I know from reading the previous poll on education that many members of this forum have earned their college bachelor's degrees. This poll is designed to find out how many of us (like me) took more than normal (usually four years) to do so. Reasons can include leaves of absence, incompletes, transfers, etc.

My suspicion is that with our tendencies to procrastinate, tolerance of risk, impulsivity, distractability, etc. that this delay will prove to be common.

Ed

Hmmmm should have added the poll option of *Yes, and I am still working on finishing! LOL

I've got 68 undergrad credits, but I have been out of school for 7 years and am making plans to return and finish soon!!!!!!!!

I have an AS and need 6 more credits for my BA...took me 7 years to get that far. I was dx'ed after. Thinking of returning to finish up the BA and get another AS in computer something? IT, gfx design.

I tried 3 times and did not finish. I am now 45 and I do not think I will get a degree. I am a supervisor in a lab and have somehow managed to work here for 15 years and move up. I still have a hard time with paperwork.

It took me 6 years. Goofed around the first two then when I picked a serious major it was a 4-year program. It wasn't too bad... would have been tough in 4 years though.

DO you think being diagnosed will make a difference in your progress irish_guy? Do colleges have to make accomodations for ADHD? Just curious..

Me, I started college 9 years ago, dropped two classes, failed one got a C in the other. went back that year took one class failed. Went back a year later too four classes failed. Had no clue about ADD until now & firmly believe had direct impact in school issues. I want to go back now that I know but I want to be sure I am either on medications or have some sort of plan directly addressing the ADD, or both. So that's why I am asking about whether you think the diagnosis will make a diff now. Thanks,

Here's a link with lots of info/sites on ADHDers getting accomodations at college..

http://www.add.about.com/cs/offtocollege/

It took me 9 years to finish my 4-year Bachelor's program; 5 years to finish my 2-year Master's. I got distracted by life a lot.

Wow once again I feel right at home here.....I took eight years to get my bachelor's degree after 2 leaves of absence and two major major changes. I guess starting at 17 without a clue as to what career I wanted to pursue after graduation had something to do with that!

I lost my dad after freshman year so part of the delay was adjusting to the new reality of paying for a very expensive school on my own, but that only explains a small part of the delay.

Maybe another poll should be....."are you the kind of person that is inspired to do something in spite of overwhelming odds if someone else tells you that you can't do it??"

Thanks to all who have posted so far. Sorry I left off the "working on it now" option.........this was my first poll!

Ed :o

It took me 19 years from start to finish for my BA, but I took time off in there to work, etc. That was before I found out I had ADD.

I feel your pain Ed.

I started college at 17 as well thanks to skipping 2nd grade. *thanks the nuns*

After my diagnosis this all finally makes sense, too bad it was after my last semester at college. I started in 1995 and to this date I do not have my degree. I went in as a computer science major because the computer was basically the only thing that could hold my attention for more than 20 minutes.

I chose the state college in my town because it was the cheapest around and I found the classes to be too easy and actually a step down from my honors high school classes. I quickly lost interest and usually got C's and D's. 4 years later I transferred to another state school figuring that the change of scenery and living on campus would help out. It made things much worse.

I always looked forward to starting the semester. I kept promising myself that this would be the time for me to do well. I would be really good about going to class and dooing homework but after a couple tests that I aced it got easy agian and I got bored. There were 2 semesters where I had a 3.8 and made the deans list but the rest were between 1.3 and 2.6.

I quit out of frustration and went into the workforce, which was not a bad idea at time since my job was paying me $18 an hour. I got laid off in Jan of 02 and have been struggling to find a comparable job since there are too many people out there with experience and degrees and I am lacking my degree.

Now that I have been on adderall for a while I really want to go and finish....if only for finishing's sake. I want to say that I finally got it done.

A diagnosis definately makes a difference!!! I've spent 7 years and only have an AA degree and half a bachelors! I found out last year about ADD and it has helped. Colleges (private schools may not, but state schools do) HAVE to provide reasonable accomodations for ADD because of the Americans with Disabilities act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. In my school, the Student Life Office provides these services.

Hey Ed!
I also started school right after hs graduation without a clue as to what to do! That led to a couple of major changes... Right before graduating with my AA degree, I also lost my father and that required a lot of adjusting. He was my support through out college... At this point, it seemed like all the odds were against me, and like you, I felt that I had to continue cuz I couldn't do it. Maybe not in those exact words but it was definatley implyed!

Many stories similar to mine here! I took ages to complete undergrad & have completed a masters by coursework that should have taken 2 years (but actually took me 4 1/2 years).

Distraction is worst for me. Luckily the post grad had lots of group work. I seem to do better in a group rather than working alone.

One question that is on my mind is how many of us knew we had ADD while we were still in school, versus how many of us found out only after we left school for good that there was a name for what was going on?

This may inspire me to start another poll (now that I have figured out how to do it!)

In my case, as I am one of the older members of this forum, my diagnosis came long after school was in my past. I wonder what might have been different if I had been diagnosed back then and sought treatment? Who knows!

Thanks to all who responded so far.

Ed

"how many of us knew we had ADD while we were still in school, versus how many of us found out only after we left school for good that there was a name for what was going on?"

Boy do I hear you :eek: I was diagnosed in the last year of my masters degree. My life would have been much different if diagnosed in high school. I even found my old high school reports & the doctor said they are typical of ADHD. The meds I'm on now help me to focus which has always been a problem for me. Next time I study I'll also be able to ask for accomodations.

I graduated high school in 1976. I had no idea I had ADD. Everyone just figured I was just a "crazy musician".

I went to a junior college with a good music program. After about a month I got some part time music gigs in Las Vegas and enrolled in school there. That did not work out so I went back to L.A. and enrolled in a different college there (I think I comleted a whole semester). Then I moved out to Hollywood and started playing gigs and taking classes at a music school. I then got a gig in Canada and went there for a few months. I came back to L.A. and took a few classes here and there.

Somehow I ended up in the Army and did 8 years there. The last two years i took night classes. When I got out I took more night classes and ended up with my Bachelor in Accounting at age 32. So I sort of got my BA in 4 years (once I really started at age 28). So I guess i just had 10 years of false starts!

However, I did complete my MBA in 2 years (started at age 38 and finished at age 40).

I started right out of high school, and failed out after 2 years of Cs and Ds, because i didn't do my homework. after that, my parents took a friend's advice and i got a diagnosis (this past June). Now, i'm ready to try again, armed with medication and information. We'll see how much it helps. I'm changing my major (away from CS), and it looks like very little will carry over. I'm looking at 5 or 6 years, total.

Hey fencer, what're you changing the major towards?

> I'm changing my major (away from CS)

I can't really comment yet, because I'm only 20 and I have yet to take a break from school...
I may get a bachelors about the same time I would have in a conventional college.. I am not quite sure yet, though.
I racked up 45 college hours at state universities, before I was diagnosed.. After my 3rd semester at college (that didn't end too well grade wise), I figured that the normal route really wasnt my thing.. So I hunted around a bit and found an allied health school with a program that excited me (cardiac ultrasound).. I've been going there for 6 months now, and am set to 'graduate' from there in a year.. The downside is I have to have a bachelors to sit for a registry exam... So I found a distance learning school, that will take a whopping 63 of my credits that I will earn at the school I am currently at... So after my 'graduation' (a certification, not a degree), I will have about a year and 1/2 of college left to get my bachelors, or 30-40 credits, whichever comes first.. If all goes well, I will still be the class of 2006 :)

That was a mouthful.. hope it made sense

Hey fencer, what're you changing the major towards?

> I'm changing my major (away from CS)

no idea yet, suggestions are welcome. I'm thinking maybe languages, philosophy, or sociology.

Languages are great fun. How about teaching? Lots of directions to go in that field, great for ADDers and very rewarding.

At 18 (in 1980) I began college--I FINALLY finished a BA in Psych in 2002! Lots of false starts, distractions (like traveling, getting married and getting divorced!), etc. I think that lack of focus as well as lack of interest in most subjects helped slow down the process.

Once I found mental illness :D , the degree came a bit easier. I am due to graduate from a Masters program in 2 weeks--(IF I actually buckle down and refresh my foreign language skills), and begin a new one in September! I'm pretty sure meds would have made a HUGE difference in my earlier educational adventures, but I am hoping that with meds and accomodations this degree will be less daunting.

paul-
that is actually kinda creepy; i've been considering teaching. the only problem is that i feel a need to support my family (not that i'm all to sure there will be such a thing). in other words, i feel obligated to have a high-paying job. i suppose college profs don't do too shabby...

Let's see I am 42 now and have stopped and started several times. I was going to college out of high school with undiagnosed ADHD. Things made no sense to me. I did not understand why I had to take all that history, and english, and government and SPEECH (scares me, because I use to talk through my nose) and even PE. In my opinion it had nothing to do with my accouting major. So I started skipping classes and actually failed aerobics. (No laughing please, JK) So I started working. Once I moved to Houston, I realized, hey, I need this degree, so here I go again, and the bad thing is that this semester, I don't think I can make it. To broke to go.

So I started skipping classes and actually failed aerobics.
I have failed 'aerobic dance', because I thought I dropped it in time, and stopped attending... Every other PE credit I also wound up dropping, luckily by the deadline, cause I skipped class too much.. :o

Hmmmm, maybe there should be a corollary question, “How many started a four year program, ran out of steam, and switched to (and finished) a two year or similar program?”

Kay started in a four year program and lasted a couple of years before she blew up. She transferred to a diploma program and slid through it in no time.

I started as an EE, switched to Sociology, and wound up studying General Systems Analysis in the graduate school of Painting, Design, and Sculpture. I went for a full four years, but never had enough related credits for a degree.

I don’t have a clue what it would be called, either. When I needed gainful employment, I took a correspondence course in electronics. It fit with the EE course work, I guess.

We both blew right past the limitations that our odd background might have imposed. We also both took more courses as we needed them to handle our jobs. Some of it resulted in college credit, and some didn’t.

Kay is a corporate Director, as well as Director of Nursing; she does stuff like designing and implementing an entire educational program for Certified Nursing Assistants, and then reorganizing her staff to adapt it to the newly minted CNAs.

We both find information and learn what we need to know whenever it’s necessary, too. I’m considered to be an expert on stuff that didn’t exist when I was in school, and I’ve taught several courses on it. Having the degree wouldn’t have meant diddly as a qualification.

How many of us count that kind of educational effort when we’re evaluating our personal success? (Eboy, we’re looking in your direction again…)

But we both also harbor the persistent idea we’ll finish some degree or another, someday. Maybe when we need it. Oh, well. Welcome to the monkey house, eh?

Part of our problem is that we have had a serious, lifelong project that has kept us engaged. We can’t really see ourselves as not being educated, and we consider education to be a continuous process.

The degree becomes sort of an abstraction, and the details of getting it can get to be too much of a distraction. This is exactly the experience of our oldest son, Chris.

He got to the point in his PhD program where he was getting calls from famous people, one a Nobel Laureate, with offers to come work with them. He is still one of only a handful of people in the world that understand the deeply twisted math of the physics he was working on.

But the details of being in the program slowly became decoupled from his studies, and when there was enough distance, he took his masters and booked.

So: it can happen at any level. I don’t think the experience has to do with the actual step of getting the degree at all. It’s related more to the way the educational system is inappropriately structured, and how that affects us.

I arbitrarily restructured my educational experience to fit my ADDer self. I got a terrific education, and thank goodness to Carnegie-Mellon for allowing me to do it. But the catch-22 is they can’t give out a degree for it without risking their accreditation.

I'm not sure if I read that right but it seems the suggestion was to go to college for the education and forget about a degree. Pretty cool plan! College really can be a great place to learn fun stuff. My ADD isn't terrible and I was willing to do what they said and am thankful for the opportunity to be in a supportive environment for learning.

Translation: lots of school was fun and fascinating. More fun than the real world for sure. I am ADD enough that I wander around in aimless circles without some support and university did indeed provide that support. The 'real world' on the other hand is awfully mundane in comparison. So it's worth going to college even if it doesn't work out as long as you don't get too worried about the actual degree.

Funny thing, I just posted to another thread about my time pursuing an undergrad degree...

This will make 27 years and counting...

My diagnosis of poster child for adhd, which can be traced to pre-school, has been documented this year...

As it stands today I will graduate with approximately 185 credits, a few more than the usual program requirements of 120!...

Good Luck to All...

:cool: sneekkers:cool:

I graduated from high school in 1974. Graduated with a four year degree in 1989 - fifteen years! I graduated from law school a month before I turned 40. It's never too late. Susan

Hi!

I took longer than usual to finish my BA. I couldn't decide on a major and nothing interested me. A few years later I went for my MA but I had to quit for two reasons:

1. I couldn't find a thesis topic
2. I couldn't do the "schmoozing" part of it. The politicking with fellow classmates to get them on my side and to get them to help me fight for my ideas. I felt alone and I dropped out. However, I left the door open. Sixteen years later I have called my old school and told them I was coming back!

Some of my teachers are still there and willing to help me. I think I will succeed this time around because:

1. I never give up. I am like a samurai about some things. If I really want to, I can do it!
2. I have since found out about ADD and am going to see what kinds of support is available to people like me.
3. I love the subject matter of what I am studying.
4. I feel I am setting a great example to all those who may need the inspiration.
5. I have found a thesis topic.
6. I feel a strong spiritual connection that this is what my higher power wants me to do.
7. I now know that there are some advantages to ADD. I can hyperfocus (concentrate well, if conditions are right); impulsivity (I know how to make a good first impression, know what to do in a jam), etc. I just have to know how to use them.
8. Eternal Optimism
9. Ability to reinvent myself
10. I'm a Sucker for a good story, and I want to see a happy ending!

(Please do not post sarcastic replies to this message. I'm not living my life to please you, I'm living it for me!)

I don't think you'll get much of that negative feedback here.

Yours is a great story and contains so many themes that recur throughout other threads as well. I particularly liked the samurai reference to not giving up........I know that well and your word sounds so much better than the one I was using (bulldog).

I'm happy for you and wish you well.

Ed

I only took college classes where I would actually learn things.(Calc 3, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Physics.)
I was not about to pay good money to sit bored in a class.

I have however reached the pinicle of my career because I am positive that I would need a degree get above my department manager position.
Director that I report to mentions every year that I should get my Bachelor's degree. I just bite my tounge so that I do net tell him that I do not even have my Assosiate's degree yet.

Maybe I should become an actor and get an unearned PH.D like Bill Cosby did. lol

Now that I am much older, it is even harder for me to go back to school because it will be even more boring to me. I never understood why they make you get Phys.Ed and Sociology(communism) credits anyway.

ADDisGR8, that's exactly why I dropped out of grad school! Well, that and the depression.

So according to the poll 86% of us took longer than "normal" although from reading I have done lately I see that fewer and fewer students of all types with and without ADD graduate in the standard number of allotted years due to extensions, interruptions, leaves of absence, transfers which result in lost credits, etc.

Still.....86% is staggering to me and says two things right up front: standard systems with institutionalized practices don't fit us very well, and...........that we don't give up!

Ed

I have an 60 college credits (an associates degree) and additional credits. it is however taking longer for me because i need to take the assesment part of the entrence exam which i cannot seem to pass. But come hell or high water I am going to finish.




caree

I am really off my rocker today as you can see. What I ment to say in my previous email was I need to pass the math part of my entrance exam so I can get into my chosen 4 year college


sorry for the typo,

careem

I started school in 1990 and started and stopped until 93. At that point I had only eared about 60 hours or so towards my undecided degree. I returned in 1999 and forced myself to focus! That was very difficult. I graduated with a B.S. in Communication Studies in 2001. So in total it took me 11 years. I have recently been diagnosed with ADD and am still realizing the impact it had on me. I have all the classic symptoms. It is great to find somewhere where other people are facing similar obstacles.

Now I'm applying for law school. Please wish me luck! :)

So according to the poll 86% of us took longer than "normal" although from reading I have done lately I see that fewer and fewer students of all types with and without ADD graduate in the standard number of allotted years due to extensions, interruptions, leaves of absence, transfers which result in lost credits, etc.


Not all of us have the time or money to go to school in the spring/summer. If you leave out spring/summer, you will have to take quite a load each semester in order to graduate on time. Another problem at my school is the way certain courses are offered. Some courses are only offered one time per year, as in one semester with one section of the course.

I have been struggling through school lately. Mainly due to lack of motivation. It's quite bad when you pretty much teach the operating systems course/lab yourself and correct the professor's faulty source code but cannot even pass the course because you have no tolerance for the actual useless work (copying source code out of a book and compiling it) that is to be done.

I only have about one year's left of credits to go, but I contemplate continuing school. The only reason I see for actually being formally educated is simply for that piece of paper that gives you a competitive edge in the workforce and greater pay. It is pretty sad that employers tend not to base pay on actual performance, but (formal) education. As I have to work in order to pay my bills, I really do not have the time to do any actual learning anymore as school takes up the rest of the time. That would make a good line: "I'd like to sit down and learn something neat, but I have to go to school instead!" School makes me regress instead progress. Moreover, the current job that I have is filled with educated people who absolutely refuse to actually pull out a manual and read it. They tend to preach to me that education is the only way, yet it is obvious that these are "classroom-only" people. I fear that if I continue to work for them, I would be expected to attend training sessions like them, which happen to be intrinsically useless to someone like myself.

Sorry about the rant. It is school time, you know! :)

I didn't flunk (In my college only F is a flunk), even with most my more important grades being on C+ to D (I do have a B+ also, to say, on core courses), I'd graduate next summer-- even I'm considering re-taking the same subject in somewhere adaptions are better. Hong Kong's adaptions is close to nil; few do recognize adult ADD at all.

Very old thread, but interesting anyway.

It took me 10 years, 5 colleges, and 4 times changing my major to graduate.

It took me 8 years. I dropped out after first year because I just couldn't cope. After that I went back full time, then part time and am finally finishing this year.

I was just recently diagnosed & just started meds. I'm starting my second degree in the fall so we'll see how that goes!

I have attended 4 colleges and thinking about goin to a 5th to finish my bs degree. I am so close, but still not there!

This is the beginning of my 6th year. I've taken 3 semesters off in total here and there. I could prolly graduate this year maybe... eh. Prolly wait till next year, I don't feel like breaking myself over it. Plus I feel like, once I graduate... wtf am I gonna do anyways? Go get a higher-paying drone job somewhere with my degrees, so I can now secure my place in the lower echelons of the middle class? Pointless.

Dunno. I've faired alright overall. I'm managing a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA. Taken psychology, biochemistry, physics, and math concentrations. I had ambitions to go into neuroscience, but I kind of lost my visionary fuel for that. I could care less about any of it anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love learning - I just hate school/academics. At least going to class and such does provide me with some mindless stimulation, so that's beneficial.

I started with Accounting for a year. . . boring to say the least.
then architecture, waaaay more interesting, but thanx to a few boring subject I am spending this year finishing subjects (history is very boring in any course) before I carry on to finish my degree in two years time. a 5 year course and I am hopefully gonna do it in 6.

Oh, knowing you got ADD does help, not having the cash or resourses to do aything about it sux.

Just stumbled across this site - wow, I have found a place to call home!

I most definitely took longer than others & still working on it. I must say though; I thought I was just stubborn for having not given up when the chips were stacked against me. Good to see many of us have the "never say die" attitude. On the other hand, I have always wanted to go to law school (whenever I finish my undergrad) and just the mere thought of applying scares me half to death! One step at a time I guess...

An absolute pleasure to be here.
All the best to everyone in their pursuit of life's goals. ;)

I first tried uni straight out of high school - and started failing units in my first semester. Somehow I managed to stagger through for 5 semesters full time before crashing out. Then taking a semester off, changing course and going back part time. Still ended up crashing out with no degree. Fast forward nearly 20 years from crashing out first time... I have been diagnosed, I am on meds that help me concentrate, and I am doing well enough that I am likely to be accepted to go on student exchange next year to China (I am doing a BA in Chinese/B Commerce in Accounting course). I think it is pretty obvious that ADD had a big impact on my attempt to get a degree first time around. My marks at uni (my course average last semester was 79 vs 48) seem to tell me that! I just hope my marks are as good this semester. Now if I can just actually FINISH all my exams....

After high school, I went to a local community college, made so-so grades on average...graduated after 4 years. Then went to a 4-year institution....didn't do so well! Wasn't prepared for the level of difficulty (I got really tired of some of the teachers telling me "You need to write more!")...only lasted a year and a half. Went to work in the public sector full time for like 6 years before deciding to take a stab at college again. Took an Education 301 course online through a university, did well on it, but got aggravated after being unable to set up an appointment with a local principal to do classroom observation (never could get in touch with the principal!) and got fed up and quit. This past summer I tried going back to the community college to take a couple of online courses, but half of everything in the world hit me and I just couldn't do it. This fall I reapplied for one of the online courses and--no surprise--I've gotten too far behind. The professor did give me an extension--said I have a C in the class up to this point--but I'm just kinda tired and don't think that I can finish. I feel just worthless. I keep trying though, and that's the insane part. Just wondering if I'll ever graduate before 40!

I hate that feeling of banging your head against a wall no matter how hard you try or what reasonable goal you're trying to attain.

I'm definitely considering taking an extra semester. I'm a junior now and finals are driving me nuts...I'm taking 20 credits, 4 of which is retaking a class I got a C- in (and still might not get an A this time). My gpa's a 2.8 now..which isn't terrible, but not where I want to be if I want to go to a good grad school.

I also don't know how this semester will turn out...I might fail structural analysis :( and I've used enough excuses already...

11 years... 1991- 2002. Plus I have 9 hours of grad credits. Found out about ADD-I (where is that hyperactive part again?) around the time I graduated, when my Dad was dying. He never knew or understood why his son was a total loser. Knowing what I know now, I would have joined the marine corps or pursued a construction/trade career instead of college (welding always interested me). Now I'll probably be stuck with s*** jobs the rest of my life.

What I forgot to mention is I dropped out a couple of times, got married to the wrong person and divorced her, changed majors 3+ times (once I was forced to, because of my math grades) and graduated with a double major. I had all A's except for one class in my 2 majors, both of which are utterly useless for finding a job.

Yes yes yes. I'm still working on it. I don't even want to say how long it's been or the setbacks I've had. :P I will say it's included two changes in major and schools and three leaves of absence, which hasn't helped speed things along at all.

Right now, I can only handle two classes at a time and even that tends to overwhelm me at points so it's slow going (especially after having to withdraw in the fall because I was too stressed and overwhelmed in general).

It's frustrating as hell but I'm trying not to get too down on myself about it.

ETA-
Also, my GPA is in the toilet despite stellar grades because of untimely withdrawals over the years. This upsets me greatly.

I'm 25 years old and have been attempting to get my Associate degree for a few years now.

Last semester I took ONE online class, English 100, eventually dropped it due to not being able to complete the work on time.

That's my life story. Take a class, end up doing poor, dropping it. I've had times where I didn't drop it in time and had to take an F.

It gets me depressed. I so badly want to do well in school.

After high school, I went to a local community college, made so-so grades on average...graduated after 4 years. Then went to a 4-year institution....didn't do so well! Wasn't prepared for the level of difficulty (I got really tired of some of the teachers telling me "You need to write more!")...only lasted a year and a half. Went to work in the public sector full time for like 6 years before deciding to take a stab at college again. Took an Education 301 course online through a university, did well on it, but got aggravated after being unable to set up an appointment with a local principal to do classroom observation (never could get in touch with the principal!) and got fed up and quit. This past summer I tried going back to the community college to take a couple of online courses, but half of everything in the world hit me and I just couldn't do it. This fall I reapplied for one of the online courses and--no surprise--I've gotten too far behind. The professor did give me an extension--said I have a C in the class up to this point--but I'm just kinda tired and don't think that I can finish. I feel just worthless. I keep trying though, and that's the insane part. Just wondering if I'll ever graduate before 40!
You've just written my entire life story.

Wow. I'm amazed.

I feel for you. I keep trying too lol. Even if I get pushed down, I get back up just to try again.

You've just written my entire life story.

Wow. I'm amazed.

I feel for you. I keep trying too lol. Even if I get pushed down, I get back up just to try again.
We're in pretty much the same situation, aren't we?

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you known that you had ADD or ADHD?

We're in pretty much the same situation, aren't we?

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you known that you had ADD or ADHD?
I was diagnosed a few years ago and have been on Adderall XR for a few years now. It hasn't helped tremendously but it does help some.

I have been attempting to get at least an Associate degree since I turned 19 years old. I'm 25 now.

I took one class last semester, English 100. I dropped it midway through because I could not keep up.

I know I can do it, I know I can. I have to some how apply myself and make myself do it.

I just wish it came easy for myself.

I was diagnosed a few years ago and have been on Adderall XR for a few years now. It hasn't helped tremendously but it does help some.

I have been attempting to get at least an Associate degree since I turned 19 years old. I'm 25 now.

I took one class last semester, English 100. I dropped it midway through because I could not keep up.

I know I can do it, I know I can. I have to some how apply myself and make myself do it.

I just wish it came easy for myself.

I was recently given some samples of Strattera by my family doctor. They seem to help a little, at least, so I will probably contact her to prescribe some more for me. I've never tried Adderall but have read some good things about it...

Looks like you and I kind of have the same issue going on: trying to make ourselves apply things and stick with them. I do have an Associates degree and am trying to (eventually!) obtain a Bachelor's. Of course, trying to do that along with being married and working full time Monday through Friday is going to be a bit of a challenge for me. At least, though, you are still trying!

I finished my college degree in four years, because I declared my major during the second semester and enjoyed the area of study very much (sociology & cultural anthropology). However it took me three years to finish my graduate degree (two year program) because I always procrastinated when it came to finishing up my thesis. I had considered doing a PhD but the thought of writing a doctoral dissertation made me sick to my stomach. Anyone out there have ADD and successfully completed a Phd program? Please share your thoughts with me.

I'm in my 5th year getting my BS in mathematics. I could have been done in 4 but I kept dropping classes I found boring (but had to take anyway) or took Fs because I never got around to studying or doing the homework. JUst last semester I found out the trick to feeling motivated to go to class, do the work, and come out with 3 As and 2 Bs. I enrolled in 16 credit hours and worked full time (40 hours a week). I'm also on Concerta. When I have all 3 working for me, I feel stimulate enough to actually do what I need to do and want to do.

I'm in my 5th year getting my BS in mathematics. I could have been done in 4 but I kept dropping classes I found boring (but had to take anyway) or took Fs because I never got around to studying or doing the homework. JUst last semester I found out the trick to feeling motivated to go to class, do the work, and come out with 3 As and 2 Bs. I enrolled in 16 credit hours and worked full time (40 hours a week). I'm also on Concerta. When I have all 3 working for me, I feel stimulate enough to actually do what I need to do and want to do.
If you don't mind, please share this trick of yours? I am sure everyone here would love the advice. I know I would.

I am still working on mine. Start back on the fourteenth.

I started college (on a full scholarship) in fall of 1992. I graduated in December of 2005. There were only a small number of semesters I was not enrolled (maybe a total of 2 years out of the 13 were "out of school"). I actually looked at my transcript this morning. I made the dean's list twice (Spring 2001 and Spring 2004) without exception, every other semester I failed *at least* one class, and often, all of them. I managed one 'A' in grad school before failing 2 classes (pretty much the kiss of death for grad school).

nice post, I can't believe this is the first time I have seen or read it! just discovered today about checking "new" posts--what a revelation! :)

Anyway, it took me till I was 36 to FINALLY get a BS degree. I went to college at the normal age, but flunked out my senior year. Having LD and ADD really is no joke. The degree hasn't really helped one bit. And I'm not even in the same field anymore.

I'm in the process of completing my undergraduate work now, and it's definitely taken me longer than I originally expected and wanted.

I took a year off after graduating high school, which was my own choice, so that little delay I'm totally okay with. But once I started in 2002, I never expected that I'd be sitting here now at 24, still looking at possibly one or even two more years until I have a degree. I know it's not necessarily a really long time in comparison to some, but I've always put a ton of pressure on myself with academics, so it's been hard for me to accept even this. All of my friends and peers I grew up with finished school 'normally', and so have been done a few years now. It's hard not to compare myself to them.

It's been pretty consistent for me since I started college, that I would end up dropping a course every semester, which always dropped me down to part-time status. I changed my major at the end of my sophomore year, and then I actually left my first school after the first semester of my 3rd year there. Moved back to Chicago with plans to transfer to a school here, but decided to wait until Spring Semester of last school year to actually start back, because I wanted some time to try and get my life reorganized. I had been living three states away and had to initially move back in with my parents when I first came back, and I really wanted to be already moved into my own place and at least somewhat settled into it before I attempted to go back to school, and at a new school, to boot.

So I started back last Spring, full time course load and managed to get through it alright, save for one class with a horrible professor that I just gave up on. Then this past fall, I made the mistake of registering for 5 classes. I dropped one, but still unfortunately had a really awful semester overall. I failed one class, had to request an incomplete in another, and I'm amazed that I got A's in the other two, given how utterly scattered and unable to focus I was by the end of the semester. I'm really hoping that the upcoming semester won't be such a disaster, but I'm having a hard time being optimistic about it right now. :-\ I just wish I didn't feel so unable to get my crap together.