My DS22 really struggled academically and socially freshman year at our local public high school. We tried a small, private school during the fall of his sophomore year hoping this more structured environment would help. Ultimately it did not, so he returned to our local high school after just 2 months. During this challenging time, he was diagnosed with ADHD, and once he started medication things really turned around for him both personally and academically. We are so proud of him. However, now it’s time to begin the application process, and we want to make sure that he presents his situation in the positive light it deserves to be presented in, while also not sharing more than needs to be shared.
My question is around how/where to address his change of school and upward trend on the Common App., and whether it’s a bad idea to include his diagnosis?
I’m pretty sure that the essay is not the place for this. So he has a couple of other places where he could address it if it’s best to do so. In the section where we list both high schools attended, there is a space to explain why he switched schools. Then there is the section where it asks if there is anything else the student would like to share. My gut is to keep it brief in the high schools section. Would it be ok to just explain that academic challenges due to ADHD led to trying a different environment that wasn’t a good fit, and that he ultimately returned to our local HS where, with effort, support, and time, he worked to improve his study skills? Or does it require more of an explanation in the “anything else you want to share” section?
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated!
I think it depends on how much you would like to include about the situation. I was in a similar instance when applying to college and wanted to include more information to the premier universities. So I utilized the “Anything else you want to share” section in my advantage and gave more information not explicitly listed anywhere else on the Common App. If you have a lot to say, in my personal opinion, you should use this section. But if you’d like to keep it brief, maybe try the “why you switched high schools” section. I hope this helps and I wish you and your child all the best on his college journey!!!
That’s true—unfortunately she’s new and doesn’t know him very well, and it’s a big school. Our HS guidance department has students and parents each do a “brag sheet” that the counselors then use to compose their recommendations.
I guess I’m just not clear on whether including information about his diagnosis will benefit him by clarifying why his freshman grades aren’t as strong. Do colleges typically appreciate this context?
I think it did because I was lucky to get into the school I’m planning on attending, especially since I’m an OOS. There’s nothing wrong with saying more and giving an explanation has a good chance of persuading the university to reconsider admitting a student. It isn’t a given but I think it’s worth a shot
In case anyone has been in the same boat, I came back to share how we handled it. DS22 did disclose his ADD diagnosis and treatment in the additional info section—actually he wrote a beautiful short essay about it. Ultimately we decided it was important to give context to his profile, which is complicated. We chose not to share his issues with depression based on advice from a few people we trust. DS was very fortunate that his original GC returned to his school this fall, replacing the one from last year I mentioned who was new and didn’t know our son well at all. I think this has made a huge difference for him in many ways, as he feels very known and supported at school. She was very supportive of him sharing as well.