USC if you are ADD

<p>Is a student who has chronic organization problems doomed at USC? I wonder if the difficulty level of most classes is much more than say at a flagship state univ.</p>

<p>I am feeling nervous about my S (who isn't even accepted yet anyway), since keeping up with homework is not his best thing. He has been able to skate by somewhat in high school due to his natural intelligence, but I'm not sure that will be enough at USC. I am wondering if he should choose an "easier" school even if he's accepted at USC.</p>

<p>As a parent we want what is best and most fulfilling for our children. Your son will get a great education wherever he goes to school. If you feel that keeping up with the demands of a school like USC may discourage him to be successful and participate in school activities (club, organizaitons etc.) then maybe a flagship state univ woul be best. Everyone wants to feel fulfilled and accomplished without feeling overwhelmed. Feeling pressured will only make him not succeed and not get involved. When a person feels successful and confident they are more likely to venture out and explore (learn new things) because they have confidence. Just my opinion. Best of luck!</p>

<p>My son has ADHD and attends USC. He is also a kid who pretty much skated through high school using his natural intelligence. He's pretty much doing the same thing at USC. He had a little trouble first semester due to juggling frat pledging and the new demands of college but after that he was fine. And he's still pretty disprganized though getting better. USC also has support services for students with ADD - though my son refuses to take advantage of them. I would say the difficulty probably depends on your selected major. I've heard engineering and some of the sciences are very demanding. My son is majoring in the humanities and the work load seems to be very tolerable for him - he has time for lots of outside activities as well. And as I said USC has academic support services - a student just has to take advantage of them.</p>

<p>I don't believe in ever letting your kids take the easy route. If he gets in, don't let that be his decision-making strategy. College is the time for those kids with problems like that to figure out how to deal with it (like they will have to do AFTER college.)</p>

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Is a student who has chronic organization problems doomed at USC? I wonder if the difficulty level of most classes is much more than say at a flagship state univ.

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<p>I am highly amused at the assumption behind this statement. If anything, USC is likely to be an utter cakewalk compared to the top 10 flagship state unis for your son. This is particularly the case if you're actually from California. What it sounds like your son might benefit from would be very small LAC type environment with a lot of hand-holding. A top state university will likely chew him up and spit him out, if it's one of the better ones. USC strikes me as a more supportive environment itself, even though it's also quite large.</p>

<p>While BedHead might be exaggerating a little, I completely agree. At a large flagship state university, the kind of personalized support system you'll find at an LAC is nonexistant. It'll be there somewhat at USC, but if he went to, say, Berkeley, don't expect anyone to hold his hand. A NESCAC school might be a better option if he really needs it.</p>

<p>Well, he's not a total basket case, but he makes occasional B's in his dual-credit classes at the community college. Yes, the community college! It's always because he turned work in late and stuff like that.</p>

<p>I guess that I assumed that since USC is large like a big state univ., but is more selective than most of them, then it would just be so very difficult.</p>

<p>Leonine, it was encouraging to read about your S managing well. My S would be majoring in film production if he gets in, so it will be more similar to a humanities major at least the first 2 years.</p>

<p>guitars, I'm not worried about S not participating in enough things....quite the opposite. He's the master of over-committing himself. He wants to do everything! Oh....everything except schoolwork...which can be so boring. (On the plus side as far as admissions go, his EC's are really excellent!) </p>

<p>He is actually doing better this semester in his dual-credit classes. Last semester was not too good (1 A, 1 B, 1 C), and I think it woke him up a bit. He still procrastinates a lot though, and watches way too many episodes of Stargate online.</p>

<p>guitars-- i think your comment about state universities was a little inappropriate. there are 4 public universities ranked above USC, and 13 more within the top 50 schools, and i don't think the demands of each school, public or private, would be that different</p>

<p>svg1990,</p>

<p>You obviously didn't get the tone of my post. I was trying to be encouraging from one parent to another.</p>