<p>I entered the admissions process last year with near perfect test scores but a relatively poor (25%) class rank. I was rejected from U of Chicago, Harvard, and Yale, maybe in part because the counselor didn't get my transcripts in on time but probably because of my poor grades. I am currently doing a PG year at a CT boarding school. I just found out that I have ADHD-PI, primarily inattentive ADHD, a diagnosis everybody really should have seen coming considering my long history of procrastination and disorganization. How should I convey in my applications that I've identified my problem and I'm working on fixing it?</p>
<p>I apologize for posting this in the wrong forum</p>
<p>You realize you did get rejected from the three of the most selective schools in the country, right?</p>
<p>Who DOESNT have ADHD these days? Jesus…</p>
<h2>long history of procrastination and disorganization</h2>
<p>OH MAN I HAVE ADHD.</p>
<p>Seriously, most over-diagnosed thing ever.</p>
<p>I am aware that those three schools were reaches for anyone, and I’m not completely surprised I got rejected from them. I thought I had a shot because I had a 36 ACT and 2380 SAT, but in retrospect that may have been a bad thing when compared with my relatively lacklustre GPA. As for the opinions expressed by many that ADHD is overdiagnosed or treated as a disorder when it is simply a difference, they have merit. However, I do not think this justifies pigeon-holing every person with such a diagnosis and trivializing the difficulties people with even mild ADHD experience in a society where forgetfullness and inattentiveness carry high penalties. I am highly functional, especially in comparison with other people with much more severe ADHD who lack compensatory intelligence. However, I still have trouble following conversations, remembering things, or engaging in an activity for an extended period without being distracted. While mild ADHD doesn’t mean you’re stark raving mad, people take vitamins even when their organs aren’t on the brink of failure. Frankly, Yakyu’s and amarkov’s comments, which from my perspective indicate a disapproving moral judgment on something that was certainly not my choice, are not what I was looking for when I started a thread requesting advice on an important college admission decision. There are plenty of medical forums where you can express moral outrage at other people’s personal health decisions.</p>
<p>Now would anyone mind answering my question?</p>
<p>My problem is that I have the same problems you describe, and I’ve never seen a need to say “well, I must have a minor mental disorder” to excuse them. Quite frankly, I think it would be better to take the angle of “I’ve had problems getting work done but I’m going to try harder” than “I have ADHD but I’m trying to treat it”.</p>
<p>I appreciate the constructive comment. I do think, though, that promising to work harder is a bit of a hollow gesture to the colleges in question, one that doesn’t indicate anything’s changed. What has changed in an objective way is that the previously unclear problem has been diagnosed as something which can be and has been frequently treated with great success. No amount of individual will power ever fixed a broken knee; why should it fix a psychological problem?</p>
<p>But again, I’m trying to focus on the admissions angle more than the issue of ADHD itself. Further comments should probably go on the thread I’ve posted in the LD, ADHD forum.</p>