10 school but I don’t think it will help at the most competitive colleges. I would recommend helping him get the best grades he can and the best scores too and apply to schools that are his match and his safety with few reaches. IF his cumalative gpa is poor at the time he is applying, consider non-selective schools and then having him transfer if he is doing well there. It is tough.</p>
<p>I sent a supplemental essay explaining that the diagnosis of my LD caused a dramatic grade increase, and while I understand my prior grades must be taken into consideration, my more recent grades are a better example of my potential. I don’t think it’s going to move mountains but I do think colleges should know.</p>
<p>That said, my GPA was on par with where I was applying, but I had some failing grades to explain and a slightly subpar test score. I had the advantage that my disability was specific to one subject. I second the suggestion of going to a less selective school and transferring if necessary, I went to CC and transferred to Umich.</p>
<p>You need to have documentation on hand and when applying there should be a section for LDs. Also get in contact with each of the schools disability centers (is that the right word? lol) and ask what accomidations they have and such.</p>
<p>I think this is something that can be mentioned in recommendations depending on the school your child attends and the relationship he has with the GC. A lot of times kids kinda do OK until they finally hit a wall in high school. Their attitudes also suffer a lot due to their own frustrations. If he has built relationships with teachers, coaches, administrators that can point to this “turn around” both in grades and other aspects, I think this is a perfectly good way to point this out to colleges. However, you may want to read some of the threads on CC about the struggles of freshman year in college and determine how competitive a school you want you child to shoot for. Not trying to dissuade him from reaching big, but you’ll want to be sure any college he attends has accessible options for him to stay on track and ahead of the curve. If you have been organizing a great deal of his time prior to this dx due to issues of time management and distraction, consider this when looking at schools first before you start shooting for the Ivies. (not that you are, just using it as the example).</p>