<p>My child 's has ADHD (mild inattentive) and will be a senior. Only requires extra time for tests and tutors. Is very self directed and has great self advocy skills. Student is a B student now (still waiting for the SAT exam from May), and will likely improve grades for senior year. Is a very active engaged student with very interesting and different ECs)</p>
<p>Has taken 10 yrs to diagnosis ADHD--but with medication during past 1 1/2 yrs, grades have improved from C minus and C's to B's. (If only a mother's intuition would be listened and responded to by educational and neuropsychiatric evaluators--I am so upset and angry that it took 10-15 yrs to diagnosis, after 3 separate $1500 evaluations!!!--but that is another story. </p>
<p>Child is interested in warm climate schools--prefers California and Florida--but willing to look any where warm. As a parent, I want to be very broad minded and would love to know of great schools with services, etc that are urban. My kid thrives with the stimulation of a city (will not have a car during college). A sunny climate helps mood, attitude, and grades have always been best in the fall and spring. My child does not want to "feel different" and wants to blend in with the rest of the students--but as a parent, I want my child to have the support needed. I think that a tincture of time will make my childs educational life better.</p>
<p>For those with kids with ADHD how did you do your search? Any websites or chat-rooms that are helpful? Are there any private tutors with real expertise in this area? (Seems like any one can post the $100-400/hr rate--with no real expertise)</p>
<p>Besides looking at colleges--what else, or who else did you seek on the college tour?</p>
<p>What are the merits/ pros/cons of having the GC mention the ADHD diagnosis in the cover letter or GC recommendation. Does the child need to talk about it as a part of the essay?.</p>
<p>Any words of wisdom for college load? Can you ask a college (once accepted to consider a 5 yr program?</p>
<p>I would love to hear stories both positive and negative about what happens in college with ADHD kids.</p>
<p>What other pearls or things to consider in the college search?</p>
<p>We didn't really consider it in the search- daughter wasn't diagnosed formally until 11th grade. SHe had been tested earlier but as her private school had small classes, extended time on tests and allowed her other accomodations in class ( like permitted her to draw on her papers while listening to lecture, when they wouldn't have allowed others) she didn't really need anything else.</p>
<p>Her first choice school was Evergreen, it would have been instate, we thought the structure of the seminar classes as well as the thematic approach would help her to stay focused and do well. They also have access student services for students with disabilties and key services for minority students including first generation.
I don't remember if she mentioned her LDs or ADD in applications, although since that was something we asked about when visiting I am sure it was noted.
If he is interested in Ca he may want to check out Oxy or Pitzer, students we know have attended those schools with good results ( with ADD)
My daughter ultimately ended up at Reed. Not noted for support services however we were comfortable with the services offered before she applied. There is an ADD support group on campus which she co-leads, very empowering for her. Also they have a coach who meets with students individually and seminar classes along with untimed tests in many areas makes it a good choice for kids with ADD who don't mind working their butts off and who are willing to learn how to pace themselves.
I don't think the child needs to mention it- I think you can assume that every school will have some type of access services, but by asking about those services the school will let you know what documentation they want and how they can help</p>
<p>We have an ADD son. We searched Peterson's guide to schools with learning disabilities programs. Yes, there is such a guide. You need to go to your local bookstore. </p>
<p>Evergreens is a very well known school if the disability is very severe. However, there are other schools that you should consider.</p>
<p>My son attends Fairleigh Dickenson in NJ. I can't recommend this school enough. It has a beautiful campus, lots of major options and a fabulous learning disabilities program. My son goes there several times a week for tutoring,which gets phased down as he comes nearer his senior year. However, even as a senior, he has some tutoring and support. </p>
<p>He has averaged over a 3.3 there! It has been a godsend. Another very good school is Adelphi University in NY. Check out these schools.</p>
<p>High praise for Curry College in Milton, MA. Just south of Boston. About 1600 students. Great majors, beautiful campus, excellent faculty and one of the most well-regarded programs in the country. </p>
<p>I have no idea about particular schools with services, but I would investigate colleges where your child will be able to find tutoring help, and where professors, rather than TAs teach, and where class size tends to be small. You can find such schools with undergraduates hovering around 17,000 students. From what I have seen when you go a few thousand more it becomes less personal and difficult to navigate ones needs. This is solely my opinion.</p>
<p>As you describe it, the ADHD does not sounds so severe that it should be the dominant consideration in college selection.</p>
<p>Nearly all colleges have some sorts of accomodations for people with disabilities, including ADHD. The challenge is to discover where you child fits within the academic expectations, given current ability to focus, study, and get work done. Many, many places have tutoring services for students who are having trouble, many have help with recording lectures, note-taking, etc. Some basic information is available from the Princeton review site. Then look at each college website. </p>
<p>The best person to ask about mentioning the ADHD in the application is your GC. In general I do not approve of telling people about private medical histories unless necessary, so think of it beyond admissions strategy. Providing medical information within the context of treatment and accomodations invokes a formal set of privacy protections. Telling people who are not so constrained sacrifices privacy, with little gained.</p>
<p>Although most colleges have students who take 5 years to graduate, some permit reduced course loads or part time status only grudgingly, or not at all. If your child would need this, then you want to avoid places that require all students to be full time, and set high minimum course loads. If she/he is a B student with medication and standard accomodations, then being a regular full time student could be a perfectly reasonable option. It is easy to find out a particular college's standards on part time and course load without explaining why you are asking. There are all sorts of reasons to take a reduced load, most often to make employment possible for those who need the money.</p>
<p>I assume you know by now that ADHD is extremely common, and every college has lots of students with this condition.</p>
<p>I don't have specific experience but I've heard that Clark is good. I know a girl whose parents are pressuring her to go to Harvard (she's a freshman in high school and they have this all planned out) but they are very happy with her ADHD brother going to Clark, and he is also very happy there and they ahve good support.</p>