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I am the parent of a 9th grader, who was just diagnosed with ADD. She had average grades in middle school (all C's and D+ in science). She just started high school in the fall, and began Concerta (similiar to Ritalin). Her grades are still all C's and D- in Math.)I really don't see a major difference in concentration, or (objectively) in her grades with medication. If her grades don't improve by the end of her freshman year, we may ask the physician to stop the medication. She has a good attitude towards school, is well liked, a leader at her school--but just doesn't make the grades. She has a math and English tutor. She excels in dance, theatre, arts, and Computer (A's). She is motivated in areas like dance, and less than motivated in the core curriculum. I really wonder what type of college will accept her, if she maintains these grades. She is in a private school, that provides a lot of support and encouragement. I have one child who is the poster child for the Ivies and another one, who is a great kid,but marches to a different beat. Unlike her sibling who received a 790 on verbal's on the SAT's and is waiting for ED into Harvard, I don't know what to begin to do to prepare her for college. She wants to go..is interested in business and being an entrepeneur...Are there colleges for kids like her? No one seems to talk about kids like this. Where do we look? Are there "alternative colleges" or even mainstream "top 50-100" colleges that provide help or accept students like this? We are trying to keep her self esteem high. Any suggestions would be helpful. I want to start early in the process.

By Calmom (Calmom) on Friday, November 29, 2002 - 07:54 pm: Edit

Actually, people do talk about colleges for students like your daughter; you can start with Loren Pope's Colleges that Change Lives.

Another book with a good list of colleges that accept mostly B & C students is Marty Nemko's You're Going to Love this College Guide.

One piece of good news for your daughter is that many of the best dance and theatre programs are at less selective public universities. This is partly a function of the fact that a large public university has the resources to support good performing arts programs.

The majority of colleges in the US accept 75% or more of those who apply; there are colleges that go begging for students. They are NOT "top 50-100" if by that you mean schools that show up as highly ranked in US News. But the ranking is determined primarily on perceived selectivity, which is in turn measured by the midrange test scores of admitted students. So if you have a kid with a B or C average and are aiming at colleges that achieve high ranking by limiting admission to A students - well you can see you would be spinning your wheels.

What you should be doing is twofold. One - try to let your daughter take control of the process of learning about colleges and their admission processes. If she figures out on her own, now, that she needs to improve her GPA to get into a college that appeals to her, that might provided motivation - all the parental nagging and prodding in the world won't compare to what a 15 year old decides on her own that she wants to do.

The second is that you and she should be looking at a college that will fit her learning style. For example, if she tends to do well in areas where she is highly motivated, but lets her work slide in other areas, then she might do better in a college with a flexible curriculum rather than one with stringent core requirements.

There are a few places where clusters of colleges with cross-registration agreements allow students admitted to less-selective colleges to take courses at far more selective school. An example is the Claremont colleges, where a student can apply to and attend Pitzer but take classes at top-ranked Pomona.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 09:43 am: Edit

If she's getting all Cs, then the best path for her may be doing something like getting post h.s. vocational training, entering the military, doing Americorps, or going to community college.

Four year college is not the best place for everyone to develop their talents.

Since your daughter is interested in the arts, that also might provide some post h.s. options. For instance, some students who are excellent at dancing audition for Disney and get fulltime jobs as Disney entertainers after h.s. This could be something for her to look into.

While there are colleges with excellent services for students with ADD/ADHD, the student still needs to demonstrate an interest in doing college work, and they need to demonstrate the ability to do that. C grades usually would not be enough.

Since your daughter is interested in business, I'd also help her explore summer jobs that could help her learn about the business world, and I would make sure she took some business education courses in h.s. Also find out if her h.s. has a program in which students can do business internships.

Some ADD/ADHD people are able to go to college and do very well -- with accommodations or even without accommodations. As is the case with other students, some ADD/ADHD people are not interested in college and would do better pursing post h.s. paths in line with their own interests.

Young people who are enterepeneureal and are willing to work hard on their goals can be more financially successful and fulfilled than people who go to college but have no career focus and leave without any job skills or inclination to work. College does not guarantee financial success or personal fulfillment.

Incidentally, I have an ADHD son who is academically gifted. He chose to go to college even though he has always hated formal academics. Despite being one of the top freshman in his college (based on his scores, not h.s. grades), he chose not to return after freshman year.

He is gainfully employed in a professional job that usually one would have to be a colllege grad to land. He was able to get the job because it's in his area of intererst, journalism, and since he was 10 years old, he has been writing for professional newspapers.

That kind of work is great for ADHD folks because it needs to be produced under quick deadlines, and also requires them to do different things every day. ADHD people do not do well in things that are routine. They do wonderfully in work that requires high energy, creativity, and speed.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 09:44 am: Edit

One last suggestion: Look for books on ADHD by Thomas Hartmann. They have lots of very useful info, including about career and educational options.

By Anon on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 06:54 pm: Edit

Landmark College is for LD students, check to see if it offers anything to meet your child's needs.

By q on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 09:33 am: Edit

In spite of my having high SAT scores(99th percentile in verbal, 85th percentile in Maths) and marks(or grades, as you Americans call it), my teachers claim I'm "mildly dylecsyic," primarily because of my inability to spell correctly and write in a legible manner. They also claim that I shuttle between extreme physical & mental torpor and eccentric hyperactivity, and that I tend to get disturbingly obsessive about things; for example, I wrote an essay on 'god as a social evil' and started to preach atheism to my deeply religious peers; I got suspended (and nearly expelled) for doing this, and a few parents threatened to cut my tongue off. I live in Pakistan.

I hold an American passport; I intend to leave this country and never return.

How do I explain my suspention to the colleges I'm planning on applying to? What do I do about the bad reccomendations my teachers are lightly to give me?

By BBB on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 06:01 pm: Edit

If you explain that you were suspended for a theological disagreement (and threatened with bodily harm), the colleges may look on the suspension with less disfavor.

By Calmom (Calmom) on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 06:48 pm: Edit

Actually, g, I think you have the makings of a great essay in your suspension experience. You could write something about how you will relish the opportunity to study in an environment where the exchange of free ideas in encouraged, and contrast that to your own experiences. If you wrote your main essay about that experience, then the ad comms would be very much aware of the environment you are coming from. (I'd leave out the physical and mental torpor part -- you might use more positive words like "enthusiastic" or "tireless" in pursuit of ideas that intrigue you.)

Where are you planning to apply?

By Debbie on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 12:39 pm: Edit

To Darlene: You might want to pick up the book "Learning Outside the Lines" by Jonathan Mooney about his expereince as a student with ADD in college.

Research indicates that siblings are usually within 15 points in IQ. I mention this as you say that one of your children is excelling in school, thus likely all of your children are equally intelligent. Its my belief that abilities that aren't utilized eventually become frustrations. Thus although she is interested in the arts she probably also has some intellectual interests? Is there a way you could zero in on her abilities and interests more accurately? How about testing with a place like Johnson O'Connor research that details aptitudes and recommends appropriate careers? My husband went there in high school and it really helped him.

You have plenty of time to get a handle on this if you can just gather some more information and help guide her the right direction. - Debbie

By Darlene on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 04:51 pm: Edit

Thanks so much for the information. I will add this to my Christmas stocking list.

By Sparky on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 04:26 pm: Edit

Having had experience with a child who was diagnosed with both ADD and mild learning disabilities, I stongly urge you to look further for help. From your description, it sounds like her problems are more likely to be stemming from learning problems than ADD. We had our child evaluated by an excellent neuropsychologist, who provided both terrific insights and advice for treatment. The evaluation was done at a hospital clinic, and our health insurance covered the entire cost.

By Greekgoddess (Greekgoddess) on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Seeing that I am a Sophomore in college and I have ADHD, I thought I would offer my imput. I struggled throughout high school, and had mostly Cs until my Junior year, when I spoke to a tutor and got extra help. I am very much like the daughter that the original poster mentioned. I am into theatre, dance and the arts. I have a current GPA of 2.33 out of 4.0 for this past semester. (it equals out to a C-)I tried hard, but did not take the medication that I was perscribed. I would have done much better, because of concentration. I wouldn't recommend taking your daughter off of medication all together, but I would recommend to you, personally Wellbutrin. It has helped me alot. Besides, she has a few years before college.

By Sheila on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 12:12 am: Edit

My son who has ADD graduated from high school with a GPA of 3.4 and his SAT scores were 600 Verbal, 750 Mathematics and 790 Writing. He was accepted at a competitive college but has been on academic suspension more than once since he finds college life very distracting and finds it hard to manage his work and social life. Despite his good ability to think, he finds it very hard to say NO to distractions and is easily drawn to them. He also got into certain experimental drugs and friends. PLEASE HELP with any suggestions since he want to finish college.

By woninil on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 06:44 pm: Edit

Sheila, my 11 yr old is dx'd ADD and since that child's dx 2 yrs ago, Im pretty confident my high school senior is ADD as well. He has managed though, like your son, to get through high school with little academic effort and above average scores and grades. So we have not pursued a diagnosis

I worry about the same thing happening with him next year. What I see working for him now is EXTREME, almost ritualistic routines. He has to do the same things the same time every day or he 'forgets'. He has actually started a 6 hr sleep period-no exceptions allowed-and this too has helped him organize his day. He says he even has to brush his teeth in a certain pattern. Showering, contact lens removal both have to scheduled and done at a certain time in a certain order or they are forgotten(brain onto other things I imagine)

To me, its weird, but it keeps him on track. I can see where starting college would destroy any program your son may have even unintentionaly had going for him

Perhaps you can get him to schedule, right down to allowing time for partying.

You mentionned work? AS in schoolwork or a job? I find my son does better working at least 30 hrs/week in addition to high school. The pace that would exhaust me seems to spur him into organization. He plans to work through college and we are hoping for a co-op type setup for him.

Is he taking medication for Add? My research when I made the medication decision for my youngest found that ADD kids on meds are LESS likely to use party drugs than those who are not on them. Knowingly or not, they are seeking the brain stimulation and many illegal party drugs provide it for them

Good luck

By Sheila on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 09:12 pm: Edit

Thanks to Woninil for sharing your thoughts.
With reference to "work" I meant school work.
Thanks again.

By Wesdillingham (Wesdillingham) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 02:13 am: Edit

FIrst of all i am a kid with ADD i am planning on attending ga tech. some things that may help from a childs side of view. Tell your kid she is smart, dont portray add as a disease to them. this only made me upset. ppl told me i was different but i knew i was much smarter than them. Control every aspect of her life even if it makes her hate you. i mean it. reward with positive rewards not punishment. i had no motivation. encourage motivation. be careful what you say, never imply that your daughter is less intelligent while she is off the medicine. try adderall thats what i take. and it works..... if your child is smart get good sat's to counteract the grades. also if she is going to get c' she might as well be getting c's in an ap or honors class. anyways just watch what you say........ we are not dumb just suppressed geniuses. also make sure to get extra time on the sat because of disability act. good luck!!

By Wonderin (Wonderin) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:39 am: Edit

Check out Landmark College www.landmarkcollege.org - I don't know anything about though.

My son has ADHD. Elementary years were horrible socially but he managed with my help. In middle school after undergoing evaluation for special ed. at the request of his middle school teachers (because of his lack of organization and poor grades), they discovered to their (not mine)surprise he was gifted. Written into his (gifted) IEP were accomodations for the ADHD. He slowly learned to compensate for his weaknesses. He took Concerta in high school. He graduated from high school 2001, 7th in class - and is a 4.0 physics major in college. He chose a small college with no accomodations (they are available) because of small class size. He is off meds. He hopes to eventually gets his masters and PHD at a larger college. Bottom line: it is up to the kid - success is directly related to self motivation and learning to compensate.