<p>In my Junior year, I was diagnosed with minor- ADD by my psychologist. Currently, I'm taking Daytrana, which has really helped my focus and attentiveness. I'm fairly sure I've had ADD all my life; extremely hyperactive in elementary to middle school, recommended to be held back in 5th grade, low high school GPA (2.65, 3 D's, retook them all in summer school) .</p>
<p>This year (Senior), I feel that I've almost gained complete control of my ADD. I've never had a >3.00 GPA or taken AP classes, but I'm now taking 3 AP's and predict my GPA to be around 3.50-3.70. And my SAT scores are quite decent as well (IMO), 2020 on the SATI, 640/620 on SATII's. </p>
<p>My question is if I should mention my minor ADD in my app or not? I'm afraid colleges will see my low GPA but decent SAT scores and think I'm a slacker. I know not to use the ADD as a excuse, but I feel it would explain some inconsistencies.</p>
<p>^
see my thread. i'm in a very similar situation, since i was diagnosed with a learning dissability at the very end of senior year in high school. i'm now in college getting all A's and A-'s (and my university is supposedly known for grade deflation). now i want to transfer and don't know how to present myself. </p>
<p>i don't really really know what to do either. make it a part of an essay? have a reccomendation letter about it? it's a tough call.</p>
<p>Pan....I think you want to start a new thread. Look to the left side of this page and click "College Search", then look for and click "new thread" at the top. Good luck.</p>
<p>Have your guidance counselor add a letter in your application saying that once you were diagnosed with ADD and got on medication, your grades skyrocketed to where they should have been all along. Kind of an explination for <3.00 performance prior. And ADD isn't an excuse, it's a viable reason for sub-potential performance. </p>
<p>I had some medical difficulties in my junior and senior year and grades / course load suffered. I had my guidance counselor write a letter explaining that. I have no idea if it made any difference, good or bad, on my application, but I know I would have felt uncomfortable not explaining the drop in my performance. Ultimately it's up to you, but it sounds to me like you want your grades explained. This is how I would reccomend doing that.</p>
<p>I put my LD in my application by writing an essay on it. It not only brings it to their attention, but it works out as an excellent topic! Better yet, in Florida, when you apply to a university you can check a box to be given "special consideration." Basically, they take your application to the disability services dept. and they give the committee a few recommendations on what kind of impact the disability had on your performance, and if it should be taken into account during review.</p>
<p>I think it can only help you by giving the colleges context to understand your scholastic performance. Some colleges will have a section of the app where they ask you if there are any issues that they should know about (illness, death in family etc) and that would be a place you could mention it.</p>
<p>i can't think of any colleges (though apps may have changed in the last few years) that have that section, but if htey dont have that section, there's nothing from stopping you from including a letter from a doctor or school guidance counselor that explains it.</p>