Hello,
I am a junior with aspects of being a lawyer. My freshman and sophomore years were horrible GPA wise. I had a 2.8 both years. Over this summer I was diagnosed ADHD after four years of being diagnosed depressed (exact opposite). During the time of my misdiagnosis’ I was being treated with anti-depressants making my grades tank to the all time low of 2.8. Now that I have been treated with ADHD medications, I am pulling off a 4.2. Is there anything i can do to fix my doctors mistake? (grade-wise) Will colleges be understanding about a situation that of mine?
Are you a junior in HS or a junior in college?
If you are a junior in HS - it won’t matter by the time you finish your college degree and apply to lawschool. They will only look at your college GPA and your LSAT scores. In fact, I have heard that it is better to go a middle-of-the-road college and ace a high GPA than go to an elite college and have a slighty lower GPA. So - if this is your situation, with your rising trend in HS GPA you should be able to get into a really solid “middle of the road” college that is a strong fit for you. I’m not saying you can’t get into an elite college, but just know that it might not be a fit for you in other ways.
As for essays to explain the ADHD - don’t think of it being a “doctor’s mistake” that needs to be fixed… it sounds like you are blaming doctors (ie: that you are still mad…while what you feel is up to you, it just doesn’t make a very good essay vibe). The reality is that everyone has some adversity and you should frame it as being <em>lucky</em> to have had it discovered and <em>successfully</em> treated.Talk about how you have succeeded over adversity rather than pointing fingers - mention the wrong medications issue in a neutral way and refocus the essay on how you handled the situation and are successful <em>now</em>.
Yes. Most colleges will be very understanding, especially if your GPA grade trend upwards continues/remains.
Haha I feel your pain. Was just diagnosed for ADD about 2-3weeks ago.
The pyschologist was amazed that I lasted so long.
I’ve talked with a few counselers/etc. and if you from now on get really good grades/etc. then yes colleges will be veryyy understanding. If you really try, I don’t think you will be excluded from top-tier colleges (that would except someone with gpa 4.2 all years). That is IF you talk to your counselors and get tested into your schools learning difficulty/disability program. In your college essay- you will need to explain the situation.