<p>I'm technically an up coming high school senior (17). Who is hoping for some advice? I have had many challenges thought high school. My mom as had a mental illness for as long as I can remember. Im unsure of the official name basically you sees things different or thinks others are out to hurt her. She has been hospitalized many times thought my life. My parents are also divorced. My dad moved out in middle school but my grandmother had him come back while my mom was in the hospital. He then officially moved out at the end of my freshman year a few weeks before exams. I live with my mom. I also have ADD but am taking no medication or receiving treatment for it. Im also dyslexic. I have always worked very hard for my grades but they still turn out average. I was also sick a lot of time during school. I was sick during 10th grade and couldnt go back because of anxiety and fear of not being able to check up. I was unable to receive credits. In the fall of the junior year I started a online high school which didnt work out. My mom then moved us to a small town about a hour and a half away, but my anxiety was to high to go to school. I started seeing a psychologist and my mom was put in the hospital again. I lived with my grandparents, which was very hard because we do not get along. I started a home tutor and received 10th grade credits my junior year. Im now supposed to be in a GED program but its not official. I have yet to take the ACT or SAT. Do I have any chance of going to a decent college? How would I explain this on a application. I dont know what I want to major in. I'm devoted to attending a college/uni and am will to work hard to get in. My parents are not helpful and Im not close to any family so I have know one to talk too. I hope I dont sound whiny; I am just trying to explain my situation, which is hard because I hide it for everyone.Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this or respond.</p>
<p>You might want to investigate community colleges. In this area, the cc's are excellent. My older D had a weak HS experience. She went to a cc. The smaller classes and support were just want she needed. Costs were very reasonable. She had no problem transferring to a decent university and graduated phi beta kappa within a total of 4 years.</p>
<p>Thank you for your response, but that is actually the last thing I want to do. I have learned thought all of this that I need to get away. Community college would require living at home.</p>
<p>You might get better advice here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=612%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=612</a></p>
<p>This is a CC forum that parents asked for, specializing in ADD and learning disabilities, so you will probably find more people there who have information that will help you. </p>
<p>You could also try looking for support groups in your area for ADD and learning disabilities, or advocacy groups like Families Helping Families. The best advice almost always comes from people who have been in your shoes.</p>
<p>Here's my take on things (bear in mind, I'm no expert):</p>
<p>If you do decide to go straight to community college, I suggest that you self-identify with their office that provides services to disabled students. </p>
<p>They can do an evaluation that will help identify what you need to succeed, will work with your instructors on ways to make sure that you benefit from instruction, and will work with you on problems that crop up as you go. They can also refer you for services like counseling.</p>
<p>But that's not your only option. I don't know if this would be of any interest to you, but....</p>
<p>From what you say of your history, you are probably entitled to services from the public school system to help you transition from high school to adulthood. This could greatly enhance your success in community college.</p>
<p>Some of the services you may be eligible for:</p>
<p>The opportunity to earn credits via a Homebound tutor till you overcame your anxieties enough to return to school.</p>
<p>An individual transition plan (or ITP) to help hook you up with the resources and information you need to move on successfully to college or the workplace.</p>
<p>Counseling for your anxieties.</p>
<p>A resource teacher to help you figure out strategies for coping with your ADD and dyslexia.</p>
<p>Reading aids. A reading aid can be something as low tech as a manila folder with a slit cut in it that the student can put over a page so that they only have to look at one line of text at a time. Or it can be as high tech as software to read text aloud. It would be decided individually, based on the severity and type of text processing problem you have. </p>
<p>Accomodations for your dyslexia. An example of an accomodation I've seen would be having the test questions displayed on the overhead projector, so that the words and lines of text have more space between them and don't seem so jumbled up. Again, this would be highly individualized, based on your specific needs.</p>
<p>Funding from the state vocational agency for college tuition.</p>
<p>Even if you don't stay in high school for the full diploma, these services may be worth pursuing, because it will give you a chance to find out what works for you now, before you move on. However, if you qualify for these services, the school system usually has to give you till age 21 or 22 to graduate if that's what you choose.</p>
<p>It can be difficult to get services for an older teenager. However, unless your parent or guardian has refused services or evaulation for you in the past, you can probably show that you are entitled to compensatory education. (This means that the school system should have identified that you needed extra help, but they didn't, so now they have to help you get caught up).</p>