college application essay adhd

How I owned it: 3 college application essays

By The Understood Team

Many students (and families) wonder if it’s a good idea to disclose their learning and thinking differences in their college application essay.

Whether to disclose is a personal decision. But for these three students, all mentors with Understood founding partner Eye to Eye , it was a positive move. Here are portions of their essays, and their thoughts on how the process of writing about their differences changed how they see themselves and their challenges.

1. Brittain Peterson, senior at University of Denver

Like most people with dyslexia , I have had the inevitable moment of feeling powerless and unintelligent. But I have also had the positive moments of feeling successful and capable.

Compassionate teachers made the reward of being successful so much greater that I came to love school, while the unaccommodating teachers showed me the importance of advocating for myself. My learning difference also taught me to embrace differences in others. Because I have learned to find my own strengths in unconventional places, I have learned the importance of doing the same for others.

Currently, the most challenging part of dyslexia is overcoming the logistics: scheduling extended time for tests, arranging computer access for in-class essays, planning ahead to source books on tape when necessary. I know that I will have to navigate the logistics of college just as I have navigated the logistics of high school.

But, now it won’t be a question of whether I can do it, just of how.

“I think writing my application essay boosted my confidence. It reminded me that dyslexia didn’t define me, but that it described me. It helped me grasp the idea that my dyslexia had taught me a great deal. It also forced me to picture how I would use accommodations in college , which allowed me to picture myself in college.

My essay also helped me to choose which college to attend . I wanted college to be a place to enjoy learning and not be frustrated with it.”

2. Scott Thourson, bioengineering PhD candidate at Georgia Institute of Technology

In college, at age 19, I was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In grade school, my intelligence was masked by my low reading comprehension. I neither fit in with the top students (I could not read) nor with the bottom students (I excelled in mathematics).

Firing spitball guns, among other mischief, was my way of protecting my self-esteem and allowing me to focus on coping with my learning differences in school.

When I was 12 years old, my mother gave me an Electronics Learning Lab. I observed that when I could apply knowledge from my electronics projects to new concepts in school, I overcame my ADHD and enhanced my academic performance.

“One of my mentors told me to always be thinking about my life as a coherent story that can explain and tie together everything I have ever done. Making lists, writing journal entries, creating mind maps, or any way of organizing thoughts and ideas can help bring that story to light.

I chose to disclose my ADHD because I was finally proud and confident in my story. I’m a very open person, so I was already comfortable with putting it out there. What made me feel good was how I put it out there. Having enough confidence in my accomplishments and coherence in my story made me feel a lot better about being me and having ADHD.

I wasn’t nervous about what the reviewers might have thought; I was excited. This was definitely a turning point in my life. It wasn’t until this point that I actually started thinking that I was smart.”

3. Carolyn Todd, sophomore at McGill University

Dyslexia is both a blessing and a curse. I struggle every day, working twice as hard as other students. I get stereotyped as stupid by people who do not understand what it means to have a learning difference. However, I refuse to give up. I have learned the importance of standing up for myself and others.

Being dyslexic makes me able to look at the world and see the amazing potential that exists in diversity. Dyslexia has given me the tools to see the beauty in difference and the passion to change the way we define intelligence.

I want to show the world what I see.

“I chose to disclose in my essay because I believe it’s important to raise awareness about different learners. I’ve noticed that topics of disabilities and mental illness are quite taboo. Not enough people take the time to become educated on what they are and can make false assumptions on how they affect someone. I thought that I could, in a small part, help the movement of trying to change this.

Disclosing in my essay felt empowering. Growing up I had learned to hide my dyslexia, and it felt good to be able to embrace the positivities associated with it and share that with others.

It changed the way I saw myself because it gave me more confidence and helped to reinforce the truth that having a disability doesn’t make you any less ‘smart’ or capable.”

Hear from six students in the Eye to Eye mentoring network on the accommodations that helped them succeed in college .

Read how self-advocacy helped a college student with dyscalculia fight for her accommodations.

Find out how another student uses dictation technology to handle college writing.

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Last updated March 22, 2024

Every piece we write is researched and vetted by a former admissions officer. Read about our mission to pull back the admissions curtain.

Blog > Common App , Essay Advice , Personal Statement > How to Write a College Essay About ADHD

How to Write a College Essay About ADHD

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University Admissions

Key Takeaway

ADHD and ADD are becoming more prevalent, more frequently diagnosed, and better understood.

The exact number of college students with ADHD is unclear with estimates ranging wildly from just 2% to 16% or higher.

Regardless of the raw numbers, an ADHD diagnosis feels very personal, and it is not surprising that many students consider writing a college essay about ADHD.

If you are thinking about writing about ADHD, consider these three approaches. From our experience in admissions offices, we’ve found them to be the most successful.

First, a Note on the Additional Information Section

Before we get into the three approaches, I want to note that your Common App personal statement isn’t the only place you can communicate information about your experiences to admissions officers.

You can also use the additional information section.

The additional information section is less formal than your personal statement. It doesn’t have to be in essay format, and what you write there will simply give your admissions officers context. In other words, admissions officers won’t be evaluating what you write in the additional information section in the same way they’ll evaluate your personal statement.

You might opt to put information about your ADHD (or any other health or mental health situations) in the additional information section so that admissions officers are still aware of your experiences but you still have the flexibility to write your personal statement on whatever topic you choose.

Three Ways to Write Your College Essay About ADHD

If you feel like the additional information section isn’t your best bet and you’d prefer to write about ADHD in your personal statement or a supplemental essay, you might find one of the following approaches helpful.

1) Using ADHD to understand your trends in high school and looking optimistically towards college

This approach takes the reader on a journey from struggle and confusion in earlier years, through a diagnosis and the subsequent fallout, to the present with more wisdom and better grades, and then ends on a note about the future and what college will hold.

If you were diagnosed somewhere between 8th and 10th grade, this approach might work well for you. It can help you contextualize a dip in grades at the beginning of high school and emphasize that your upward grade trend is here to stay.

The last part—looking optimistically towards college—is an important component of this approach because you want to signal to admissions officers that you’ve learned to manage the challenges you’ve faced in the past and are excited about the future.

I will warn you: there is a possible downside to this approach. Because it’s a clear way to communicate grade blips in your application, it is one of the most common ways to write a college essay about ADHD. Common doesn’t mean it’s bad or off-limits, but it does mean that your essay will have to work harder to stand out.

2) ADHD as a positive

Many students with ADHD tell us about the benefits of their diagnosis. If you have ADHD, you can probably relate.

Students tend to name strengths like quick, creative problem-solving, compassion and empathy, a vivid imagination, or a keen ability to observe details that others usually miss. Those are all great traits for college (and beyond).

If you identify a strength of your ADHD, your essay could focus less on the journey through the diagnosis and more on what your brain does really well. You can let an admissions officer into your world by leading them through your thought processes or through a particular instance of innovation.

Doing so will reveal to admissions officers something that makes you unique, and you’ll be able to write seamlessly about a core strength that’s important to you. Of course, taking this approach will also help your readers naturally infer why you would do great in college.

3) ADHD helps me empathize with others

Students with ADHD often report feeling more empathetic to others around them. They know what it is like to struggle and can be the first to step up to help others.

If this rings true to you, you might consider taking this approach in your personal statement.

If so, we recommend connecting it to at least one extracurricular or academic achievement to ground your writing in what admissions officers are looking for.

A con to this approach is that many people have more severe challenges than ADHD, so take care to read the room and not overstate your challenge.

Key Takeaways + An Example

If ADHD is a significant part of your story and you’re considering writing your personal statement about it, consider one of these approaches. They’ll help you frame the topic in a way admissions officers will respond to, and you’ll be able to talk about an important part of your life while emphasizing your strengths.

And if you want to read an example of a college essay about ADHD, check out one of our example personal statements, The Old iPhone .

As you go, remember that your job throughout your application is to craft a cohesive narrative —and your personal statement is the anchor of that narrative. How you approach it matters.

Liked that? Try this next.

The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application

How A Selective Admissions Office Reads 50k Applications In A Season

12 Common App Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

How to Write a Personal Statement for Colleges

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How to Write a College Essay When You Have Learning Differences

Should You Address Your Learning Difference in Your Common App Essay?

It’s a valid question! But in the end, the answer is probably not.

Your personal statement is your chance to speak to admissions officers in your own voice. It should focus on your strengths, background, or goals. We understand why writing about your learning difference might be important to you. But does it define you?

Try to brainstorm a few other ideas before you make your final decision. Is your learning difference the one thing that you want admissions to remember about you? What else drives, motivates, or inspires you? We bet you’ve got a secret skill or passion, too!

Maybe you will decide that your learning disability* is so important for admissions to know that you want to write 650 words about it. Then you have to make another decision…

Should You Write A Personal Statement or Additional Information Essay about Your Learning Difference?

If you want admissions officers to know about your learning disability, you don’t have to write about it in your personal statement. You can write an additional information essay instead. This is an optional essay that you can add to your Common App.

The additional information prompt reads: “Please provide an answer below if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. You may enter up to 650 words.”

The additional information essay is the perfect space to explain personal difficulties like:

• learning differences
• low grades or test scores
• special accommodations like extra time on exams
• disciplinary issues

If your learning difference hasn’t had a negative effect on your life, we suggest skipping the additional information section.

If you choose to write an additional information essay, you won’t have to choose between writing about your learning disability* or a different topic. You can save your personal statement for a more unique topic. Maybe your knack for knitting sweaters for penguins , love for Papa John’s pizza , or deep knowledge of Costco !

What If You Really Want to Write Your Personal Statement about Your Learning Difference?

As we have said, you should only write your personal statement about your learning difference if you absolutely can’t think of another topic! But at the end of the day, it’s your choice.

If you decide to write about your learning difference, then the Common Application’s Prompt 2 is a great option to back your essay into.

That prompt reads: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

This prompt asks for a story about resilience, which is exactly how we think you should write about your learning difference.

How Should You Address Your Learning Difference in a College Essay?

If you decide to write about the learning disability* in your application (preferably the additional information section), you should tell a story of success. Write about a struggle you overcame.

You don’t want your essay to present you as a victim. You also don’t want admissions officers to question your ability to keep up with college-level work. So do not dwell on your struggles or setbacks. Instead, celebrate your solutions and achievements!

A few questions to think about as you write your essay:

• How do you make lemonade out of the lemons that life has given you?
• How has your learning disability* affected the way you understand the world?
• How has overcoming your challenge made your more confident or assertive?

Whatever you write about your dyslexia, ADD, or LPD, we would recommend getting a second opinion before you submit your application. Ask a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or essay expert for honest feedback. At the end of the day, it is most important to tell a story that shows who you really are!

*You might have noticed that we used the terms “learning difference” and “learning disability” interchangeably in this article. The reason we did so is because the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) doesn’t count learning differences or learning challenges as disabilities. In order to receive support, services, and equal access to employment, people need to be classified as having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). More information on this here.

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Written by Kat Stubing

Category: Admissions , advice , College Admissions , Essay Tips , Essay Writing , Tips , Topic Selection , Uncategorized

Tags: add , additional info , additional info essay , additional information , additional information essay , adhd , Admissions , admissions essay , admissions help , application , applications , applying to college , college admissions , college admissions essay , college applications , college essay , college essay advice , college essay advisors , college essay tips , common app essay , dyslexia , learning challenges , learning differences , learning disabilities , personal statement , writing about add , writing about dyslexia , writing about learning differences , writing about learning disabilities

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Applying to College: Use the Essay

To Divulge or Not to Divulge

For students with learning disabilities, there’s the added challenge of whether or not to use the essay to divulge your disability. What if the essay reader has inaccurate notions about LD? Does talking about your disability look as if you’re making excuses?

There are no right or wrong answers. If there are inconsistencies on your transcript due to your disability, the admissions committee is going to notice. Your job as an applicant is to inspire confidence by showing that you are academically prepared and, if accepted, will be an asset to the incoming class.

One way to do that is by using the essay to address how your brain works to your advantage (see below for other alternatives); for example, relate how your dyslexia causes you to “think outside the box” using specific examples.

Should you discuss how you’ve overcome your challenges? Some admissions officers say this impresses them, others say it is hackneyed. Perhaps if you have a particular theme to your compensatory strategies, such as a combination of various technologies, it would make a favorable impression.

Obviously, if you’re applying to a school that specializes exclusively in students with disabilities, divulging your challenges in your essay is safe. Still, forget self-pity, excuses, doom and gloom; keep your essay upbeat.

Essay-Writing Tips

Colleges receive thousands of essays. Your goal is to distinguish yours from the pack. Below are some helpful tips from college admissions officers:

• Formulate your essay long before the application is due. You don’t want the pressure of having to muster extraordinary creativity during a hectic school year. Always start with an outline, then write. Put it away for a few days then read it aloud from a fresh perspective. Now, either edit or re-write it.
• Be honest. Taking an idea off the internet and tweaking it is not original, yet colleges frequently receive plagiarized essays. Many colleges use software to detect plagiarism.
• Be real. Show your personality and passion.
• Be sure your essay answers the question and has a strong thesis statement.
• Make your essay so personal that no one could have written it but you. Its purpose is to allow the admissions committee to see beyond your numbers and get a peek at the positive qualities that make you a student they’d want to accept.
• Use an opening paragraph that is unusual, humorous, or thoughtful—but not overly dramatic. Hook the reader and make her want to read more. Rather than using the concluding paragraph as a summation, show reflective analysis that tells the reader what you’ve learned.
• Stay laser-focused on a particular topic. Admission officers don’t want to read a laundry list of accomplishments, most of which likely appear in other sections of the application.
• Take a risk in your subject matter, but at the same time, make sure it passes the grandmother test: If it’s something you wouldn’t want her to read, don’t send it to a college!
• Use ordinary language. Essay readers are proficient at sniffing out candidates who use the thesaurus to impress.
• Proofread! Remember, you can’t always rely on software for grammar and spelling checks. Ask someone you trust to review your grammar, sentence structure, spelling, and tone.

Finally, while you want to submit your finest writing, know that even students with superb essays can be rejected. Remember, admissions officers are looking at an entire package, and a well-crafted essay can only exert so much influence.

• Use the “Additional Information” section to address your disability and its impact on your grades. Discuss how the accommodations you’ve received, as well as the extra effort you’ve put forth, have helped you compensate. This avoids the scenario of having an essay reader unschooled in the field of disabilities hurt your admission chances.
• Disclose your disability in an interview, assuming the college provides the opportunity.
• Ask that your learning challenges be revealed in one of your letters of recommendation. Someone with whom you’ve worked closely and who has a longstanding relationship with you is a good person to ask. He can address your work ethic and can-do attitude in spite of your challenges, thus inspiring confidence in your application.

Joan M. Azarva is a college learning specialist who focuses on the transition from high school to college for students with LD and ADHD.

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ADHD College Students: Use This Strategy To Write Papers

ADHD College Students : Here at ADHD Collective, we love highlighting the experiences and perspectives of like-minded people with ADHD. Izzy Walker started attending the weekly coworking sessions we launched in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  She showed up week after week and put in the hard work as she neared the semester’s end at University. When she accepted my invitation to share what she learned with our readers, I was thrilled, and I know you will be too. Please share Izzy’s helpful tips in your social circles, if you know a college student with ADHD who could benefit.

ADHD and College

Making it to university was a milestone I often thought I would never make. However, my experience was gloomy. Everything was disproportionately difficult, lectures were a confusing din, and every assignment was a mammoth struggle.

I changed university naively thinking it would be different somewhere else. It wasn’t. But it was there at my new university that my story of hope began, as one friend saw the immense struggle I was having and suggested that it could be ADHD.

This conversation was a catalyst for change, and set the ball rolling for me in my journey. It led to a heck of a lot of personal research, but also a meeting with an Educational Psychologist who after a series of testing gave me the diagnosis of ADHD and Dyspraxia .

When I read these words I felt an odd, overwhelming sense of relief. I wasn’t dumb, lazy, incapable, or ‘just not cut out to study’.

School reports year after year would echo the words, ‘distracted and distracting’, ‘capable but often off-task’, and ‘constantly questioning’. On paper I was doing well, the product of my work was good, so no flags had been raised, but deep down behind closed doors I was not doing well, the process was far from good. This has been the case throughout the whole of my education, and I just put it down to my capability.

Since diagnosis I have finished my 1 st assignment, and then my 2 nd , and then my 3 rd , and I am now looking onwards to my final year before being a qualified teacher. This time with hope and acceptance of who I am and who I can be with the right strategies and support in place.

Here are some that I have found the most game-changing when working on projects/assignments:

Give Yourself a New Deadline

I set myself a deadline a few days (at least) before the actual one. I have a real tendency to be scrambling right to the last minute and this helps avoid a lot of stress.

The whole point of this was to prevent a lot of unnecessary scrambling and stress. This also gave me time to edit (more on that later).

As much as you can, it’s helpful to treat this earlier date as your actual deadline. One way I did this was only scheduling this earlier date on the calendar so it felt more real.

By finishing 5-6 days early, it offered me a  window of time for editing and getting it ready to turn in. It also gave time to improve the paper should I have any middle of the night revelations…which I so often do!

Break Your Paper Down into Smaller Pieces

When I was presented with a 5,000 word assignment I felt immediately overwhelmed. I broke the assignment down into sections and assigned a word count to each one.

when I considered what my paper actually entailed, it didn’t seem so bad. Here's what the requirements consisted of:

• Introduction - 1 section
• Argument FOR - 3 sections
• Argument AGAINST - 3 sections
• Conclusion - 1 Section
• Total length of the paper had to be 5,000 words.

It may seem very overly meticulous, but by spending 30 minutes doing this prevented what could have been HOURS of cutting back word count in the editing stages, and could also run the risk of having no clear structure.

I am a waffler, so without this structure, I would probably have gone WAY over the word limit anyway.

I also went one step further by writing a title for each of the points (on my plan only) and any key things I wanted/needed to mention.

For example, in an assignment on why outdoor learning should be a part of the primary curriculum, my points would be titled ‘educational benefits’, ‘health benefits’ and ‘social benefits’.

The contrary points could be titled ‘behavioural issues’, ‘lack of funding’, and ‘lack of training’. By breaking it down into bite size chunks I felt it was much more manageable.

Focus on One Section a Day

After breaking it down, I dedicated a day to each of the sections. For example, intro – Monday, section 1 – Tuesday, etc.

From my experience, I have found that having a specific measurable target makes it almost like a game. I found it very motivating watching the word count for that section going down as I typed.

By scheduling the sections out and putting them in my calendar, it allowed me to know when this assignment could realistically be finished by, rather than taking a guess and hoping for the best.

When I woke up, I was thinking, 'I have to write 650 words today!’ rather than ‘oh my goodness 5,000 words!?

I would recommend doing this step as soon as you get the assignment and the deadline date…even if you do nothing else towards it, so that you know when you must start.

Set a Mid-Way Checkpoint

it will save you a LOT of time in the editing stages if you do a little editing as you go along. 

With the word count on this particular assignment being so big, I thought it would be wise to set a mid-way checkpoint to read through everything so far and make changes as necessary. 

Normally, this would be done at the end but I knew I would have lost all interest and motivation by this point…so it would be better to save myself such a huge job. This also filled me with confidence because when I was writing the second half of the assignment and needed the extra boost, I knew that the first half was to a good standard.

Do Something Every Day (No Matter How Small)

I’m not going to lie, not everyday was as straightforward as ‘write one section a day’. 

Some days I was crippled by demotivation, lethargy and not wanting to do ANYTHING. 

The key times I noticed this was if I had worked too hard the previous day or if I had hit a difficult part. Believe me, working TOO hard is a THING. 

My biggest piece of advice is…know your limits! 

I’m no ADHD scientist, but I find my brain must be working harder because of the increased effort I am investing to even stand a chance of being able to concentrate. 

Whilst I may feel just about fine at the time, the next day it takes its toll…big time…and maybe the work I did in my ‘overtime’ wasn’t even of the best quality anyway. 

"If you just aren’t feeling it, do just one sentence, or find just one piece of theory. Just do one something ..."

This is another reason why my structured plan was really useful because it prevented me from unnecessarily going overboard…and meant that there was no real reason to anyway as I was already on track to finish on time. 

If it’s the latter reason, that I’ve hit a difficult part, then there is nothing worse than putting it off another day because this ‘mental wall’ will just get HIGHER. 

What did I find useful? If you just aren’t feeling it…do just ONE sentence, or find just ONE piece of theory you just use. Just do ONE something…so then you can feel at least partially accomplished and it’s not a blank section for when you do get back to it. 

Best case scenario…that ONE something, could roll into TWO or THREE or FOUR somethings…and before you know it that section is done. Often it is just starting that is the difficult bit. 

But worse case scenario…you tried and you can give it another shot tomorrow when your brain is a bit fresher. Productive days happen, utilise these and ride the waves…as do unproductive days…don’t allow the guilt to creep in.

Declutter Your Workspace

I even went to the extreme of removing the pen pot off the desk…in front of me all I had was paper, 1 pen, my lamp, and my laptop.

Minimalism has been a saviour for me during this time of discovering what works for me and what doesn’t. I’ve come to the conclusion that reducing physical clutter consequently reduces mental clutter. I also found the inverse to be true too, clearing my physical space gave me mental clarity.

Whilst this is a visible practice in much of my life, it is especially apparent with my workspace . You’d be amazed what I can get distracted by when writing an assignment…even something as small and monotonous as a pen pot!

Firstly…I would recommend to ALWAYS have a work station with a proper chair when you are writing an assignment and never work from your bed. You must set yourself up for success.

Secondly, I have only the bare essentials in front of me…a pen, a lamp, paper, and my laptop. By keeping it minimal it also means it is easily portable if you want to ‘hot seat’ in your own house if you get bored of that scenery!

Use ADHD Coworking Sessions (and the Pomodoro Technique)

At the start of lockdown I stumbled upon a weekly coworking group ran by Adam from ADHD Collective. I can honestly put down a lot of my success to this…it was amazing!

Firstly, I felt so understood because the group was aimed at people with ADHD. This meant that everyone could share their experiences and not feel judged, but instead find themselves in a supportive community where they could also ask advice.

Each session was 2 hours long and attracted between 4 and 12 people, depending on the week.

It would start with each person sharing (with specifics) what task they wanted to achieve within the next 25 minute block.

By being specific it allowed for a strong element of accountability because at the end of the block, Adam, the ADHD coach and group host would check your progress and whether you had achieved what you wanted to achieve.

Working in 25 minute blocks is often referred to as the Pomodoro Technique . Whilst everyone else in the group is sharing their progress, it gives your brain the opportunity for a short break before starting the next block.

By having short bursts of activity I was able to concentrate and thus achieve more than I would have done if I tried to work for hours without breaks.

Additionally, having the accountability was an incentive for me because it was motivation and almost turned it into a game to try and get the activity finished in time.

I hope these college writing tips give you several options that might help you with your ADHD experience.

Now over to you!

Share the tools, strategies, and tips in the comments below that have helped you in your own journey with ADHD and college writing!

Izzy Walker

Izzy Walker is a trainee teacher in her final year at University in Newcastle, UK. When not studying, she can be found on spontaneous adventures, and meeting new people! To follow her as she navigates through the adventures of ADHD, student life, and teacher...find her on Instagram at @if.walker

Thank you so much.

I am an over 50 returning student trying to finish my undergraduate degree. I never knew I had ADHD until I started taking classes that required retention, organizing, and WRITING. At times, I even wondered if I lacked the skills to even finish. I, at times, self sabotage myself of success because of my struggles. I truly appreciate you sharing your experience. I’ve become desperate and will try anything at this point. I’m just glad to know that others understand my journey. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for this! In addition to these, I also find it really helpful to keep a “Random thoughts” notepad near me to jot down unrelated urges as I have them. Things like “refill water bottle” or “text Casey back” will still be there in 25 minutes, and knowing in advance that thoughts like ‘this will only take a second’ are lies makes them easier to put on the back burner.

Wow. Thank you, so much, Izzy. I developed ADHD only 3 years ago from a medication. I also decided to go back to college as a mom of 3 boys and the mental exhaustion and burnout is no joke. Papers have been the most challenging and this is the single most helpful tool I’ve found yet. I could feel the relief wash over me as I read through your guide. I feel inspired to tackle my papers in a new way now.

Hi, I am a mid-career student here going back for an MA part-time, while also working. I’ve never been formally diagnosed, but I tick all the boxes and I know now it is why I struggled with papers in college the first time around and why I developed so many systems to be organized in my work life. Was feeling a little burned out today while writing an academic paper and was looking for advice. I was amazed to see that your system is very similar to what I’ve been doing for myself to get through paper-writing! It’s reinforcing in a very good way. Thank you for sharing this. Best of luck to everyone with finding the solutions and tricks that work for them.

Hi Espy, appreciate the comment. Very cool to hear your intuitive system is similar (nice intuition!). If an additional accountability/community component would ever be useful, you’re always invited to our Wednesday ADHD Coworking Sessions. They’re free and we do them every Wednesday (you can sign up for upcoming sessions here: https://adhdcollective.com/adhd-coworking-session-online/ ). Would love to have you, Espy!

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College Admissions Advice for Students with ADHD and EFD

Applying to college tests all students’ capacity for organization, attention to detail, meeting deadlines, and making important decisions. However, for students living with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and executive functioning disorder (EFD), the college application process can seem especially challenging and even overwhelming.

Nevertheless, it is entirely possible to be a successful college applicant if you are a student with a learning challenge such as ADHD or EFD! Below, we’ve compiled some of our best tips and tricks to make the college application and admissions process as manageable and stress-free as possible for these students.

Start Early

The best gift you can give yourself in the college admissions process, no matter your learning style, is time. This is doubly true for students with ADHD or EFD. If you’re someone who has trouble working quickly to meet deadlines or concentrating on writing or studying for long periods of time, or if you struggle with organization, it’s important to make sure that you have plenty of time to course-correct during the admissions process.

If you struggle with concentration and/or organization, time will help. If you start looking at colleges early on, you can visit them more slowly and take careful notes on each. If you start writing your essays early, you won’t need to be writing and revising quickly on top of all your other schoolwork. Know your limits, and give yourself time to succeed.

Make a Plan

If you struggle with organization and deadlines, having a clear plan for the college admissions process is essential. Students with ADHD, EFD, and other learning challenges around planning and organization will want an extremely clear and comprehensive timeline to ensure that they don’t miss any deadlines or lose track of their goals. Make sure you check when info sessions and tours are, when to sign up for interviews, and of course application deadlines.

As you put together this plan—remembering to start early!—make sure to get advice from parents, teachers, your guidance counselor, and others who are knowledgeable about the admissions process and can help you understand when various tasks need to be completed. Having a comprehensive plan will ensure that the entire process will be smooth and successful.

Get Accommodations for Standardized Tests

Depending on the colleges to which you plan to apply, you may need to take one or more standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT. Students with learning challenges often find these tests to be a particularly onerous element of the application process. Fortunately, the makers of these tests realize that and thus offer special accommodations for students with learning challenges, ranging from extra time to special materials to personal testing space.

Getting accommodations for standardized tests is not as easy as showing up and asking for them, however. You’ll need to provide documentation of your ADHD or EFD from your school or neuropsychologist in advance, as well as fill out a brief application. In general, your accommodations must be approved before you can even sign up for a test date, so start early!

Stay Organized

Having a clear plan will help, but students with organizational and concentration challenges will also want to make provisions to keep track of their application materials. As you get further into the application process, your materials will start to pile up—essay drafts, schedules, test scores, awards, transcripts, and more. Keeping these items organized is imperative to a successful application process.

The best approach for students with organizational challenges is to be proactive. Have someone help you set up clear folders on your desktop for different college admissions materials. Delete or move drafts that become obsolete. Number everything so you know what’s recent. Keep physical materials organized in binders and folders. The more you can minimize clutter and confusing labels, the less overwhelming the process will feel!

Find the Right Schools

Transitioning from high school, where you may have particular support systems or even an individualized education plan (IEP), to college can be daunting for some students with learning differences. For that reason, it’s important that you take into consideration not only how to apply to college, but what schools will offer the best fit for your learning style.

We’ve written at length about what students with learning challenges should look for in a college. Make sure you know what academic resources you need, and don’t be afraid to ask questions as you look at colleges. Finding the right fit is a challenge for all students, but it’s even more important for those with ADHD and EFD to do their research carefully when selecting schools.

Final Thoughts

Applying to college is an enormous and challenging undertaking; for the majority of students, it’s the biggest project they’ve ever completed. Students who struggle with concentration and executive functioning will encounter many of the same challenges they face in school, but magnified to an unfamiliar degree.

At the same time, students who successfully live and learn with ADHD and EFD are in some ways well prepared for this challenge. By using the same coping mechanisms for this process that they do to succeed in school—including starting early, being proactive about organization, and getting the right accommodations—they can have a manageable and successful application experience and minimize the stress typically associated with the college admissions process.

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College, ADHD, and You: Our Best Advice for Success

Student Success

Updated on July 14th, 2022

Getting through college with ADHD is something many students worry about. When students head to their school for the first time, they enter an unfamiliar environment. Plus, they may not have many of the safety nets that were in place at home, including a reliable support system, understanding from school officials, and a well-defined routine.

Since the change can be dramatic, having some anxiety isn’t uncommon. But for ADHD students, that stress can quickly become overwhelming.

If worrying about paying for college is causing your student to struggle, scholarships could be the answer. If you and your student want to learn about ADHD scholarships, not only should you keep reading, but you should also  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today .

College students with ADHD do face obstacles that may not impact other students. However, that doesn’t mean managing ADHD in college and achieving success isn’t possible.

If your student is heading to college with ADHD, here is some of our best advice.

• 1.1 Managing the College Search
• 1.2.1 Break It Down
• 1.2.2 Writing Essays
• 1.2.3 Deciding Whether to Disclose
• 2 Paying for College: ADHD College Scholarships
• 3.1 Connect with Disability Services Before Arriving
• 3.2 Establish a Morning Routine
• 3.3 Break Down Big Assignments
• 3.4 Use the Right Learning Tools and Techniques
• 3.5 End the Day with Tomorrow in Mind
• 3.6 Make Time for Sleep
• 3.7 Stick with Your Medication Routine
• 4 How to Cope with ADHD in College: Getting the Support You Need

Applying to College as an ADHD Student

For many ADHD students, applying to college can be a challenge in and of itself. The process can be research-intensive and tedious, so much so that nearly every kind of student may struggle to stay focused, particularly those with ADHD.

By using the right approach, it does become easier. Here’s a look at managing ADHD and college admissions processes.

Managing the College Search

As students look at their options, they need to use a multi-faceted approach. It’s important to find a college that offers the right kind of culture, amenities, and academics, giving them the best overall experience.

However, students with ADHD may want to start by exploring specific schools. Some offer specialized programs for college students with ADHD, giving them access to resources that help them succeed. Some examples of those schools and programs include:

• American University – Learning Services Program
• Lynn University – Institute for Achievement and Learning
• Northeastern University – Learning Disabilities Program
• University of Arizona – SALT Center
• University of Connecticut – Center for Students with Disabilities
• University of Denver – Learning Effectiveness Program
• University of Iowa – REACH
• West Virginia Wesleyan College – Mentor Advantage Program

The schools and programs above aren’t the only ones. However, they can give your student an idea of what’s available as they try to balance college and ADHD.

Part of the college search process is also choosing a major. It’s important to understand that there aren’t necessarily a limited number of options for ADHD students. Ultimately, the best college majors for ADHD students are the ones that ignite their passion enough to help them focus and give them room to shift between tasks if the need arises.

Tackling College Applications

As mentioned above, applying to college can be incredibly tedious, which may make it harder for students with ADHD. However, it is still doable. Here are some tips that can help.

Break It Down

In many cases, the best approach for managing ADHD and college admissions is to break applications down into micro-steps. By looking at the college admissions process and identifying every small action between starting and submission, your student can focus on one task at a time. Usually, the individual activities take mere moments to complete.

As they work through the list, they can not only track their progress but take breaks if the need arises, giving them some flexibility. Plus, they can schedule out the work over the course of days or weeks, noting which activities they’ll handle when, limiting how much they need to do at once.

Writing Essays

Writing a college application essay with ADHD is also challenging. However, it’s possible to break this part down as well.

When your student needs to write an admissions essay, they actually move through several phases, including:

• Review the Instructions
• Define the Audience
• Choose a Topic
• Brainstorm Ideas
• Outline the Format
• Write a First Draft
• Refine the Draft
• Get a Friend/Family Member to Review
• Finalize the Essay

By focusing on just one phase at a time, the entire process becomes less overwhelming, making it easier to navigate. The same strategy works for writing scholarship essays , too, giving them a helpful tool to help them achieve their goal of reducing the cost of college.

Deciding Whether to Disclose

During the application phase, your student will need to decide whether they want to disclose their ADHD diagnosis. Ultimately, the choice is personal. However, by doing so (and providing supporting documentation), your student may get access to on-campus services that help them thrive.

College ADHD accommodations are only available to students who meet specific criteria. If your student doesn’t provide the necessary information, they won’t have access to programs that could increase their odds of success.

Plus, colleges can’t deny admission based solely on a medical diagnosis. While they also don’t have to alter their requirements for ADHD students, they can’t penalize them for their status, either. And some schools do take diagnoses into account even if they aren’t required to, treating them like an extenuating circumstance when reviewing student transcripts and other decision-making factors.

Paying for College: ADHD College Scholarships

Figuring out how to pay for college usually isn’t easy. While completing the FAFSA and getting a financial aid package from the school can serve as a foundation, that doesn’t always guarantee that your student can cover the costs of college while remaining debt-free.

If your student wants to avoid student loans , scholarships can be the answer. There are a wide variety of options out there, including college scholarships for ADHD students specifically.

In most cases, the main criteria for ADHD college scholarships is a formal diagnosis from a physician. But other factors can also be in play. College scholarships for ADHD students can typically set their own requirements, so some may focus on financial need, merit, or other points along with being an ADHD student.

However, along with college scholarships for ADHD, you can also find awards that focus on a wide range of other criteria, including other learning disabilities , financial need, merit , chosen major, and more. If your student qualifies for any other kind of scholarship, they should explore those as well. That way, they can increase their odds of getting the financial support they need to graduate without student loan debt.

If your student plans on attending college, scholarships can make the dream of an affordable education come true. If you and your student want to learn about scholarships eligibility,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Head over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to save your seat today .

ADHD and College Students: Setting Yourself Up for Academic Success

Once your student is preparing to start their college journey, it’s wise for them to take steps to set themselves up for academic success. If they aren’t sure where to begin, here are some options.

Connect with Disability Services Before Arriving

Many students with ADHD qualify for support from the school’s disability services office. If your student wants to make sure that any college ADHD accommodations are in place for their upcoming school year, it’s best to reach out before they arrive on campus.

Certain college accommodations for ADHD take time to set up. For example, if your student is eligible for a note-taker, more time during tests, or similar options, the office may need to coordinate with several individuals to make sure that happens correctly.

By reaching out in advance, your student gets the ball rolling. That way, when they do arrive on campus, the groundwork is already in place.

Establish a Morning Routine

If your student struggles with getting to their first class on time, having a preset morning routine can make a significant difference.

Ideally, they want to begin by addressing the first key step they need to take each morning: waking up and getting out of bed. If that’s a challenge, setting two alarms and placing them on the other side of the room can help. It requires feet on the floor to address, increasing the odds that they’ll start moving quickly.

For some students, getting sidetracked before they head out of the room is a problem. One way to stay on target is to use a series of alarms that alerts your student that it’s time to switch between morning tasks. For example, they could set one to ensure they finish their shower on time and another one to signal the end of breakfast.

In some cases, a custom playlist can also fill that role. They simply need to know which song endings are signals to move onto the next activity, allowing them to use an approach that’s a bit less jarring.

Break Down Big Assignments

Just like breaking down college applications into small, manageable chunks can help them through admissions, piecing out class assignments can also make them easier to tackle when you’re going to college with ADHD. It lets your student handle just one task at a time. Plus, it gives them a chance to schedule out the work and may even let them build in procrastination buffers.

The same approach can also work for studying. By outlining the tasks and breaking them down into small chunks on their calendar, it is much easier to create a functional routine that isn’t overwhelming.

As they break down the workload, putting each task into their calendar can increase their odds of staying on target. Plus, they can turn set a calendar alert (or several) to give them a clear indication that it’s time to handle the task, reducing the chances that they’ll forget.

Use the Right Learning Tools and Techniques

There are multiple learning techniques that could benefit ADHD college students.

Using different colored highlighters and pens can make it easier to organize information and see what goes together at a glance. Doodling while notetaking may give them a place to direct some energy. Using a voice recorder gives them a copy of the lectures, allowing them to review the information again later.

Your student should explore a range of tools and techniques along the way. Then, they can determine what works best for them, allowing them to develop a functional system that meets their needs.

End the Day with Tomorrow in Mind

At the end of each day, your student should wrap things up by handling tasks that streamline their morning. They can pack their school bag and place it near the door. Additionally, they could set out their clothing and even choose a breakfast. This takes a lot of strain off of their waking-up routine, making it easier to get out of the door on time.

Make Time for Sleep

Without enough sleep, it’s hard to stay focused. Plus, it harms short-term memory – making it more difficult to remember the material they review – and may prevent short-term memory from shifting into long-term memory.

Sleep is important for all students. However, if you’re dealing with ADHD in college, it is an absolute necessity. Make sure your student leaves enough room in their schedule for quality sleep, giving them the rest they need to thrive.

Stick with Your Medication Routine

If your student is on ADHD medication, they need to stick to that routine. Along with finding a local doctor and pharmacy, they need to embrace tools that ensure they remain on schedule.

Calendar alerts or alarms are a great option. Associating medication with a daily activity – like eating breakfast or brushing their teeth – can also give them a functional trigger. That way, they increase their odds of adhering to their medication schedule, ensuring they don’t miss doses.

How to Cope with ADHD in College: Getting the Support You Need

While managing ADHD in college isn’t always easy, it is easier with the right support system. Along with using school-based resources, including assistance from disability services, students should take advantage of other available programs and tools.

For example, joining a study group can make a difference. Not only is it a social outlet, but it lets them gather with other students who are learning the same topics, creating additional opportunities for learning. The study group may also keep them accountable, something that could help them balance the college and ADHD equation more effectively.

Participating in other social activities can also be wise. Joining clubs, casually speaking with other students in the cafeteria, and other actions can help them meet new people. In time, they’ll have a strong circle of local friends, ensuring they can get the support they need to succeed.

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• Writing Help for ADHD Students

Updated 2024.

Typically, students with ADHD produce a wealth of ideas about an essay writing topic. Yet over 60% of students with ADHD struggle to get their ideas down on paper.

For most students with ADHD, writing assignments are torturous.

Because students with ADHD often have trouble separating dominant (main) ideas from less dominant (subordinate) ideas, even starting a writing assignment can be an arduous and anxiety filled experience.

But none of these difficulties needs to keep your ADHD child from writing successfully in school. Use the eight strategies below to help your child write more easily and successfully.

Should You Disclose a Disability When Applying to College?

by Eric Endlich, Ph.D. | Jan 24, 2022 | ADHD , autism , College applications , College essays , College special accommodations , High school students , LD , mental health , Special needs accommodations in college for LD , Transition to college

Students with disabilities often wonder whether to discuss their diagnoses on college applications. It’s a great question, and a very personal decision. In general, there’s no reason to assume that disclosure will either help or hurt a student’s chances of being admitted to college.

One reason to consider reporting a disability on your application is to provide an explanation for something that might otherwise be puzzling to the admission committee, such as an unusual pattern of grades on your transcript, a transfer between high schools or a large discrepancy between your grades and standardized test scores. If your grades improved in the middle of high school because you were diagnosed and began receiving the proper accommodations or treatment, for example, mentioning your disability might reassure admissions staff that you will continue to do well in college. The Common App has a section where you can include additional information like this that would be helpful to application readers.

In some cases, students view their disability as a central part of their story or identity, and feel that it’s essential to write about it in their admission essay so that college staff will truly understand them. I’ve had students who were Deaf or autistic describe their challenges and accomplishments with pride on their applications–and with excellent results. 

Whether or not you disclose during the application process, once you’ve been accepted and put down a deposit at the college you plan to attend, I recommend you reach out to the Disability Services Office (sometimes called the Accessibility Services or Student Access Office) and set up an appointment. You can provide any relevant documentation you have (e.g., neuropsychological evaluation, doctor’s letter) and discuss the accommodations and services you’ll need. Even if you’re not sure whether you’ll use the accommodations, it’s better to have them in place just in case. Set yourself up for success, and have an amazing experience in college!

A version of this post was originally published in CollegeXpress .

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ADHD is my superpower: A personal essay

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Thriveworks was established in 2008, with the ultimate goal of helping people live happy and successful lives. We are clinician-founded and clinician-led. In addition to providing exceptional clinical care and customer service, we accomplish our mission by offering important information about mental health and self-improvement.

We are dedicated to providing you with valuable resources that educate and empower you to live better. First, our content is authored by the experts — our editorial team co-writes our content with mental health professionals at Thriveworks, including therapists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and more.

We also enforce a tiered review process in which at least three individuals — two or more being licensed clinical experts — review, edit, and approve each piece of content before it is published. Finally, we frequently update old content to reflect the most up-to-date information.

A Story About a Kid

In 1989, I was 7 years old and just starting first grade. Early in the school year, my teacher arranged a meeting with my parents and stated that she thought that I might be “slow” because I wasn’t performing in class to the same level as the other kids. She even volunteered to my parents that perhaps a “special” class would be better for me at a different school.

Thankfully, my parents rejected the idea that I was “slow” out of hand, as they knew me at home as a bright, talkative, friendly, and curious kid — taking apart our VHS machines and putting them back together, filming and writing short films that I’d shoot with neighborhood kids, messing around with our new Apple IIgs computer!

The school, however, wanted me to see a psychiatrist and have IQ tests done to figure out what was going on. To this day, I remember going to the office and meeting with the team — and I even remember having a blast doing the IQ tests. I remember I solved the block test so fast that the clinician was caught off guard and I had to tell them that I was done — but I also remember them trying to have me repeat numbers back backwards and I could barely do it!

Being Labeled

The prognosis was that I was high intelligence and had attention-deficit disorder (ADD). They removed the hyperactive part because I wasn’t having the type of behavioral problems like running around the classroom (I’ll cover later why I now proudly identify as hyperactive). A week later, my pediatrician started me on Ritalin and I was told several things that really honestly messed me up.

I was told that I had a “learning disability” — which, to 7-year-old me, didn’t make any sense since I LOVED learning! I was told that I would take my tests in a special room so that I’d have fewer distractions. So, the other kids would watch me walk out of the classroom and ask why I left the room when tests were happening — and they, too, were informed that I had a learning disability.

As you can imagine, kids aren’t really lining up to be friends with the “disabled” kid, nor did they hold back on playground taunts around the issue.

These were very early days, long before attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was well known, and long before people had really figured out how to talk to kids with neurodiversities . And as a society, we didn’t really have a concept that someone who has a non-typical brain can be highly functional — it was a time when we didn’t know that the world’s richest man was on the autism spectrum !

Growing Past a Label

I chugged my way through elementary school, then high school, then college — getting consistent B’s and C’s. What strikes me, looking back nearly 30 years later, is just how markedly inconsistent my performance was! In highly interactive environments, or, ironically, the classes that were the most demanding, I did very well! In the classes that moved the slowest or required the most amount of repetition, I floundered.

Like, I got a good grade in the AP Biology course with a TON of memorization, but it was so demanding and the topics were so varied and fast-paced that it kept me engaged! On the opposite spectrum, being in basic algebra the teacher would explain the same simple concept over and over, with rote problem practice was torturously hard to stay focused because the work was so simple.

And that’s where we get to the part explaining why I think of my ADHD as a superpower, and why if you have it, or your kids have it, or your spouse has it… the key to dealing with it is understanding how to harness the way our brains work.

Learning to Thrive with ADHD

Disclaimer : What follows is NOT medical advice, nor is it necessarily 100% accurate. This is my personal experience and how I’ve come to understand my brain via working with my therapist and talking with other people with ADHD.

A Warp Speed Brain

To have ADHD means that your brain is an engine that’s constantly running at high speed. It basically never stops wanting to process information at a high rate. The “attention” part is just an observable set of behaviors when an ADHD person is understimulated. This is also part of why I now openly associate as hyperactive — my brain is hyperactive! It’s constantly on warp speed and won’t go any other speed.

For instance, one of the hardest things for me to do is fill out a paper check. It’s simple, it’s obvious, there is nothing to solve, it just needs to be filled out. By the time I have started writing the first stroke of the first character, my mind is thinking about things that I need to think about. I’m considering what to have for dinner, then I’m thinking about a movie I want to see, then I come up with an email to send — all in a second. 

I have to haullll myself out of my alternate universe and back to the task at hand and, like a person hanging on the leash of a horse that’s bolting, I’m struggling to just write out the name of the person who I’m writing the check to! This is why ADHD people tend to have terrible handwriting, we’re not able to just only think about moving the pen, we’re in 1,000 different universes.

On the other hand, this entire blog post was written in less than an hour and all in one sitting. I’m having to think through a thousand aspects all at once. My dialog: “Is this too personal? Maybe you should put a warning about this being a personal discussion? Maybe I shouldn’t share this? Oh, the next section should be about working. Should I keep writing more of these?”

And because there is so much to think through and consider for a public leader like myself to write such a personal post, it’s highly engaging! My engine can run at full speed. I haven’t stood up for the entire hour, and I haven’t engaged in other nervous habits I have like picking things up — I haven’t done any of it! 

This is what’s called hyperfocus, and it’s the part of ADHD that can make us potentially far more productive than our peers. I’ve almost arranged my whole life around making sure that I can get myself into hyperfocus as reliably as possible.

Harnessing What My Brain Is Built For

Slow-moving meetings are very difficult for me, but chatting in 20 different chat rooms at the same time on 20 different subjects is very easy for me — so you’ll much more likely see me in chat rooms than scheduling additional meetings. Knowing what my brain is built for helps me organize my schedule, work, and commitments that I sign up for to make sure that I can be as productive as possible.

If you haven’t seen the movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and you are ADHD or love someone who is, you should immediately go watch it! The first time I saw it, I loved it, but I had no idea that one of its writers was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult , and decided to write a sci-fi movie about an ADHD person! The moment I read that it was about having ADHD my heart exploded. It resonated so much with me and it all made sense.

Practically, the only real action in the movie is a woman who needs to file her taxes. Now, don’t get me wrong — it’s a universe-tripping adventure that is incredibly exciting, but if you even take a step back and look at it, really, she was just trying to do her taxes.

But, she has a superpower of being able to travel into universes and be… everywhere all at once. Which is exactly how it feels to be in my mind — my brain is zooming around the universe and it’s visiting different thoughts and ideas and emotions. And if you can learn how to wield that as a power, albeit one that requires careful handling, you can do things that most people would never be able to do!

Co-workers have often positively noted that I see solutions that others miss and I’m able to find a course of action that takes account of multiple possibilities when the future is uncertain (I call it being quantum brained). Those two attributes have led me to create groundbreaking new technologies and build large teams with great open cultures and help solve problems and think strategically. 

It took me until I was 39 to realize that ADHD isn’t something that I had to overcome to have the career I’ve had — it’s been my superpower .

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Published Jul 15, 2022

The information on this page is not intended to replace assistance, diagnosis, or treatment from a clinical or medical professional. Readers are urged to seek professional help if they are struggling with a mental health condition or another health concern.

If you’re in a crisis, do not use this site. Please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or use these resources to get immediate help.

How to Write Your College Essay About ADHD

Before you begin writing about ADHD in your college essay, there are a few important details to consider about this strategy. Most people have a mixed experience with ADHD. Sometimes it affects their academics negatively, and sometimes it has a positive effect. It can even affect one’s social and personal life.

This makes ADHD an interesting college essay topic because it has such a diverse potential for unique stories and experiences.

Of course, there are some dangers to this essay topic. Thus, It’s crucial you know how to write the essay without falling for common pitfalls. This guide was made based on some of the tips and tricks we teach our clients who also wrote their college essays about ADHD.

Be sure to take careful note of each section, as we’ve catered these details to help you maximize your chances of getting accepted into your schools. If you have any questions or need help with your essay, feel free to ask our expert college admissions advisors and consultants .

Table of Contents

Is it Okay to Write About ADHD in Your College Essay?

Remember to focus on yourself., don’t be afraid to get creative., how does your journey with adhd make you a qualified candidate, don’t expect admissions officers to know what adhd is like. explain in detail, example college essay about adhd., final thoughts..

Writing about ADHD in your college essay is okay.

Well, sometimes it’s actually a great essay topic. It can even be a topic that helps you stand out amongst other competing applicants. There are a lot of unique attributes to ADHD that most people don’t know about; and, it can shed a better light on how you are a stronger applicant compared to others.

Writing a college essay about ADHD can also be a bad idea. Depending on your experience with it and, more importantly, how you describe it, the topic can actually be a disadvantage.

Most people who write their college essays about ADHD fall into the latter category. They don’t know how to capitalize on their condition because they only see the negatives that come with it. They also do not know how to demonstrate their learning condition is actually an advantage or how they can use their experience to show their strengths.

In the latter sections of this guide, we’ll cover just how you can write your college essay about ADHD in a way that helps your admissions chances.

How to Write About ADHD in Your College Essay.

It’s common for people to get too focused on the actual learning condition of ADHD instead of themselves. They’ll write about ADHD but they won’t discuss how their experience was and how they felt about it. The connection you have with your relationship with ADHD and its impact on your life is more important than the actual condition itself.

Now, that doesn’t mean you should only talk about what it was like without briefly elaborating on what ADHD is. After all, ADHD can manifest in different ways for different people.

Thus, it’s crucial that you briefly cover how ADHD manifests in your life in particular. If it made it easier for you to retain a large amount of information in a short amount of time, write about that. If it put a strain on friendships and establishing proper civil dialogue, write about that. If ADHD affected your ability to focus and therefore complete assignments in a punctual manner, write about that.

Be sure to make the majority of the essay about you and your character rather than the ADHD itself. You can think of ADHD as a sort of supplementary topic that leads up to the main character theme you want to demonstrate in the application essay. It serves the main topic, which is you. But, it is not the main topic.

Many college applicants are afraid to get creative. And, roughly speaking, this is for a good reason.

Most students don’t really want to write an unconventional essay that makes them stand out because standing out can be seen in a negative light. It’s possible for your creative essay to completely flop and not work.

However, we find that a lot of students with ADHD applying to college also happen to have a lot of creative ideas generated in their heads. They have a large pool of ideas to write about and they can afford to get creative since they already have a lot of creative ideas.

Remember, just because not all creative essays work doesn’t mean you still have to stick to it. If you write a creative essay and it doesn’t look impressive or seems too large a risk, you can always scratch out your draft and start anew. That’s the thing about being creative with your college essay: you can write content and let the idea die instead of your admissions chances. You can always start over.

If you need help drafting a creative ADHD college essay, or just want help writing about ADHD in your college essay as a whole, feel free to request help from our professional college admissions advisors and consultants .

This doesn’t need to be explicitly said in your essay. But, you should imply that your experience with ADHD at least in some way makes you a qualified candidate for the school you’re applying for.

When reading over your essay, think about what your experience and journey with ADHD felt like. Consider all of the possible characteristics that can be drawn and inferred from your writing. Then, think of how said characteristics would make you a qualified candidate and a good fit for the school.

Does your journey with ADHD and your ability to adapt to your learning style make you capable of overcoming overwhelming obstacles through time despite adversity? Does changing the way you approach your ADHD show you’re someone with the open mindset needed to think outside the box in university? Does your ability to keep up with other students despite your ADHD make you someone who is formidable in mental stressors?

These are all attributes you may infer from your experience with ADHD. They also show the admissions office that you are a qualified candidate for the school who will succeed on campus, which is crucial to maximizing your success.

This is a hard one, but we think this point is absolutely crucial to your application process.

Admissions officers are not omnipotent. They don’t know everything and they can’t read your mind. Thus, you need to show your readers what ADHD must be like instead of assuming they can infer your experiences for you.

Even if you detail what happened and the things going on in your essay on the surface, articulating the feeling and emotions you feel behind events is key. This is where things can get tough, as your unique experiences may be foreign to what people without ADHD must feel.

So, what do we do about this? How can we explain foreign experiences to others who have no knowledge of ADHD?

I recommend this.

• List out your experiences with ADHD that you want to talk about.
• Write down in broad terms what you felt and how it emotionally affected you.
• Abstract the emotions you felt and find parallels of this emotion to other experiences most people feel in everyday life.

Okay, so here’s an example.

• I struggled to communicate with people on the same wavelength due to ADHD because my attention would be easily distracted by far too many external stimuli in the outside world.
• I would feel inexorably isolated during hangouts with friends.
• The feeling of knowing you’ll get isolated or drowned out in a crowd is similar to the feeling of dread one feels before going to a party. Maybe things are okay for the first few minutes, but the dread of feeling like the awkward wallflower starts to creep forward. This is something everyone goes through when they enter a new place. Except, for me, it happens every day.

Note also that this is not the experience every person with ADHD goes through. Everyone’s personal experiences with ADHD are different. Thus, it’s up to you to articulate what it was like for you and translate it into something understandable and digestible for admissions officers.

” “I’m going to say some words to you. Then, you’re going to tell me the first thing that comes to mind? Does that makes sense?” “Yes.” “Mountain.” “Mt. Fuji” “Water.” “Lake.” “School.” “Learning.” In the middle of it, I notice the pen on the psychologist’s chest pocket was broken. The ink was leaking through the fabric, and the blotch grew wider in circumference in an assymetrical pattern. It resembled an elephant: those creatures of supreme strength. I can’t help but think of what ancient civilizations felt upon first witnessing a war elephant at battle. Charging tusks. Rope-like noses. Weird… trumpet noises? “Thank you! You did well!” A few months pass, and I would be transferred into a gifted and talented program where I learned… nothing. I would learn however how to capitalize on my “gifts” and regurgitate what I’ve heard in class to breeze through classes. Then, actual work. Then, I have to really study. Then, I realize I never learned how to study. Then, I fail for the first time. Then, my world view about myself shatters. Am I actually talented at all? Or, was that just fantasy? Then, I’d look up. It’s popcorn ceiling. White pebbles arrayed incongruently to make unusual patterns across the ceiling to distract my mind. One of them looks like a centaur shooting an arrow into the mouth of a snake. This is what ADHD was like for me. As someone who grew up not learning how to truly study for academics, I consider my background a disadvantage despite having been put in a gifted program. However, it’s not that simple. ADHD isn’t particualrly an advantage or disadvantage in that sort of monolithic manner. Instead, it’s a smorgasbord of unusual attributes which make studying in conventional learning environments unique to say the least. Nonetheless, I didn’t learn how to overcome ADHD. Instead, I learned to understand it; then, I learned to wield it to my advantage. As someone who struggled to stay focused on one particular event at a time, distractions were nightmarish. But, I came to terms with my proclivity to get distracted. I also came to realize that my mind was most productive and “fast” in processing information during the first 10-15 minutes of work. Then, my mental “processing engine” burns out. So, over the years, I’ve crafted my own work method that follows a rotation pattern. Instead of focusing on one task indefinitely, I would make a lists of tasks I need to complete for the day. Then, I would rotate between taks in 10-15 minute intervals to maximize my productivity whilst capitalizing off of my proclivity to be distracted. Having fought ADHD for quite a while, I realized that my condition is neither a curse nor blessing. Instead, it is a double-edged sword. It can be good, and it can be bad. However, its effectiveness does not depend on the sharpness of the blade; but, it is determined by the wielder behind it. At university, I hope to wield my ADHD with proper technique and care and, hopefully, not spill my ink blots all over my shirt.” Example College Essay About ADHD

When writing about ADHD in your college essay, understand that you have an interesting topic to write about. It’s easy to dismiss your experiences as something that many other students also struggled with. However, ADHD is a strange learning condition that affects people in many different ways.

Your experiences are unique. But, it’s up to you to articulate what those experiences were like to admissions officers. Perhaps more important than that is how your experience with ADHD shows you’re a strong candidate for the school.

Writing about ADHD in your college essay is no simple feat. There are many steps that need to be taken before the essay can be submitted. In addition, the topic demands a lot of brainstorming and introspection before it is ready to be written.

Know that the path will not be easy. However, it’s also no reason to give up on ADHD as a topic. If done properly, a college essay about ADHD can be very effective and even help admissions officers see you in a better light compared to the rest of the admissions pool.

Universities, especially those which are very selective such as those in the top 25 of the US News and World Report , are vying for the best backgrounds for their students. Strong topics like your struggle and adaptation to unfair disadvantages such as ADHD will give you a much-needed boost in your application.

If you are struggling with writing about ADHD in your college essay, we would highly recommend speaking with an expert college admissions essay advisor . Here at PenningPapers, we’ve helped countless students of all backgrounds write about unique topics in their college essays. These essays have also helped them get accepted into some of the most selective universities in the world.

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Breaking Barriers: My Battle with ADHD

In a prize-winning essay about overcoming obstacles, a child with attention deficit disorder explains the effects of adhd on his life. from enlisting the help of family members to keeping a journal, this is how jack prey manages his diagnosis..

Have you ever been working on something important, when a song pops into your head? Then that leads you to think of something in the song about flying, which leads you to play with your remote control glider? Next thing you know, it’s dinnertime, and you haven’t finished the homework you started two hours before.

That’s what it’s like to have Attention Deficit Disorder. I know because I’ve had ADHD for as long as I can remember. For me, ADHD means that I can’t focus whenever I really need to. It’s something I will live with for the rest of my life. And it’s no fun!

When I was younger, people told me I was really smart. But I never got good grades to show it. When I was at school, I would get bored really quickly. Then I would look for something more interesting to do. Sometimes I would try to help other kids with their work. The problem was, I didn’t finish my work, and that would lead to trouble. There were lots of days I even felt like quitting school.

My parents were confused. They knew I was smart, but I wasn’t showing it. My doctor suggested that I see a specialist. He gave me a bunch of tests. When it was all done, he told my parents that I had ADD . Now it’s called ADHD. The H stands for “hyper.” He said I didn’t really have the H , so I guess that was some good news.

To help me focus, the doctor gave me some tips to follow. One of them is to keep a special journal with me all the time to write down things, like what homework I have and when things are due. I try to keep the notebook with me wherever I go. It really helps.

[ Get This Free Download: 5 Powerful Brain Hacks for Focus & Productivity ]

I came up with another tip myself. When I have a test or a quiz, I challenge myself to get it done by a certain time. That keeps me focused on the test and not on the pretty girl sitting in front of me or the lizard in the aquarium. Ah, lizards. I really like lizards. Where was I again?

Oh yeah, my focus techniques. With the help of my parents and my older brother, I started doing some other things that help, like going to bed a little earlier so I can get a good night’s sleep.

My brother and I share a bedroom, and he has agreed to go to bed earlier to help me out. Another thing our whole family has started doing is eating a healthy diet. I used to eat a lot of junk food, but now I only eat a little bit. Ah, junk food. Oops, I’ll try not to do that again.

I’ve been working hard, using these focus techniques for the last year and guess what? My grades have started to go up! In fact, on my last report card I got five As and one B. That’s the best I’ve ever done!

[ Your Free Download: What Every Teacher Should Know About ADHD: A Poster for School ]

My teacher, Miss Ryan, suggested I write this essay. I’m not sure if I knew who Jackie Robinson was before this, but I did some checking. Turns out, he was a great man who had to overcome one of the worst things there is: racism. He did it using the values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence.

I have used some of these same values to help me overcome ADHD. For instance, I am committed to using my focus techniques, and I am determined to do better in school. Plus, my family has helped me, and that is being a team. Go, team! Also, when I focus, I am a good citizen and don’t bother my classmates as much. Last but not least, using these values has helped me to get almost all As on my report card, which is an example of excellence. Thanks for being such a good example, Jackie!

[ Read This Next: How I Came to Rock My ADHD ]

Talking About ADHD: Read These Next

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“Is ADHD Real?” How to Respond to Doubters with Tact and Facts

What NOT to Say to the Parent of a Child with ADHD

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