My Mom told me I'm too stupid for college let alone Business School??

When I was a kid, I suffered dyslexia and ADHD. Before my physically and emotionally abusive mom left, she swore I’d never accomplish anything with my life, and even if I got into college I’d inevitably fail. Since then I’ve been driven everyday to prove her wrong by one day getting into UPenn/Stanford/ or Harvard Business school. I’m currently a Junior at a top 30 school, and I’ve got about a 3.88 GPA. I’ll begin my first internship this summer at a small Real Estate Investment Firm. What can I do in the next few years to make myself as attractive as possible to those aforementioned schools?

I wouldn’t let her comments define your life. You should see a therapist to help you unwind from this – trust me that 20 years from now you will be glad you did. Do things because you want to do them, and because they lead to an authentic, interesting life. Not because of a parent who treated you badly and deserted you. You will find that it is a pretty empty goal in life to keep trying to prove yourself to someone who didn’t care enough to stay in your life.

I would say that, when it comes time for you to write personal statements to these schools, write them from the heart. Say that you push yourself so hard to succeed because you were told (by your mother, of all people) that you can’t achieve the things in life that you want. However, don’t make it sound like you only want to go to those schools and get a degree to prove something; state it in a way that you make it clear that this is something that you have always wanted to do, and that you have had some obstacles (i.e. your mother and dyslexia and ADHD) that threatened to impede your dreams, but from the information given above, fail to do so because of your determination and hard work.

Also, I am very sorry that your mom said those things to you. Anyone who tells their own CHILD with learning difficulties that they are too stupid college is seriously a very pathetic person. You have obviously proved her wrong 100 times over :slight_smile:

I also agree with the poster above; look for counseling. I know that most (if not all) universities offer counseling services to students for free. It’s not as intimidating as it may sound. Also, look for a mentor when you go off to school, like a professor who you can view as a sort of maternal figure in your life (one who won’t insult your intelligence!)

Totally ditto to @intparent . Was totally gonna say that, but even better. (jk, would not have said it as well. :slight_smile: ) Someone in my life has spent his entire life trying to compensate for struggles early in life (he has ADHD and dyslexia too!) and from having been made to feel less-than. Trust us, it is not a good thing.

You’re doing so well, keep up the hard work. People with ADHD and dyslexia have AMAZING minds. (I have one son with ADHD and one with dyslexia.) (Read, or listen to :slight_smile: the book The Dyslexic Advantage.) You will do well. Just make sure it’s for the right reasons, and that you can live a well-balanced life that is about being happy and successful, not just happy because you’re “successful.”

I hope others will answer your actual question. Sorry.

I agree with others that therapy would be beneficial, but to answer your question, I am guessing that you need to be an outstanding applicant. Good for you for working so hard. Have you been able to develop any relationships with professors? I am thinking some kind of research will be helpful. Take the reins and create some kind of successful venture that will look good on an application. Read up on successful grads of those schools to see what they have achieved. I realize it’s now summer so you are at yoru internship. Do a great job and hope for a strong rec. Maybe consider taking a year off to do something entrepreneurial. Good luck.