<p>Anyone have any experience with someone reapplying for admission to USMA after being off ritalin longer and getting in?</p>
<p>My DS applied to USMA this past fall. Got a letter of assurance and two congressional nominations and then had the LOA revoked after failing physical because he has taken ritalin in the past, even though he had a retired general speaking up on his behalf. Took ritalin up through junior high, intermittently first 3 years of HS, not at all senior year. Has never had any special accommodations for anything academically, including standardized tests. In fact, took his standardized tests off ritalin. How do I know? Because I argued he should take it both times he took his SAT's and every time he took his AP's and SAT II's, and lost every single time--this was before he decided to apply to USMA and I knew anything about USMA and ritalin.</p>
<p>My son's response to his rejection? Handled the situation in the most mature way I have ever seen him handle anything. Just said, OK, guess I reapply next year. Never took a single day's break from the workout routine he had instituted months before. </p>
<p>DS was accepted to one of his top choice colleges. Swear he just sees it as somewhere to be while he waits to reapply...</p>
<p>From other posts here, I believe a candidate should be off Ritalin for at least 1 year before applying and taking the physical. Others have done exactly as your son is planning. They attend civilian college for a year while off all ADHD medications then reapply. Best of luck to you and your son.</p>
<p>We went through this and, while it was nail-biting, DS DID get approved by DodMerb for USMMA. How? Son was off meds for more than a year AND we paid for physician's evaluation of DS (which I believe was a key factor) AND got letters from teachers and President of school. It took a lot of work, paperwork and follow through on the part of many people, including support from the admissions office.</p>
<p>Its a good thing your son is not applying to the air force academy.</p>
<p>I just had a whole ordeal with them and what i learned was that ANY mental conditions (ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, etc) are/will never be waiverable no matter what you do. I got all these letters from doctors, teachers and supivisors saying that even though i have been off meds for over 2 years I am a completely and normal human being. I can handle stress, changes what ever... They still denied a waiver twice.</p>
<p>I hope that the USMA has a much more... forgiving policy than the air forces.</p>
<p>Snipper that is deeply unfortunate, especially considering the current ridiculous amounts of ADD diagnoses. Kids are being diagnosed for ADD/ADHD all the time. I'm sure that most of these kids are regular people. In the past people have succeeded and sometimes excelled, despite slight quirks in personality like fidgeting, restlessness, etc. This is just an attempt to drug everyone up for the slightest reasons.</p>
<p>We have had a different experience with DoDMERB, the AFA, and ADD. My S diagnosed with ADD at the beginning of his sophomore year and went on Adderall XL. He stayed on it a year and grades improved. Luckily, his psychiatrist was an ex-Marine and warned him that if he wanted to go to a service academy, he had to be off of the meds for 2 years prior to I-day. He decided he would rather suffer with the ADD and try for the academy, so he went off his meds as soon as his sophomore year was over. We were very upfront with DoDMERB and had to send all his records for them to review. He never got a DQ for the ADD - so we never needed a waiver. I don't know if it was because he was on the meds for only 9 months, or that he was off of them for so long - but it seemed to work for DoDMERB. Unfortunately, it probably also backfired in that his grades dropped his junior and senior years resulting in a 3.84 gpa and no academy appointment.</p>
<p>I don't want to hijack this thread but I'm wondering how/when the questions about conditions like ADD/ADHD and medications arise. That is, on questionnaires or in interviews, is the candidate asked "Were you EVER diagnosed..., Have you EVER taken..., etc" or are the questions more specific based on the standard cited by heartcross (very helpful). That is, are the questions more like "Within the last two years, have you taken...".</p>
<p>In early childhood, my son had various "tics" and his pediatrician thought he might have Tourette Syndrome. He was seen by a specialist who basically said "He fits the criteria for TS so let's medicate for the tics and OCD like behavior". (TS, like ADD/ADHD isn't one of those things you can test for, you just match the diagnostic profile or you don't.) </p>
<p>To make a long story short, we went though lots of doctors and lots of meds for a few years and finally decided his symptoms were so minor that it wasn't worth the hassle. He has not been to a doctor or taken any meds since age 12. He is a straight A student and a project away from Eagle Scout. By the time he applies, he will have been off meds any meds for 4+ years.</p>
<p>My son knows he will have to answer any and all questions about his past history honestly. Will the old diagnosis and med use even come up?</p>
<p>"Will the old diagnosis and med use even come up?"</p>
<p>Yes, all candidates need to pass a DoDMERB medical examination. A medical history form is required to be filled out and this is where the "have you ever" questions are asked.
Any answer that sends up red flags results in either an immediate disqualification or a remedial request for further information or tests. A disqualification can be challenged if you believe the diagnosis was incorrect. If the diagnosis was correct, a waiver process can allow the candidate to be accepted despite the diagnosis (depending on the circumstances). A remedial can result in the candidate being found medically qualified, or disqualification (with the same options being available to the candidate as discussed).
Some would say that the DoDMERB process is one of the more challenging parts of the admissions process. It can be an emotional rollercoaster.</p>
<p>1ddad: If your son is applying to an academy he would be wise to start the application process early. The DoDMERB process can be a lengthy one and things go a lot faster in July than they do later in the year. If you do a search you will see just how long it has taken some of the candidates on this board. Get all of the medical records, professional opinions etc. you will need together now, it will save you time down the road.
Welcome to this forum - and good luck!</p>
<p>Ann's advice is right on the money. My s applied early and got through DoDMERB in August. We answered all the questions, worked through the flags by sending them copies of all his medical records and had his doctor write a letter. It took about 6 more weeks before everything cleared, but its so much faster in the summer than waiting until the fall when everyone is working through the system. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for the replies so far. (Zaphod, I understand and respect your take on this but I've got to look forward not back.)</p>
<p>My son is currently a HS freshman so he has a couple of years before he can even apply (and who knows, he may decide it's not what he wants after all). I'm just trying to help gather as much data as possible as early as possible as he makes his decision. </p>
<p>I'm sure there is someone out there who will say "Don't even try". My experience is that, absent a reg in black and white, all things are possible.</p>
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Zaphod, I understand and respect your take on this but I've got to look forward not back.
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<p>Oh, I hear you! </p>
<p>Believe me, I'd be doing the same thing were I in your shoes. Don't take my thoughts on this as anything resembling a discouragement of what you and your son are doing.</p>
<p>I wish you and yours the very best. Go get 'em!</p>
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I'm sure there is someone out there who will say "Don't even try".
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<p>Bull$hit! I'd rather you and your son try and fail than spend the rest of your lives wondering, "What if?"</p>
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My experience is that, absent a reg in black and white, all things are possible.
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<p>And sometimes even WITH the regs! Alan Shepard (USNA grad) was told he'd never fly in space again after his ear infection. Not only did he fly again, he walked on the moon!</p>