So I wanted to mention I have ADHD in the additional comments of my grades section because I’ve been able to maintain A’s and B’s in advanced classes but damn, it has been a struggle to do. Like, idk I have A’s and B’s, but my GPA is still lower than the 50 percent GPA range and I feel like it would be something to address since I did not get a complete diagnosis until the very end of my junior year. The problem is I mention having ADHD in one of my PIQs, but it’s mainly in a positive context regarding one of my ECs, which centers around advocating for neurodiversity. Would mentioning that ADHD made it harder for me academically go against my message of embracing my strengths as a neurodivergent person in my PIQ?
How do you think it will help your application? Do you think the admissions officer will look at your gpa and think “Oh, I see, she has ADHD so her grades would have been higher if she didn’t have ADHD”? Do you think the AO will make some type of adjustment?
That’s the only reason I’d mention it, if you think it will get you an advantage. IMO, it will not but you should talk it over with your hs counselor. Often the counselor can mention it and it looks better coming from the counselor, as in “We’ve seen a huge improvement in grades from Catty because she’s been able to concentrate better since starting medication.”
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I would not mention your ADHD to explain grades. Did you start medication or therapy late in high school? If so and your grades went up, that might be worth mentioning. Colleges want to know you can do the work. If meds/therapy helped to that end, then it might be worth telling them.
Overall, excuses aren’t good. Explanations are better, but the challenges you faced need to have been addressed in some way.
I would say no, don’t mention it, with that caveat.
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You only want to mention your ADHD if you are doing so in a positive light. Not if it will draw attention to grades that are below the 50th percentile. Mentioning it in an essay about leading a group about neurodiversity would be positive. Leave it at that.
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I don’t think UCs accept unsolicited material even from counselors so I don’t really think I could get a statement from her, unfortunately.
You already mentioned your ADHD in your essay. AOs are smart enough to put 2 and 2 together. Mentioning it again makes it sound like an excuse.
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Since you mentioned ADHD in one your PIQ’s, do not say anything more in the Additional comment section. If the UC’s want more information, they can ask for an augmented/supplemental review from a certain percentage of applicants based on these factors listed below. Please note 3 and 4.
- Evidence of focus on an area of special talent which may have limited a student’s time to participate in a broader range of activities.
- Evidence of character traits that imply a strong likelihood of making a significant contribution to campus life.
- Evidence of significant academic achievement or the potential for academic achievement at the University in spite of extraordinary or compound disadvantage or learning difference, or physical disability or other unusual circumstances.
- Evidence of significant improvement in the academic record accompanied by one or both of the following: (1) reasons for the initial poor performance; and (2) sustained and in-depth participation in educational outreach programs, which demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to succeed academically within a challenging environment.
- Evidence of relative lack of access to, counseling about, or support to take college preparatory, honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes or required college entrance examinations.
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Oh okay, thank you for telling me! I didn’t know about the augmented review questions.