My daughter is a senior in high school, and has issues with executive functioning/ADHD and listening processing issues. Willing to work hard and has a 3.3 GPA. She was a varsity athlete throughout school, so this probably affected her GPA. Any experience in schools that provide some support for kids with learning differences on a mainstream campus?
She has been accepted to the following schools:
App State (NC) – have applied for the ASUR program for exec functioning support, but has been accepted at the school
Belmont College
Berry College
Western Carolina
UNCG
Have applied to UNCA, and am wondering if anyone is familiar with this school and if it’s a good fit for kids with learning issues? Their academics seem rigorous.
She wants to major in creative writing/English.
Thank you for any advice.
How is she at self advocating? Many of the schools have great ADA offices and Academic Success Centers; the problem is getting the students to use them. Have you checked out UNCC? Not sure if the campus is too big compared to UNCA or Western, but it’s pretty similarly located in Charlotte as UNCG is to Greensboro. Here’s a link to some of UNCCs ACS tools like PAC (Personal Academic Consultation). I have friends with students with a variety of diagnoses like ASD, ADHD and GAD who are working with each school’s ADA and ACS offices; none enrolled in special programs, but all are doing well at App, Western, UNCA, UNCG and UNCC. The biggest hurdle was getting them to go; some chose to try 1st semester freshman year without any services or accommodations. They ended up needing to regroup 2nd semester, but they’re figuring it out now.
“UCAE | University Center for Academic Excellence | UNC Charlotte” https://ucae.uncc.edu
Thank you for the info. You have guessed correctly … being afraid to ask for help is her weakness, for fear of “looking stupid in front of other kids.” It will be interesting to seek what happens her first semester, and will check out UNCC.
Hey, I’m in NC, too. I don’t have specific experience with learning accommodations in college since I don’t have college student yet, but I do have a junior who is looking to major in Creative Writing so I thought I’d poke my nose in.
If she’s interested in Creative Writing (my DD22 is, too) and she is open to a women’s college, I’d urge her to check out Hollins in Roanoke. It is now my DD22’s number one school in the US. (She is still aiming to go to university in the UK or Ireland. ) Hollins has an amazing Creative Writing program and there are all sorts of different young women there. I had some preconceived notions about a women’s college (my sister went to Meredith), but it seems like it could be a good fit for my creative, non-conformist, and they do have a program in London if she ends up staying in the US instead of doing her whole university experience in the UK. I don’t know specifically about Hollins’ supports for ADHD, but it is a small school and seems like they really try to get to know the students and want them to succeed. Worth a look. One of my DD22’s best friends is a quirky, friendly homeschooler and she feels right at home there and is planning to enroll in the fall. They would be happy to talk to you. I get email from them quite a bit. Actually they are having a virtual visit next Weds. Got the notice in one of their emails.
I have heard good things about Roanoke College, too, and their writing program. (Roanoke is coed, btw.) Not sure on their supports, but I think a smaller school might be better for a lot of ADHD kids. My older DD19 has some challenges, mainly anxiety but it can manifest itself in ADHD/executive functioning issues, also. We had her at a small charter school for high school and that worked for her. She ended up taking a gap year after graduation and then a second gap year this COVID year, but has matured a lot and is working now.
I think UNC-A seems like a nice small school. If she got in App I’m sure she could get in UNC-A. I think App is supposed to be the harder school.
UNC-W also has a good Creative Writing program, but it didn’t have a good feel for my DD22. She likes mountains and is not so much into hot beach weather.
Sorry I’m not more help with specific learning supports, but hope you find the right school for your daughter.
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