...and my first post come to here, since this is the most urgent thing that has to be dealt over anything. Further education plan has to be set now. I should apologize for the sheer length.

Also, please be well noted that, as a Hong Konger, I was under the British system of 7 years of HS and 3 years of college. And HK currently has not of a respect of any LD in general, even the "older" LD like ADHD. As I said later, I need a 3rd opinion to get diagnosed at all.

OK, go on to the beef:

It has to say, I've been pretty weird from my earlier days. In the elementary I was pretty unruly (Conduct Grade: C+), friendless, and being top of the class (not the top of the class though, I seldom got the very first to say.). My dad said that he raised this question when he saw some IQ test people who did test on me as a part of a local uuniversity's gifted children screening programme (I scored 128 on WISC, just below the "gifted" line-- but it seemed some of the components scored at 4 or even 5 SDs above.) and they said they're "normal oddities of gifted kids" and not something to worry.

My hyperactivity went away in around grade 6, and in a few years all seemed well; even I was socially inept my grades were always excellent.

But gradually from grade 10 my grades began to fall; the HKCEE in grade 11 is merely acceptable by my standards.

Grade 12 and 13 are even of hell; I'm always failing thought chemistry and have difficulty to get physics sorted out, even my statistics and biology is still within acceptable limits.

College entrance exam wasn't too surprising, I have lowered my standards and even that I didn't got into the first choice major.

But within this, all people that has seen me considered me smart, had they not known my scored. Even so, most of them would still cling on the conclusion.

The first year of the university is, well, pretty hell-ish, even I haven't flunked any courses, I got most C's and C+'s for the more important subjects even I have avid interest.

Around 1 year ago, out of wanting some materials for a self-diagnosis for the other diagnosis, ie autism, I asked the special ed office of the education board to provide me with my records when I was at therapy 16-18 years ago (I had a speech delay), and they only came back my records when I was first brought to the speech clinic in July 1986-- which was a disappointment-- and just to see that the person commented that I had "attention deficit" in the general comments part.

ADD was immediately on my radar, and my reading literature in last year's Holidays and have already been self-diagnosed as such. And, with quite a bit difficulty (Changing psychs 2 times), I got diagnosed of ADD (Or, he said it as "leftover hyperactivity") and a bit of autism.

But the damage has been done. I might be considered smarter than my peers, I wasn't doing as well. My current GPA in my major (biochemistry) is a mere 2.27 (My university uses a 12-base system-- I converted it back to the usual 4-based.) and I'm feeling all frustrated-- even one of my professors was ("You seem to perfectly know the class material; how come you only got a C as you tell me?"). Actually, current my frustration is my failure to self-actualize (using Maslow's words)...

But it was a bit too late for any adaptions to work if any; they won't increase my GPA by any amount in any rate...

I wanted to retake the major (outside of HK of course), but my family said it is a waste of time... and, biochemistry isn't a major with a job prospect without a masters degree, as they say that... and I feel stuck without anywhere for me to perform...

And now, I hope someone would give me recommendations on my future education. Thanks everyone.

Hmm, very interesting and much of that I can relate to well.

My question is not so much the education but the career prospects. The work world is quite different from school & in my case eventually turned out much more frustrating. School was not that hard for me and I was able to find work easily out of school but finding a place to settle down and work right for me has been very difficult and involved many things I did not anticipate when I was in college. But maybe you will not have those issues.

There is a thread here about gifted people with ADHD, you ought to use the search feature and check that out.

I know a couple of people who got masters in science & did well then later one decided to become a fine artist doing very abstact work & the other got into something more like social work.

Hmm, very interesting and much of that I can relate to well.

My question is not so much the education but the career prospects.
Maybe, but advices as well?

There is a thread here about gifted people with ADHD, you ought to use the search feature and check that out.
You meant, in the college forum or in all of addforums.com?

I know a couple of people who got masters in science & did well then later one decided to become a fine artist doing very abstact work & the other got into something more like social work.
Artist, no comment. Social work, it's a turn off. See my original post and you'd know I'm on the sutistic spectrum even it's on the mild side.

Here's one thread, I thought there was another though...
ADD hyperfocusers, what is your IQ?
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4686


Just hit the search button & type "gifted" & lots of interesting threads are there.

Also search for the username "robmhill" I think you will relate to him.

To be frank, my aspiration is to keep in the academia. So now my main problem is education...

Now I'm thinking how to persuade my parents that retaking thw same major somewhere else isn't a waste of time...

Now I'm still worried about the academic question.

Well, is it able to study for the same degree twice is a different institution in the US, basing on ADD grounds? I know for many universities this is not allowed for NTs...

Hi sam
Actually i really think your GPA is good. For me my GPA is less than 2, and i am graduating. I think about 1.7 only. Guess how i feel when all my friends got like 2.5 and better. I even had to do extra year in college. It was a lack of concentration and easily distracted and poor time management that caused my results to be this bad. Guess it is ADD. Tell you, everyday the morning i wake i panick if i am going to be late. No matter how early i got up i procrastinate until i am almost late and i never really go to school on time or early. I really like your GPA score. I seldom got a C and mostly Ds despite i have studied so hard for it. In the end before whatever exams and tests, I never felt like i have studied finish and had memorise and understand my materials and i was really puzzled what had been going through my head the past few days of studying. Really hope i can do my college again. I don't wanna see all the Ds it made me very sad. I had depression and anxiety when my grades dropped the moment i went college. It was partly because of family issues and the school was very very far i need to get 3 hours of transport everyday to and fro.
If i got a C+ i had be pretty happy about it you know given the condition that i don't know why my results are dropping.
I think i should be giving you some advices on your story..maybe you can do a master with your current GPA? Is it the final GPA for your graduating year? Maybe you can work harder and get a higher GPA if you had not finish all your exams..
Retaking your major sounds like it is gonna be quite boring because you already studied them before and but you are retaking because you feel GPA is not good enough. But i do find it pretty okay. Move on is better idea. Don't bother to retake.

By the way i don't know why, but my guts feelings tell me you are a way too perfectionalist it seems to me. Your GPA of 2 plus is really good enough which is just like the average standard of my college and my college is not one filled with lousy students. Most students are good except it just odd me out only. I am really envy your GPA. I don't know what you are complaining about. If you already can pass you can do better than just a C, and think C is so close to B. What about me? I seldome see C on my results. I always get D which is the borderline pass and most of the time i failed and had to retake the modules and papers. What about me? I attended all lectures and this must still happen on me. I hand in all reports, projects on time and this still happen.
If you are comparing with your mates and think this is the reason why you are not satisfied with your average results you will never be satisfied about anything.

The thing is, am I going to satisify over something many said as "not up to [my] potential"?

Please also consider KMiller's sig; it applies to me too

Yes, People tell me this too.
I believe your results are so much better than mine and many other people who suffer adhd actually had poorer results than you, like eg not able to pass or borderline. Don't you think u should count your blessing that your GPA is quite average. If you work harder you can get better grades, this is just exactly what others had meant when they told you you are not up to your standard. In fact i see this as a form of encouragement people around you hope you will do better. If you think that this and only reason you see can define you as having that disorder, you are wrong.
Think about how often have you felt you cannot concentrate, frustration, the low mood, lack of motivation, procrastination and chronically late for appointments and school...or do you require to take extra efforts more than your peers to keep yourself coming to school on time and study exams on time. Think about it...I had all these problems you know. Not just someone telling me i am not measuring up the standard. If this is the only issue you see, i suggest that you work harder and try to overcome it.. It is always better to think you are healthy and can perform normal things. but if it is likewise then something more need to be done.

Forgot to mention i am also located somewhere in asia. And as you already said HK is not well known to accept this issue, same condition as my country had. Depression, bipolar, adhd...etc are all not well recognized. People don't understand it and cities are always a stressful place so tendency people get mental problems are so common but the more common are people in denial of the problems. It is not easy to deal with them when the country is not willing to accept it and promote the awareness mental and health are equally important. However i have seen my country take some little steps towards improving that awareness.. And i am one of those people in denial. I seem to have alot of problems like anxiety but i am no longer on medication and i have been trying to motivate myself by reverse psychology and some vitamins, supplements. I hope to see the improvements. I do believe when things start to go a little better, slowly, it is possible to overcome the problem with little steps at a time.
Because of my poor college results, i am planning to take degree as soon as possible so that i am not going to be unempolyed. I know other than academia results, character is also important when it comes to job.

To be frank, my aspiration is to keep in the academia. So now my main problem is education...

Now I'm thinking how to persuade my parents that retaking thw same major somewhere else isn't a waste of time...
I'd take the same major again somewhere else. No time wasted, and worth it if academia is your goal.

Just out of curiosity why are you not staying in your program at the school you are attending?

Your average may be sub-par but it still seems like you are passing. Isnt it possible to continue in the program you are in on some sort of academic probation?

In the meantime you can learn coping stratagies and possibly find some medication which would help.

If you really cant continue in the program taking that major in another country is a possibility. I know my university is composed of about 10-15% forigen students (most of them in fact are asian). Just be prepared to pay alot more money than the students in that country would. I live in canada by the way. For tuition for one term i pay around $2300 but for students not residents of canada for the same program tuition is approx $8000-10000. This is because our education is pretty heavily governmentally subsidezed. I think it is the same in the US. Although i dont think tuition is regulated by the goverment.

Our campus has an excellent special needs dept where I went to get information and help with ADD. IF you havent already you may want to check to see if yours has something similar.

Your average may be sub-par but it still seems like you are passing. Isnt it possible to continue in the program you are in on some sort of academic probation?

The rules said that academic probation would only be initialiated when somebody's grades fall to sub-1 levels.[/quote]

In the meantime you can learn coping stratagies and possibly find some medication which would help.

Medication, yes. Strangies, maybe I need to research. My pasych didn't even mentioned any of those.


Our campus has an excellent special needs dept where I went to get information and help with ADD. IF you havent already you may want to check to see if yours has something similar.

If my school counsellor don't know what exactly is ADD and only 0.005% of students in public exams were given special accomodations of learning disabilities, what are you hoping here?

The rules said that academic probation would only be initialiated when somebody's grades fall to sub-1 levels.
So tell me if i am wrong but you are not on academic probation and are at least passing in your program, there seems no need to switch and re-start your degree somewhere else. Unless i have missed something.

Medication, yes. Strangies, maybe I need to research. My pasych didn't even mentioned any of those.
Your psych did not mention looking for ways to sucessfully cope or apply stratagies to help deal with your condition? If I were you i would start actively looking for ways then. Weather it is from an academic councellor, parent, psych, book or whatever.

For example genereally ADDers tend to have a bad memory for dates and organization. So one stratagy that I find helps is to use a daytimer (actually a pocketpc).


If my school counsellor don't know what exactly is ADD and only 0.005% of students in public exams were given special accomodations of learning disabilities, what are you hoping here?

Not so much special accomodations, but a place you have at your school which will help you deal with your conditions. To help you realize your full potential by providing you with information and coping stratagies. Maybe it isnt avalible in HK I dont know, but in Canada, there is generally a special needs facility at every major university.

It seems to me that this is more about you being able to be successfull at school rather than looking for a new school. You will probably run into similar problems in any school you attend. I would think then your logical focus should be on learning to deal with your problems (through meds, counciling, support groups, literature) rather than looking for a new place to attend school.

If I understand, Sam is considering moving out of HK because as I can believe, the support system is simply not there.

If I understand, Sam is considering moving out of HK because as I can believe, the support system is simply not there.

It is non-existant.

going through the same thing
but in the us the system is more forgiving

i am having the problem of starting to study calc and then fixing my inkjet
and not getting the studying done.

it is going to take a while to get together on it
but if you can get to the usa you can get another chance that it sounds like you will not get there.

progress is not going to be fast
but it will happen
you will get better
slip a little
that will get you moving again
and so on.

it is frustrating
but hey at least you are still in your early 20's
i'm 41.

so if i can...

but realy the us system is more forgiving
and you can take non major courses to practice on.
only transfer your highschool courses if you can
then you can take the college courses over again.
which can help!!

sorry it took a while to get back to you
had not checked in for a while
pm me for anything.