Background/super-story: I suffer from chronic migraines (fifteen or more on my worst months) as well as epilepsy. My life is organized around what my parents call the “migraine (&seizure) superstructure”-- meaning I must prioritize my health above all else. My parents and I try every imaginable plan for my health issues: I live in hospitals and migraine clinics, I take several meds a day, get acupuncture, visit a therapist, and I exercise/maintain an otherwise healthy lifestyle. I’m know these are privileges and that many who are chronically ill do not have access to said resources. Regardless, most days I wake up to a throbbing head, uncontrollable vomiting/nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to lights/smells/sounds, and visual disturbances that keep me in bed. I cry so much bc I’m in pain all the time and absent from school. I barely have any friends aside from those on my debate/ tennis team (& I’m afraid that I’ll get an episode in front of my friends &scare them). The seizures are less of an issue, though I am equally afraid by both problems.
Due to all of the above ^, I have had to drop several classes without penalty. Additionally, in the classes I don’t drop, I have not received outstanding grades. My gpa is below average while I scored a 35 on my ACT. I scored 5s on all of my AP tests because I studied tirelessly (excluding Calc (3). Extracurriculars include debating at local & national levels, tennis, president of two clubs, and a once a week volunteer commitment. In regards to the EC’s, I have struggled as well. Ex: I would have a headache for an entire night and have to cancel. I have gotten several concussions because I would get an episode and drop to the ground without being able to react. For clubs, I delegated on sick days. Beyond letters from my doctors, how could I ever prove that I am worth a spot at any college? I do not even know that I could! I have a firm grasp on the subject material of the majority of my classes, but how would they know that aside from test scores? What if my health never improves? Is there a point in applying to competitive schools? Is there a point in applying at all if my issues would not be considered? I feel completely hopeless. The schools I envisioned attending as a little kid were renowned and full of opportunities. My family are all alumni from Ivy League/Pomona College & I grew up in an environment that fostered learning from every experience. From migraines & epilepsy, I found strength and realized that modern medicine fascinates me. But how could I ever achieve my dreams if my gpa is absurdly low? Should I be realistic & just go to community college? My plans seem like a fantasy now more than ever. If anyone has an encouraging (or just realistic) experience tht parallels mine or advice, please let me know. :(( I can’t live without hope for my future.
You are not the only student with severe chronic health issues. Some have been sucessful in the kinds of institutions that you are dreaming of. Others have followed different routes. As I’m sure you have already heard a million times, the most important thing is to figure out how to lead your own healthiest life. With that in mind, be sure that your 504 plan is up to date at your high school, and that you speak with the disabilities office at every college and university you consider attending.
Among others, two folks here to keep your eyes open for are @HImom and @romanigypsyeyes They will have useful ideas for you.
Wishing you all the best!
I sent my oldest off to college with years of not feeling well everyday and a suspected autoimmune disease.
We decided to keep her within a few hours drive and we got a pricey student insurance plan that would cover her where she was living because our insurance had limited providers in that area.
While she was looking at colleges, I made calls to the disability offices, mostly because she has a leaning disability, too. Those calls gave me a good sense of how helpful the disability office staff would be.
My D actually chose the college where I had the best impression if the disability services staff, but for her own reasons. Those people never let us down.
When D faced a serious medical crisis in her sophomore year, I was so thankful that the relationship with disability services was well-established. I knew they had her back. She was given an single room the next year at no extra cost. The single room was the best thing ever for her to be able to keep a regular schedule and get the sleep she needed.
It really helped that the college and program were small so the director of disability services and the professors in her program knew her personally.
She was very limited in her college choices because of an unusual major and none were particularly selective. It turned out to be challenging enough and any more challenge may have been too much given the medical stress she had sophomore year.
I want to say one more thing to encourage you. Having a chronic condition truly sucks, but it gives you the opportunity to develop a very health lifestyle for body and mind. I saw that in my D but also in my children’s friends. The kids with conditions that encouraged the kids to live healthy are turning out really well. My D’s program was tough but she develoed great coping skills. As she hit junior and senior year, I realized that many of the other kids who seemed to have it all together started struggling with the stress, whereas my D slowly began to thrive.
I do think it’s possible to realize your dreams, but choose a school where you can get the support you will need and one that isn’t known for overwhelmingly stressful academics. Know your limits and what you need to function at your best and stick to it.
Wishing you a successful college search!
Well @happymomof1 is right. There are many paths to succeeding in college. It sounds like you are doing a lot more than either of my kids could do in HS, in spite of your chronic health issues. Congratulations on your determination and hard work.
Both my kids have chronic health issues that caused each to miss 1/4 to 1/2 of the entire school test, each year of HS. D was forced to leave the private HS after JR year. Instead of going to the public HS for SR year, she opted to take and pass the GED (getting 4000 out of 4000), and start CC. After she completed 1st semester with a 3.8, she applied to transfer at USCal, which was the one U she wanted to attend. She was accepted to start after completing 3demesters of CC. Her HS grades were bottom half of her HS class or lower.
Our S applied to USCal as a HS SR. just GPA was low enough to place him around the middle if his graduating class but he was a NMF. He was admitted with generous merit awards.
He was also admitted at two other Us with generous merit awards. I called each of the Us who admitted him and asked how they’d work with S and us to help him with his chronic health issues, especially if he had frequent prolonged absences as he had in HS. USCal said they had worked with other students and promised to work with him (and later D when she started).
USCal recommended we register the accommodations needed via a letter from our physician to the Disabilities Office, come to campus before move in day and have our kids have appointments with the Director of the Disabilities Office as well as several internists at their Med school to help each child thru any health challenges.
To our surprise USCal was much more willing to work with us than one of the smaller Us we had thought would be more accommodating.
The main thing to do is to work with your instructors and the Disabilities Office and let them know as soon as health issues arise.
Only you and your docs can decide what options are best for you and whether a highly competitive environment would be better than a place that might be somewhat less competitive and more collaborative.
Wishing you the best of luck as you navigate your path. Our kids were thrilled with the education they received at USCal and gave no regrets.