<p>Goodmorning,</p>
<p>I am a sophomore with autism (PDD-NOS). Although I will only apply in 1.5 years, I am curious already. Should you mention autism on your application when applying to rigorous (HYPS etc.) colleges?</p>
<p>Personally, I think I handle my autism very well. I have once debated on national television, set up the first autistic MUN-team (and lead it now) and teach at my school. These aren't 'autistic EC's' so I was wondering whether it would help me if I mentioned my autism?</p>
<p>I did, and I got into six schools. Not HYPS but I didn’t want those anyway, don’t need the pressure. But three of my colleges were fairly rigorous, and I don’t think that the AS (in my case) deterred them. </p>
<p>Plus, if they don’t want you just because of the PDD, then do you *really want to be there? I would not want to be somewhere where they don’t appreciate us. I think it’s good to know what they are really like up front, rather than get in, go there, and find out too late you can’t get help if you need it. </p>
<p>I think if you write your essay about it that is the best way to disclose. I wrote about all the stuff I did, and my strengths as well as my weaknesses. If you are honest with them then they will appreciate it more.</p>
<p>I would like to know more about your autistic MUN team! Just from your school? Or from a bunch of them?</p>
<p>Kartwheelie:</p>
<p>If I can be so intrusive, would you mind telling us which schools accepted you and which ones didn’t, as well as posting your GPA, test scores and other information? </p>
<p>Can you also tell us who gave you the best financial offer?</p>
<p>I think it would give us an idea of whether any schools that should have taken you (based on your academic record) bypassed you because you told them about your condition.</p>
<p>I like your approach about being upfront with the schools, but I’m just a bit afraid that a school will bypass my son or grant him less aid/scholarship because he might look like he’ll require more resources. It’s always been a battle gettinig him the resources he needs in our school system because they are overloaded.</p>
<p>I didn’t apply to the Ivy League, but I did apply to some decent schools. I would disclose it.</p>
<p>I experienced enough of the symptoms of Asperger’s to get a “extremely mild, atypical Asperger’s” diagnosis when I was 13. I don’t think I really have any of the symptoms anymore, but in any case, my high school experience was greatly impacted by the struggles with socializing I had. In order to put things into context, I chose to disclose my diagnostic history. Depending on the way you spin it, it can be a real boon for your application or absolutely slaughter it. If you write about how you’ve worked to overcome your struggles, you can come off as an impressive candidate who’s been through a lot and has emerged victorious in the end. I think that can make your application stand out.</p>
<p>But be careful not to make excuses or pity yourself (I’m not saying you sound like this, but this can be a pitfall for people with LD). Colleges don’t want to hear a sob story; they want to hear how you’ve overcome things.</p>
<p>If you’re at all interested in seeing how I framed Asperger’s in my essay, I’d be willing to show you.</p>
<p>I have ADHD, schizoaffective disorder, completely deaf, mobility handicap and severe food allergies and a felony due to a drug possession by try to commit suicide and 3 top universities accepted me knowing all about everything. There were conditions to attend like weekly counseling but the schools saw my grades, test scores, activities, and recommendations. They saw I was over coming the obstacles in my life.</p>
<p>Hi - sorry it took me so long to respond to the person who asked, I had graduation, prom, stuff like that. And I start college in three days…yeah, I am giving up my summer…</p>
<p>Anyway the only college that *didn’t accept me was American. And that is just as well, from all the housing problems I have read about online. I don’t need to go there and be without a place to live in two years. I have a friend who is there now and she is afraid for next year!</p>
<p>There’s not a trick to it. It has nothing to do with SATs etc. When it comes to us, they KNOW we don’t always get good test scores. They want to see what we do in the classroom. </p>
<p>You can see the ones who did accept me on my 2015 post. 
I had a free ride at three colleges - two state, and one private. The other two privates I had down to $10K & $12K a year. Penn State gave me nothing but their acceptance letter. lol</p>
<p>My GPA was 3.59. Not going to post my test scores. They were a non-entity, because I did not apply to ANY private colleges using test scores. The states that accepted me (including Penn State, which is state-affiliated) didn’t seem to care about them. </p>
<p>The states seem to have more going for them for kids with LDs and stuff than the privates. My college has its own Asperger’s counselor. What the privates have going for them is the smaller classes.</p>
<p>Why would you even look at a college that wouldn’t accept someone for the sake of resources? That probably means they aren’t good enough resources to begin with. It’s not the same as high school. You don’t fight for the accommodations. If your son has a good evaluation he should be fine getting services. Did he get an evaluation done this year, or is he going to? If not you have to have the school get one done!</p>
<p>I don’t even mention my test scores. I came out of high school with a 1.01 but scored near perfect and had to take the SATs again. Public school was a bullying outlet for my mates so I lived in the library. I read almost every book but almost failed most of my classes. Having ADHD didn’t help either. Migraine, seizure don’t help either and the medication now effect my performance. Anyway take advantage of the extended test time and note takers. If you have horrid grades in high school just do a year in community college and you can transfer to any college to prove your worth.</p>
<p>Thanks, Kartwheelie. Enjoy whichever college you’ve selected.</p>