<p>Hello, I am a junior in high school, and I need some advise. I have been diagnosed with ADHD and Clinical Depression in just the last month. I started out high school fairly well. After one semester I was 56/698. I did about the same the next semester. I think I got one B and one B+ that year with nothing lower. I wanted to move into the top echelon of students so I took 4 AP and three honors courses the following year. This was a nightmare. I spent about 3-4 hours on homework freshmen year. I found that sophomore year I was sleeping about 15 hours per week, and skipping lunch just to get 30 extra minutes in the library to do homework. I knew that it was a stiff course load, but friends with only slightly easier schedules and had jobs or sports that I didn't weren't spending a fraction of the time on homework. I ended up plummeting in class rank and failing AP Chem. I went into a depressed state, and haven't put forth great effort ever since. I still take a hard schedule, but really only stay there for the kids in those classes, whom I've always been with. I became suicidal as the college applying process drew near, so my mom took me to meet a psychiatrist. They have quickly diagnosed me with ADHD and Depression. After a few sessions with two doctors they concluded that I had been able to compensate for my ADHD pretty well, but as the course load became heavier, I ran out of room to compensate for it, thus causing my "Academic Collapse." This was worsened by the depression that followed after.</p>
<p>Now that I've board you with my sob story here is my question. I haven't yet taken the SAT/ ACT, but my PSAT & PLAN tests put me somewhere around the 80th percentile (and I wasn't on my medicine when I took them). I'm a member of the executive board of student government at my school. I'm on the academic teams, in the National Honors Society, and a member of a variety of other small clubs at our school, and an active member of my church. I am also close to getting my Eagle Scout rank. With all of my extra curricular stuff, projected test scores, I am good a writing essays, and good letters of recommendation, where do I stand, given the transcript issues? Will colleges ignore my bad grades based off of the unfair advantages of spending the first 5.5 semesters of high school living with untreated learning problems? I had hoped to go to some place along the lines of University of Virginia, George Washington University, Center College, or some other place of that nature. Is that now out of reach? Any advise is greatly appreciated, especially from counselors and advisors in this area. </p>
<p>Just remember that obstacles will make you stronger: in your eyes and in the eyes of admission officers. </p>
<p>Being diagnosed will not reduce your chances and might even increase your chances if you describe how you overcome the disabilities to rise above the rest. </p>
<p>Those colleges are not out of reach.</p>
<p>Good luck with your ventures. </p>
<p>Pixie,</p>
<p>You might want to post this in the general college admissions forum or in the LD/ADHD forum; you might get some good advice from a broader group including more adults and parents.</p>
<p>I want to tell you that my D was dx with ADD inattentive at the end of her junior year after she went through a serious major depression. Even though at the lowest point we thought she might not even graduate from high school, she was just accepted at a great college she loves. She did make sure to explain to admissions people about how her undiagnosed LD and resultant depression were the cause of her serious dip in grades sophomore/junior years. After being diagnosed and learning how to compensate, she made honors senior year again. This can definitely be impressive - you’re showing perseverance, strength, etc. If you want to read about her experience there is a thread here: <a href=“Urgent: Smart kid in crisis: tests show high IQ, low WMI- what can be done to help? - Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD - College Confidential Forums”>Urgent: Smart kid in crisis: tests show high IQ, low WMI- what can be done to help? - Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD - College Confidential Forums; (it was started BEFORE her ADD diagnosis, and has her update near the end.)</p>
<p>I think the key for you, now, is to really focus on getting better. Take the college stress totally off the table for now… If it means planning to take a gap year before college - to take the pressure off applying so soon!- maybe that’s a good plan!!! Really- my D had to drop half her classes for the second semester of junior year in order to concentrate on her recovery. We always knew that a gap year might be needed, but it was worth it because it gave her the time and space she needed for recoveryl. She focused on learning coping skills for depression and anxiety (she was seeing her therapist and psychiatrist a couple times a week at the beginning!) as well as compensation techniques for the ADD so you can succeed academically. We hired an ADD “coach” for a couple of months and it was extremely helpful.</p>
<p>I really hope that you will try to put your recovery first. You certainly still have a shot at great colleges, don’t worry.</p>
<p>All the best to you!</p>
<p>Hey, you are doing much better than I ever did. I too was diagnosed with a LD (not ADHD but a LD nonetheless) and depression in late high school, junior year to be exact. Overall, I had about 1/3 of my grades turn out to be Bs, two Cs, five “Pass” grades, and the rest As. I got into decent schools, maybe not the best, but places I’m happy with. I got into UC Berkeley in-state and that’s where I plan to go. </p>
<p>Make sure to explain this situation factually (you did a decent job here… I guess just make it less conversationalist) on your college application. </p>