My ADD dd is in her 4th year, and was finally diagnosed and put on Adderall just before Christmas. For the first time in college, she doesn't struggle for every grade. She is also using the free counseling there at the university. Do you have someone really grounded and supportive in your life to vent to?
If you start falling behind in a class--talk to the prof immediately and sign up for tutoring, get extra help, etc--DON'T put it off--my dd did this more than once and it was very stressful dealing with the failed class, effect on GPA, academic probation, etc.
Otherwise, I think Glen and Max gave you some great advice. Have fun, and best of luck!
Think positive you can do anything you want once you put your mind to it. Go in with the positive attitude and nothing negative.Congrats on starting school. It can be such an exciting time. It's great you're going into this with your eyes wide open and planning for how you will manage. Like Glen I was also severly ADD during my college years. It took me 7 years of full-time enrollment to get a four-year degree.
A couple of things come to mind for you to consider.
- If you are highly impulsive keep a watch on that. You will be in a number of new situations (meeting people, classes, location, etc) so go slow and try not to instantly react. Often first impressions are defining for others so do what you can to ease into new relationships.
- Investigate what your university does to support students with ADD. Is it accepted? Are special considerations offered? I met someone recently who told me about how he was failing every class in a local school and mentioned one day to his guidance counselor that he was ADD. The counselor immediatly notified his teachers and as a result, he was allowed extra time for test taking and allowed to take tests in an empty room. In two semesters he went from almost dropping out to the deans list.
- Be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY organized, especially until you get a handle on everything. Being overly organized will help reduce falling behind.
And lastly ... have fun. It's special time in your life so enjoy it.
Best of luck!
First of all congratulations! It's a great place to be - I miss it sometimes and even though I had full-blown ADHD it was well worth the effort when I went about 20 years ago.
Meds really help in an education environment. Get in with a psychiatrist who understands adult ADHD to get you the help you'll need.
I know that in the UK they seem less likely to prescribe meds and that's too bad. If you can't get on meds you can try what I did - lots of caffeine during the study times. I used Jolt Cola which had double normal caffeine and it kept me riveted for about a half hour at a time. Just enough to get the info into my skull lol.
There are many good stim drinks available today - Red Bull, Jolt - my new favorite (not just because I work for a Pepsi company now LOL) is Mountain Dew Energy. They all can help when meds aren't available.
Also, the more you want this the easier it is on your ADHD. If you hate numbers and are going into accounting you may not be able to cope. Just a reminder that ADHD is self-defeating sometimes.
Best wishes to you! Check into therapy - it helps build skills that may be good for you.
hey all,
i am starting university in september hopefully which is a huge achievemnet for me as well as a huge challenge and im rwally getting worried and stuff.
do you have any advice on anything at all to help me?
making friends? keeping friends? tell teachers? accommadation?
please reply
confuzzelled xxx
Best of Luck on all your exams! Do you get any accommodations on exams? I am not familiar with the UK system. I replied to your post on another forum.thank you for your replies.
i am said to be severe adhd and so i am already medicated even though prescriptions are harder o get hold of in the UK.
im struggling in college at the moment (college in UK is sixth form year thirteen) because all the exams are coming quick and im really finding it hard to keep focused and on task in my lessons.
thanks lots again.
confuzzelled xxx