My daughter has been diagnosised with ADD since she was in 8th grade. When she was diagnossised we never told the school. Now that she is a junior in high school and will be appliying for colleges next year, i was woundering if we should tell the colleges she is applying to that she has ADD and give them the appropriate paper workfor it, or should we inform her high school and let them go though the proceders of informing colleges, or should we just not tell anyone like we have been doing?

Another question i had was, my daughter has recieved "average" grades though-out high school, while talking level 3 classes (on a 1-4 level scale, 1 being the lowest and 4 being highest). If we do deside to let the colleges she will be appling to know about her ADD, is it taken into acount durring the admissions process. Will she have a better chance at being accepted? A worst chance? Will they even know about her ADD when they are determining admissions or not?

...And if anyone has any personal experience with this i would love to hear it!!!
Thanks So Much

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I know at my school they sent out a form to all the applicants where you'd fill in any disabilities that you have and describe how they've affected your performance in high school and what types of accomadations you would require. They specifically say that filling out the form won't hurt your chances of getting in - it would be illegal for them to discrimanate against people with disabilities including ADD. You could always contact the centre for students with disabilties at the colleges she is applying to and ask them what they reccomend.

welcome to the forums, relaxing!

I would be surprised if the high school tells possible colleges about your daughter's ADD due to privacy laws. They really should only pass on transcripts.

If you and your daughter want the colleges she's applying to be aware of her being ADD then it's her responsibility to tell them. Colleges are not supposed to discriminate based on disabilities by law.

The reasons to tell a college about being ADD:
(1) could explain lower grades or any drastic changes in grades (usually due to meds and/or accomodations) in the admission/application essay
(2) To get accomodations (once registered for classes at a specific college)

If your daughter is interested in accomodations, she will want to check out the disabilities program at the colleges she is looking at to make sure they are willing and able to work with her (they are supposed to).

Here is a thread that might help you and your daughter out:

trouble with Admission
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14520

I hope this is helpful to you :)

Best wishes to your daughter!!

I informed the college I am attending that I am ADHD. I was given a list of the accomodations they allow.

Quiet test room
Free tutors
Extra time for tests

I choose not to use the accomodations because I haven't needed to. But, should the time come I will.

Just remind your daughter that her advisor is there for a reason!!!! If she should feel overwhelmed by her classes or is not grasping something to go to her advisor immediatly and they will help her adjust her class schedule, drop a class or point her to a good tutor.

Good luck.

Should you tell them -- yes. For the reasons the other posters gave, that she will have options for accomodations where she chooses to attend.

By law they are not allowed to discriminate based on a disability, but if you would like them to consider that she has had to overcome challenges, she should discuss it in her statement. I personally think it would be a plus as long as it doesn't come off as self-pity, which it doesn't sound like it would.

Good luck!