<p>I have ADHD inattentive & hyperactive which makes it really difficult to complete assignments and stay focused on school + I couldn't afford medication and/or insurance this semester so my grades will not be as good as what people on this site usually consider good grades (3.2-3.5 possible). </p>
<p>I made a goal of transferring to UC Berkeley but my situation is really derailing my efforts of getting A's in all of my classes so I was wondering if working this into my personal statement in addition of maintaining an extra curricular activity I'm very passionate about would help my chances.</p>
<p>I think it could definitely help you. You should include it in your application, just don’t sound like you’re trying to make them feel bad for you. Keep it positive. You know, how you have had to overcome it, what you have learned from it, stuff like that. If you can get up around 3.5 and write a good essay, I think you have a pretty good shot. From what I’ve heard, UCB admissions likes success stories.</p>
<p>+1 to what music said. I work at the Disability Department at my JC and I do believe that having a learning disability does justify lower grades. Not because of one’s intellectual abilities but rather the structure of the college itself.</p>
<p>Do you work with DSPS at your school? Do you have an official diagnosis of ADHD? You should include the struggles and triumphs you have had with your disability, but make sure that you explain what you have done to overcome/better yourself because of it. It is very possible to be successful in college with ADHD, you just have to put forth A LOT more effort than the average college student does.</p>
<p>For example: I have ADHD that severely impairs my executive functions. I have to dedicate 70+ hours a week to school work because it takes me much longer than most people to study and do my work. I have done extensive research to make sure I am utilizing every possible resource I can that will help me be successful in school. Most of the time, my tests are proctored so I can take them in a quiet, distraction free environment. If I am taking a test in a regular classroom environment, I use ear plugs and wear a baseball hat to limit distractions. I listen to binaural beats while studying. These are in addition to medication and therapy.</p>
<p>I earned a 3.5 my first semester back at school without medication, therapy, or any of the above. My second and third semesters, I got earned a 3.7 and then a 3.9 with the above help. Berkeley will take into consideration any adversity you have faced, but any consideration they make will be heavily weighed with how you handled and overcame the situation.</p>
<p>You can’t “justify” getting lower grades, because there are people who get into schools like Berkeley with equal or more serious issues…and who do so with stellar grades. Berkeley might have a soft spot for “success stores” (or so people say), but at the end of the day, grades are still crucial. A true success story would be someone who overcame and achieved despite tough situations, as opposed to someone who just says “well, I have a tough life so…my grades aren’t what they could be…and therefore I should be evaluated differently from everybody else.”</p>
<p>I have known some students who went into berkeley with no ec or anything but a 4.0 so not sure how much they look into essays and personal statements. And Just cause you have a struggle does not make you special from everyone else heck some kids cant even get an education. As oceanpartier said you would need to learn to overcome your situation. Perhaps you should not take a lot of classes if you worry it will affect your gpa. Gpa is the most important factor</p>