I am 33yrs old and I am applying to graduate school. I have recently been diagnosed with ADD/depression, which will explain the horrible grades i made. I didd make the dean's list the last two years of school, but i nearly flunked out of school my first couple of years. Anyway I have to write a personal statement and some essays. I want to know if you all would put in your essay or personal statement that you have ADD and is since a better person since you found out.
I really want to get in, but do you think that it would hurt me? I am going into the medical field.

I am 33yrs old and I am applying to graduate school. I have recently been diagnosed with ADD/depression, which will explain the horrible grades i made. I didd make the dean's list the last two years of school, but i nearly flunked out of school my first couple of years. Anyway I have to write a personal statement and some essays. I want to know if you all would put in your essay or personal statement that you have ADD and is since a better person since you found out.
I really want to get in, but do you think that it would hurt me? I am going into the medical field.
id only mention it in reference to how well you have acheived in spite of it and how you never let it keep you from doing the things you want to do!

Grad school apps are tricky. Each field is a little bit different. Quite often they do want to hear about your specific challenges and such, but not always.

My advice, and one I give my students applying to fields other than mine, is to ask several people that are in the field you are applying to. They can give you more specific advice on whether this is appropriate or might work against you.

Good luck! I hated the process of applying to grad school!

just wanted to see my new picture and avatar.

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It completely depends on the school. The one I'm in now, yes. Some others, probably not. I think the advice about asking around is the way to go. When in doubt, probably better not to, you can always update individuals who need to know this later.

Cheers,

B

I put it on my application last year. Then again, I'm in graduate school for behavior analysis and this field is very helpful for person with ADHD.

I'm with Barbyma - it depends on the field, for the most part.

However, I think it's a good idea to put it in your application if it explains some things. For instance - I was diagnosed before my senior year of college and went on meds right away. There is a HUGE increase in my grades my senior year. I wanted to explain why my grades weren't very good and then why they were great that one year. I was hoping they would consider that.

Good luck!

Many (all?) graduate programs will make the first cut via evaluation of grades, test scores, essays, etc. The next cut is usually based on an interview. I would advise that you write your essay based on why you are a competitive candidate in terms of your scientific ability and interests, and motivation to help people (the latter if it's a professional degree you plan to pursue). After you get the interview and they ask why your grades went from poor to better, you can explain your experience with overcoming the challenges of ADD, if it seems appropriate, and you still think it's necessary.

This opinion is based on my own experience.
When I applied to graduate school, I too had an inconsistent record - poor grades in the beginning, and much better ones in the end. I tried anyway. I was invited for interviews just about everywhere I applied, and it was at these interviews that I was asked to explain the improvement. My guess is that they were impressed by and curious about the significant change in performance.

Just a side note - it doesn't hurt to have strong letters of recommendation too.

Good luck.

The program is an accellerated Nursing to Masters in Nursing. I actually want to be a FNP and specialize in Mental Health. The first part of the process is to be accepted into a program which does not have a Mental Health specialty, and then proceed from there.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INPUT!!

I am doing a post-bacc in Fall to make up for my undergrad grades - showing that, post-diagnosis or with meds, you are fully capable of doing exceptional work will let them know you're not making it up. I think they will need some proof that you have shown improvement since getting on meds.

I don't understand what you mean by a "better person".
I think you mean something else. (eg more aware of others challenges in life; more adaptable; etc.)

It is expected that any student's first year marks are crap.

If you had anything going on in the second year, you may want to mention that. (eg. illness, family stress, trying to get diagnosed.)

I have always been told that Grad Skewl Admission Committees look at your last 2 years of marks. (And GREs, GMATs, LSATs, MCATs, etc.)

Emma

Emma

Lee03,

is that an MN, or an MScN?

When I was in my BScN, our Grad Skewl head came and talked to us about the various Grad Degree types.

An MScN is a super-duper Serious "Academic/Research" degree. It does not sound wise to do this MScN degree unless you plan to be come a "University Professor", or Professional Nursing Researcher.

**NB. You don't have to do an MN or MScN -- in order to do an NP (Nurse Practitioner), at all Universities.

If it were me, i'd do the NP, then consider the Masters. ;) Then, if you cannot handle the MN/MScN, you will still leave with your "NP".

Emma

ECU- has accellerated Nursing program which means that if i have a bachelors degree, I can become a nurse in one year and automatically be accepted into the masters degree program in which I would obtain a NP. Duke University is also ofering something similar, I will be applying there also, I will obtain my BSN but have credits transfer to my masters degree as well. I am really hoping for duke because they are closer and although they cost like 5 times as much, they have and excellent reputation as well as some of the best ADD coaches (which is included in tuition Yeah!)
I understand the "better person" aspect, I am the same person, just now I understand why I am the way I am. I actually did have some family stresses in undergrad, as well as trying to get diagnosed. Thanks for your advice.

The universities in NC, in order to obtain a Masters in Nursing, you must be a nurse (BSN). I dont want to become a Physician's Assistant, because you dont have to be a nurse for that. With my NP, I can open my own practice with a PhD psychologist, and write scripts.
One of my original reasons of becoming a nurse was because I like it and the convenience of scheduling with my family, but now that I have been diagnosed and my brother has been diagnosed with schizophrenia (paranoid), I must complete this so I can educate my family and other families like mine.
So if anything strange happens, I will still be able to practice as a nurse.
Are you an advanced nurse? If so in what? What kind of nurse are you?

I am not an RN.

I have almost two degrees.

First i did my BAH Psychology. (Took most of the BSc curriculum courses, though.)

Second, I have completed 98% of my BSN, but am unable to graduate. ADD means i cannot pass the 0.5 credit of advanced
-=Statistics=- for my BSN.

So here i am looking at a very bad future, and stuck in poverty.

Since i am unable to pass that course, i am unable to get my BSN and RN.


Thank you ADD,

Emma

I want to know if you all would put in your essay or personal statement that you have ADD and is since a better person since you found out.
I really want to get in, but do you think that it would hurt me? I am going into the medical field.
I did, and I did because I felt that my accomplishments (despite my difficulties) spoke volumes about my potential as a grad student. If I hadn't included that information, and they based their decision solely on my undergraduate grades, I wouldn't have gotten a second look (2.6 gpa undergrad, barely). With three published journal articles and four graduate level classes taken as a probationary undeclared student (3.9 gpa), I suppose I presented my argument well enough to be accepted and I was. :)