<p>If I have OCD and tourettes, but I don't want to use it as my hook on my essay, how do I present it? Is there a special section on the App, and do I have to be (I don't know) registered (is that the right word?) at my school as having it. It's pretty obvious that I have both, but I never bothered making it official at the school because I didn't want some asterisk on my record. Is it a learning disability? And do you think having it will increase my chances at all.</p>
<p>Unless you are going to write your essay about it, I don't think it belongs in your application at all. This is because it isn't a learning disability. Learning disabilities cause people to appear to learn below their IQ level without needed accommodations. Tourettes and OCD don't do these.</p>
<p>I have a learning disability, and I am writing about it in my essay. It is fine for you to do so to. In fact, I recommend it. However, it doesn't belong anywhere else.</p>
<p>Actually it kind of does, alot of times I don't finish my tests on time because I stress out over bubbles and rerereading lines, and reworking problems. In fact, on my SAT IIs, I left about 15 undone on my lit test, and 6 undone on my US History. If I didn't have OCD I'd finish every section of my SATs with 3+ minutes to spare. Instead of having to steal time when the conductor isn't watching just to finish.</p>
<p>Since it has affected your academic/test performance, it's worth mentioning. Does your guidance counselor know? You should talk to them about it, give them medical documentation if necessary, and see if they'd be willing to include a note or mention it on the counselor info sheet.</p>
<p>can people with learning disorders get into ivy league colleges?</p>
<p>GlueEater,</p>
<p>First off, your not alone on this board.</p>
<p>I also live (I don't say I suffer) with Tourette Syndrome and a mild case of OCD.</p>
<p>My TS is a lot more severe then my OCD. My OCD is almost obsolete to someone else.</p>
<p>First of all,</p>
<p>for my TS, I wrote an essay on it. Not because I wanted to use as a hook or because I thought, "Maybe this school has to meet a quota for kids with certain disorders" but because it is something I have truly worked to overcome in my life.</p>
<p>I have worked at a sleep away camp for kids with TS, and have spoken to classes at my school about the disorder.</p>
<p>GlueEater, if you want to talk about TS, see my essay or just wanna talk, feel free to personal message me.</p>
<p>See I don't want to talk to my counseler, because I just never wanted that asterisk by my name saying I have a disorder, especially since I've been able to cope with the slow test taking by doing very well on the questions that I do have time for.</p>
<p>It's only now that I'm desperate for admittance into college that I am willing to admit to it.</p>
<p>I agree. I have OCD as well (doesn't it suck?), and it won't hurt to talk about it at all. Especially if you have an essay describing an obstacle you have surpassed. And since OCD and Tourettes have impeded during standardized testing, I strongly suggest that you should explain what happened.</p>
<p>i have OCD but chose not to write about it (transfered successfully). if your scores and grades are within the range, you could use that space better for whatever other essay topic that would let you come into your own. i second the idea to have some councelor note, medical documentation, etc simply to give the adcom a context to judge your test scores in.</p>
<p>you'll pull through your ocd. the hereditary form comes and goes in cycles for most people, and there are very good medications available nowadays (anti-depressants mostly - i don't know if you already are on medication, if not, feel free to e-mail me with any questions or worries). it doesn't have to eat up your whole identity and life.</p>
<p>the re-doing and re-bubbling everything sucks. my ocd in that one area got weaker three years ago, don't know if i could have gotten through college if it hadn't. in hindsight i definitely wish i'd had the courage to ask for disability services and professional help already back when. you have nothing to lose by coming out of the ocd-closet and getting the help you need!</p>
<p>I have OCD, but fortunately I still managed to do well on the ACT, but if the person next to me had their pencils crooked or something, it would definately affect my performance, so I feel for you there. </p>
<p>I also missed a couple of weeks of school when my Obsessiveness was interefering with my ability to perform at school. I just say a medical issue though...</p>
<p>My OCD really affected my extracirriculars more than my academic performance. I wasn't able to do many because I couldn't deal with breaking from my daily routines and how am I supposed to help someone else when I am so uncomfortable? I haven't really mentioned it so far, but if a scholarship comes down to my lack of "leadership or involvement," then I guess I would have to mention it. I don't want it to sound like it's an excuse, but that's really what it is. Tough situation.</p>
<p>Scout213- Did you work at the camp outside of Chicago? My nephew worked there this past summer! He wrote about his TS/OCD because it is an important part of his life and he has spent many hours at the state and national level educating others about TS. His schools have known all along (had to) and have supported him. It DOES affect your testing to a certain extent, and while he only needed minor accommodations through school, the assistance he did get was necessary.</p>
<p>I live in the DC area, but great to know that TSA is making strides accross the country!</p>
<p>Ok I have a few questions, what are some things you guys do to cope with the OCD and tourettes? I was just taking a practice SAT lit test today, and with the obsessing I only got to 53 of the 62. Which means that even with ZERO wrong I'd still only get a 740, needless to say, I did not get everything right. The OCD seems to be much more apparent in the SAT2 Lit test, than in other SATs. So what can I do? </p>
<p>I've heard that some colleges have become wary of applicants who get extended time because so many are exploiting it. And I still kind of don't want to, just because I'm in my senior year and have come to close to dealing with this entire thing on my own. This is really frustrating.</p>
<p>And about explaining, where would this go if not on the essay? I think for the UCs there is a section for 'extinuating circumstances' this year, but I don't know how much weight a free, unregulated section like that would have. I'd expect most people are exploiting that as well.</p>
<p>And could someone please elaborate on that part about the counselor info sheet. Is this sheet on every college app, or just some? And what if I'm applying to multiple colleges (lets say on average 1 student applies to 4 colleges, multiply that my 200 students) wouldn't that mean that the counselor has to fill out 800 counselor info sheets?</p>
<p>How do I go about asking my counselor for things? Because I really dislike being in the counselor's office, I get the feeling they don't want me there. How would the note go to my colleges? </p>
<p>Please, anyone.</p>
<p>Sorry. I didn't have the right impression of the disability. I have a very mild version of Aspergers. (The impact mine has on me completely pales in comparison to others, and is nowhere as severe as normal) However, it still impacts my performance though it still isn't strong enough to constitute the use of medication. I also have a visual tracking problem.</p>
<p>The fact that colleges look down on you for taking extra time is a complete lie. In fact, the score report colleges receive look exactly like the others, and have no mention of any sort of accommodations. The only way the colleges know, is if you tell them. And if you tell them, they WANT you to have the accommodations, because they would eventually have to give them to you if you are admitted. The accommodations on the SAT would show the college how well you will truly perform there. Declining them can only hurt you. Personally, I don't see how people can exploit extra time. Proper documentation needs to be provided to SAT/ACT and they have specialists that look over it word-for-word and make decisions on what you get. Colleges don't have anything to worry about there. Actually, I get less accommodations from ACT/SAT than I do from my own school!</p>
<p>I am not sure about a lot of colleges, but if you can work it in as your essay topic, that is excellent. If you can't, I am not sure what I can say to do. I know in Florida where I live, all the public colleges (UF FTW!) have a special checkbox on the application where it gives you the decision whether or not to disclose your disability, and they swear it can't hurt you in anyway. (But who knows for sure) Basically what it does is that you send your documentation in with your app. Your entire app then gets diverted AWAY from the admissions committee, and goes to the department for students with disabilities at the school. They then look over your documentation and application, and give advice to the real admissions officers over if you should be admitted. Basically, it is your chance to claim that your disability impacted your high school career, and for the college to look past some of those deficiencies while reviewing your application. I'm going for it!</p>
<p>Also, for your counselor, just give it to him/her. It is their JOB to fill it out. Don't make a big deal about it.</p>
<p>Tourettes is a mental/neourological disorder. I’m pretty sure you can get extended time, but I wouldn’t unless it’s really bad. In order for it to be considered a disability, you need documentation from a doctor, preferably a neourologist</p>
<p>^The OP was writing in 2007. S/he has been in college for years now. But it’s nice of you to try to help.</p>