Not new to the scene or anything, as I have taken about 3 years of college. However, I took a couple semesters off, except for one part time math class. Tomorrow is the first day at school. I just moved over 250 miles away from home just a couple weeks ago.

Here is my problem: since being put on medication, I have noticed a huge difference in my social ability, energy, concentration; but I am not really sure how this will effect my education.

What changes did you notice with school / meds, etc? Just curious as to what other people have noticed...

Welcome to the forums, myside!

I started taking meds when I was diagnosed with ADHD-inattentive, just before my senior year of college.

I noticed a HUGE difference. I studied about 1/2 as much time as I did the previous 3 years. I was able to pay attention in class and actually retain information in class (that was astounding to me!). I went from getting a 2.4 to making the Dean's List with a 3.5.
I asked for accomodations due to the distraction and stress taking tests in a room full of people caused.

I graduated in 2000 and am now in grad school; still taking the same med (Adderall).

Best wishes to you!! I bet you'll do great!

harder time sleeping always dehydrated soemtimes more confusion, i can take more time to right papers and everything come out better however with me the meds help to a point

The first couple days have been interesting, to say the least. Usually I am looking at the clock ever 5 minutes, figiting (SP), or off on the computer on slashdot or something. I can definintly tell I am more calm.

I haven't done any real work yet, since I can't afford my books until this weekend, but the content lectured in class seems to stick a little better than it used to. Maybe it is just because I have a bigger interest in the subjects, who knows.

If AD/HD was your only problem, you will see a huge difference.

However, any other issues (low self-esteem, depression, etc) will remain and may still have a very serious impact on your school performance.

Do not expect miracles. It's way too easy to do that, and then beat yourself up for any little mistake because you feel like you have no good reason for making mistakes anymore. That's deadly.

Make sure all of your problems are being treated and things will be a lot better for you.

I got diagnossed my first year away at college after a nervous breakdown from slugging down every drug in the book because i never felt right...when i took their tests and they said ADD things became a bit clearer. Remember college is a place to learn not a compitition. Study what you like, do as much as you can and just enjoy that you have the opertunity to be around people your own age have fun and keep a schedual for your classes and dont stress to much it only leads to more stress.
Pith

We're kinda goin' through the same thing. It's my first semester with knowing that I have a problem as well. So far, I'm doing better and I'm way more organized. It's more the effort than the drugs, but it wouldn't work without the drugs.

I'm having more fun for sure as well. More social, but less stupid **** like binge drinking. It's good...for the most part. Not easy, but good. I'm doing better.

Why is it that talking to girls is WAY harder than highly conceptual communication theory classes??

I'm still working on some of the "social" aspects of college...

I still dont know what the hell my Logic class was all about and **** i will never know, oh well. Work to your strenghthes and minimize your weeknesses. The Jack of All trades is another way of saying im really not particulary good at anything, find what your heart and brain agree on and put everything that you can into it and you will at the very least lead an exciting and fulfilling life.

...find what your heart and brain agree on and put everything that you can into it and you will at the very least lead an exciting and fulfilling life.

Excellent advice, Pith.

I took medicine for my first quarter in college, and it was sweet. I saw grades I'd never seen before. Then I made a mistake and attributed that success to the new environment, not the medication (I hadn't had medication in high school). So I stopped taking them. I still did well, but not nearly as well, and I even had to drop a class I loved because of it.

My number one mistake to date though has been to think that I would be able to do fields I never could before. Medicine didn't suddenly teach me calculus. Heh

When I first went college, these were my grades:

1st Semester
C
F
2 dropped classes

2nd Semester
F

3rd Semester
2 dropped classes
2 Fs

---------------------

My first semester back to school, 9 years later:

A
A
B


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I believe wholeheartedly that the change is due to my knowledge that I have ADHD as well as the medication. I don't think I could do it without the knowledge or the medication. I feel like I still have some serious issues with ADHD which could impact my education any time, like procrastination and being distracted and bored easily, but so far I have been able to keep those things in check (enough) to do well.

Thats what we all strive to do and all that should be expected of us by others or ourselves is our best. Hell if obstacls where easy to overcome we wouldnt learn alot along the way. Life sucks sometimes but is also beautiful and totaly your own so screw it the kinks will work themselves out with effort.