Just a quick question.
What's your major and do you think that some majors are better for ADDers than others?

ps, There is a poll
and if I missed anything mention it!
:)

Degree #1 - Physics
Degree #2 - Finance
Degree #3 - Education - in progress!
I was always good with numbers, so I stuck with that - none of that pesky reading the English majors had to do.
Now I'm gonna teach physics and math to high school students
(thankfully not grammer and spelling!)
Greg

Major: Corporate Communications
Minor #1: Advertising & Public Relations
Minor #2: Japanese Culture

My major/degree for undergrad was communication disorders (speech language pathology) with a minor in vocal music.

I'm currently in grad school for behavior analysis therapy (AKA applied behavior analysis), which is part of psychology and rehabilitation.

Does anyone think their ADD efffected their major choice or was it just your interest? Also livinginchaos I must tell you I've heard things about ABA.Just terrible things. ABA doesn't sound good to me but I would like your opinion.

ubermoi,

I don't think my ADHD effected my choice of a major at all. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD-I until the summer before my senior year of college. ADHD definitely affected my academics.

Thank you, ubermoi, for asking for my opinion on ABA, I really appreciate it.

I won't make this too long because I have discussed it at length in another thread (I'll give you the link to it).

ABA has a horrible history. The experiments that were done on people were completely inhumane and had devastating, lifelong effects.
The majority of the bad behavior modification apples have been weeded out due to the ABA organization and laws, regulations, accredited college/university programs, certified people, better training. It's becoming very well respected with all the positive changes.

It is (now) a profession that uses positive reinforcement to change an individual's behavior. Punishment and aversive procedures are used only if all possible positive reinforcement procedures have failed to change a behavior (usually an aggressive behavior - that harms self or others).

Verbal behavior therapy (based on BF Skinner) is the therapy I practice. We teach people with developmental disabilities how to learn, so they can function better in their life. If they cannot communicate, we teach them sign and work on getting them to be verbal. Lack of functional communication is why the majority of people with developmental disabilities aggress.

My opinion is that ABA was horrible and has changed for the (much) better. Unfortunately, people tend to hear only the negative things in life, so not too many people realize how much ABA has positively changed and how hard it's working to weed out the bad apples.

Here's the link I was talking about.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19330

If anyone has anymore questions about it or would like to know more about it, feel free to ask them in the behavior modification section or PM me. Thank you!!! :)

behavior modification forum:
http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=270

BS in Social and Behavioral Science with a concentration in psychology and a minor in literature.
I went back and am now a special education teacher...thinking seriously about diagnostics or LSSP.


If you're undecided on what to do check out http://Kuder.com (http://kuder.com/) For a small fee You can take three inventories designed to help you explore careers that are made for you. The online protfolio is then available to you for life and if you want to retake in 5 years you can retake the test. There are links to colleges in all 50 states and how to get financial aid. It will even fill out the FASFA for you coming December (FASFA is changing forms), as well as give you jobs descriptions from people who most closely match your profile. It's a great way to explore career choices. Remember that your career path doesn't always have to be what you know best...It has to be what interests you most.

Kuder is one of the oldest Career Planning test. You used to have to pay a psychologist to administer, but now you can do it on line $19.95 vs $165 or more per hr...that's a no brainer.

(My appologies to the clinical psychologist out there):eyebrow:

Bachelor's degrees in both, economics and philosophy. Master's in economics.
Diagnosed after earning them, they took me way longer than normal to earn.

I think ADD prevented me from having a clear idea of what to major in and possibly from going directly and quickly to a Ph.D. program.

I am back in school doing graduate work in philosophy. :cool:

Just finishing up a bachelor's in violin performance. My idea of what I wanted to do with my music education changed a million times over the last four years, from engineering to teaching to business, etc. My one constant has been my love of actually playing and performing...so that's what I'm doing.

The ADD part of me loves it because of the creativity, emotion and stimulation involved in playing and performing. I also get to travel a lot too, which suits me perfectly. However, I sometimes deal with performance anxiety. Excessive tour schedules often exacerbates loneliness, which in turn makes my depression resurface.

But I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

I changed majors so many times--I was passionate about too many things. But I finnaly chose Communication and PR-- with that major, I've worked in a variety of different industries, and am always learnign new things in a high-stress environment-- perfect for me :) So far, haven't regreted my major :-p

My current major is Hotel/Restaraunt Managment. I already have a degree in Culinary Arts Managment. I am looking to continue on and get my BS degree in either education or hospitality.

Major: BS in Criminal Justice
Minor: Behavioral Science
Current: Working towards a JD (Law) degree.
Nova

Degree #1 - Physics
Greg,
I just bought Radical Knowing by Christian de Quincy.
I think you'd find it a fascinating read.
Nova

Currently working towards my RN.
Next semester I will be changing to a double major in nursing and spec. education with a focus on elementary.

I already have a degree in Culinary Arts Managment. .
Good ! Now I'll know who to cater any big bash I might have in the future !
I absolutely love all appetizers ! Keep that in mind !
Nova

BA Humanities and Social Sciences English
Minor in Political Science/pre-law
Post grad work completed for Secondary Education English

I have been asked by many colleagues if I will ever or why haven't I gone into Special Education. I wouldn't rule it out. However, I feel that at this time, I can reach more students by being in the general classroom.

I think my adhd probably does help, but when I went into teaching, I wasn't diagnosed yet. I seemed to be able to identify students with learning issues without needing them officially pointed out. I could/can modify lessons instantly until I see that telltale look of understanding in their eyes. I also think it doesn't hurt that I was one of "those" kids, even without an official diagnosis all those years.

I am in Early Childhood Education, working towards a bachelors.
I dont have a minor at the time
I hope I make it . Thing have changed here

Nova- I will keep that in mind!!

I did my undergrad in Music Education and now I'm doing my Education degree with a teachable in Vocal Music. Since the beginning of the month, I've been exploring all kinds of options to possibly teach ESL and Spec. Ed in the future or maybe even continuing my education to get a Master's in Speech Language Pathology.

i'm an undergrad senior in aquatic biology and interested in biochemistry as well

well...my gpa is not that great...my undergrad counselor thought that i had chosen the wrong major...i love biology...but i have a hard time remembering the hard words in biology...the lab work is fun...but the lecture part i'm not gd at...

it's too late to change my major...although she highly suggested i did that to save my gpa

I'm a linuistics major with a minor in religious studies. I used to be an Emergency Health Services major, but it was wayyy too much science for me. Im in my second year but i failed too many science classes and switched. I only have 20 credits so according to the school I am still a freshman.

i am studying video production

i am in my fourth year doing a double major
sociology (social justice concentration)
philosophy (formerly a minor in applied ethics)

i was diagnosed in first year but didnt believe it. have just been diagnosed again a matter of weeks ago.
i know ADD affects my level of production, i know i am not doing as well as i could, and that's frustrating.. but i dont suppose that's news to anyone here!

i guess ADD could have affected my decisions.. i have a stong sense of justice i guess. and morality. mainly i just want to understand whats going on around me, in the world, socially. studying society is a pretty amazing insight into things that maybe are harder for an ADD person to catch on to.
i never intended to go into philosophy, but i got roped in by being told i was good at it.. haha, sucker for praise. but really, the more i do it, the more essential it seems.

i could probably say something more interesting than that, but i am pretty wiped out. the doctor is experimenting with different kinds and amounts of medication, and i am just coming to terms with the whole ADD thing period. my brain is a little traumatized these days.

I am a historian. Couldnt be happier.

Major: Corporate Communications
Minor #1: Advertising & Public Relations
Minor #2: Japanese Culture
Have I told you that I LOVE Sushi ? <wink>

We have the most amazingly diversified personnel on here, don't we?
If we had a corporation we would certainly rule the world...
Nova

well I talked to the head of the Education Department and my Education Instructor also suggest a minor in Special Education. They both said I will never be out of work with special education as aminor.

i'm majoring in fine art, and maybe education...or psychology.

lol...so many feilds to choose from.

Hi all. I am working on my RN; have been on and off since my kids were little. They are teens now and I have 1 year left. I am going to then get my bachelors. After I get that that I would like to take a geology class. Then maybe get a wildlife re-hab license. I am always interested in photography and art. Then more of who knows what! I do have a love-hate relationship with school.

I'm currently majoring in Computer Science at a community college pursuing an Associate degree.

I'm working on a B. A. in Music (classical guitar).

This is the best major for me, as I have been a musician for 28 years, and made a living as a music for the past 18 years, and have been teaching music part time for three years, too. It has been my only hobby and my only career, it has been my whole life.

But I am at a pretty frustrating place right now...I have finished my degree except for a 25 minute senior recital worth one credit.

I cannot begin to describe how difficult it has been to prepare for this recital. I was supposed to gradute last April and that didn't happen. Then I assumed I'd present the recital before the holidays, well - that didn't happen. So I continue to spend 3 hours a day fine tuning the same 7 songs I have been working on for a year and a half.

As you can imagine, my friends and family are a bit baffled about why it is so difficult for me to play this 25 minute set of pieces that I have memorized already... when they know that I have already performed upwards of 3,300 3 to 4 hour professional music jobs. They are usually surprised to learn that it isn't just me dragging my feet and being a perfectionist, but that my teacher actually will not allow me to sign up for a date until he feels I am ready..

Back to my practice room... ;)

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, guitarista.

I will be entering college next fall. So, as of right now, I am severely considering a major in Biology. But Anthropology and History and Philosophy and Physics sound too good to pass up-I really do want it all.

I do accept PM's.

Working towards an undergrad Master of Biology with 12 months industrial placement, currently 2nd year out of four. Apparently, students who go on placement in the 3rd year tend to get better results in the final year. Technically, there are two distance learning modules during the 12 months, but reading five popular science books doesn't sound too bad. Five books I'll actually finish reading. I'm leaning towards cell biology and probably doing a cancer biology placement, but we'll see where I end up.

mainly i just want to understand whats going on around me, in the world, socially. studying society is a pretty amazing insight into things that maybe are harder for an ADD person to catch on to.
im a sociology major and i love it!

Undergrad: Elementary/Special Education
Grad: Library Science

I think I want to be a tutor. Or work in a children's library part-time. Or in the reference section of the public library. I don't really know :)

I started off without a major...then 2 years into college I was diagnosed and also picked a major... Communication Sciences and Disorders... focus in speech pathology. But now, 4 years into school I am thinking about changing my major to LD counseling, or double majoring so I can do both..? Also I am thinking about changing colleges for the 3rd time.

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry
Working toward PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

The abstractness of chemistry suited me. The chaos of pharmacy also suits me.

My major is Computer Science.

I've worked is a programmer, a unix admin, and a network admin.

Unfortunately, I dropped out of college in my Jr. year, just couldn't deal with the academic difficulties anymore.

I'm an abstract thinker type, and computer programming and stuff like that is what I happen to be interested in, and maybe more importantly, can hyperfocus on. So in that respect, yes, maybe ADD affected my career choice.

Now I've been diagnosed ADD and I have an explaination for all my problems through life. Looking forward to going back to school, hopefully in August!

-tweaks

Opticianry, both ABO,NCLE and state certified for where I reside.

I am also a certified Ophthalmic Med/Surgery tech with a sub specialty in fundus photography and fluorescein angiography.

My ADD drove me nuts, I thought everything had to be perfect, and 100% efficiency was possible. Thank God that is over.

I would drive my science and math teachers crazy.:)

I am currently working on BA in Psychology.... Then going for MFT

My minor is photography have an AA in that (like that counts for much, Heh)I worked for newspaper (briefly) and worked as an assistant in wedding photography.

I also trained as an EMT a loooong time ago, but found out that I freeze up when put on the spot in an emergency.

Major - Finance
Minor - Computer Science
Minor - Economics

current student on my third attempt at getting through college...this is the year that I was diagnosed with ADHD and I am beginning treatment. Its interesting because with each attempt at school I had different life plans and ideas, but would lose interest and never follow through, then down went my studies...at least this year i have figured out why i could never stick with one thing, and just knowing makes all the difference!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, guitarista.


Well, you can go ahead and cry now - after I add this - On December 5th, about 15 days after my last frustrated post, I was in a horrific car accident, breaking my neck and back and 8 ribs... and I couldn't play at all for two months or really even start to practice again until about a month ago.

So, talk about deja vu... guess what I am going to be spending virtually all my time doing now? That's right. I'm working on the same 7 songs. I actually spent 4 to 5 hours a day on it this week, even though it causes me physical pain. I mainly focused on this one piece... it is the hardest one. It is so hard I can barely play it under the best of conditions, when I am totally relaxed, after warming up for hours. So I wonder how I will play it in a recital situation, with nerves and pressure? In an effort to know it inside out, I am using a technique called visualization. You picture your hands playing it with no guitar in your hand. I can now write it from memory on staff paper. It seems so overwhelming. A superhuman task - for me to learn music in that detail. But whatever it takes, I must do... as my life will not move forward properly until I am able to successfully play this recital. And I have to believe in myself, and to feel it will be easy. Not fear it, and feel it will be difficult. So I will work until there is no more work I can do and hope to gain confidence and get permission to sign up for a date... this lifetime? This decade? This year? This summer? Please God, this summer maybe? So incredible..... Uhmm... back to my practice room? ;)

Yes Guitarista, go back to your practice room, but only for a short while. Then your performance (ta-dah!) and post the mp3 here for us to enjoy and rave over! :)


My BS is in aquatic biology
... MS in wetlands ecology

now I'm doing those things and teaching children environmental responsibility and teaching biology classes to college students.

Heck, I didn't even think that I liked people enough to want to teach - turns out that I'm not all that bad at it (and I like it).:rolleyes:

maddog

Philosophy major- minor in poli sci and psych

Computer Science, at the moment.

I guess I'm not surprised that people here are studying subjects all across the board. That's the case with me too.

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Creative Writing
Option: Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering
Discontinued Majors: Computer Science, Industrial Design

The ADD thing has made me an excellent problem solver as an engineer. I'm working on my senior project right now, and pretty much all of the design ideas are mine. Usually if someone else on my team comes up with an idea, I've already thought of it, along with two reasons that it's good and three ways that it might fail. But this is all not extremely useful, since I suck at documenting what I do. I loathe paperwork. And I put off applying for jobs until the last minute, so now I don't have one lined up for when I graduate this may. All in all though, at least it's only taking me five years to graduate with a BS in engineering.

Is anyone else here in an engineering field? Maybe we could compare notes.