The rise of ADHD on elite campuses

[Anonymous]

Good for them.

[Anonymous]

Another reason not to go to school in the NE and west coast. Yes, kids are smart, but the pressure to cheat and abuse yourself and others is high. When even the college presidents and Ackman’s wife can’t complete a dissertation without plagiarism you know the environment is not just toxic but condoned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why r u so quick to assume your kids friends don’t legit have ADHD OP? Worry about your own kid and treat their anxiety.

When the friends suggest that their friends get a diagnosis, their view and intentions are clear. Inconvenient truths don’t disappear.

[Anonymous]

DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

[Anonymous]

There is a ton of overlap among ADHD, high functioning autism, giftedness, anxiety and OCD. Kids who are brilliant often have brains that are wired a bit differently.

[Anonymous]

I got hives before HS graduation because I had to memorize my speech.
I was anxious before every test and exam K-12 and college.
I have a tested IQ at the 99+ percentile.
I do not have ADHD.
Trying to get a diagnosis to get speed or time won't be a good thing come graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

PP. Because he was diagnosed with ADHD. That was the point made: diagnosis of a mental health condition followed with a proper course of treatment. The need for diagnosis was based on symptoms unrelated with academic / EC performances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

PP. Because he was diagnosed with ADHD. That was the point made: diagnosis of a mental health condition followed with a proper course of treatment. The need for diagnosis was based on symptoms unrelated with academic / EC performances.

In other words, academic accommodations were unnecessary — but enjoy the extra time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

DP. Right. What happens is that kids today - even smarts ones - are taught to check boxes. When they get to college and encounter tough, unstructured problems, they lose their confidence, get anxious, panic, and seek a cope. What they need to do is recognize their skill deficit, ask the professor, TA or other competent student to mentor them, and practice the new skill. These kids need to learn genuine achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and . . .

Stop the testing accommodations for kids newly diagnosed with ADHD in high school (if they really have ADHD, how did they previously qualify for those advanced classes and get top grades?) and encourage kids to acknowledge anxiety in novel situations and help them learn appropriate life skills to meet those new challenges.

Typically with a lot of parental support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a ton of overlap among ADHD, high functioning autism, giftedness, anxiety and OCD. Kids who are brilliant often have brains that are wired a bit differently.

All that is great as far as it goes, but the evidence clearly points to manipulation/gaming among the wealthy, prestige-seeking, and those wanting admittance to elite colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

PP. Because he was diagnosed with ADHD. That was the point made: diagnosis of a mental health condition followed with a proper course of treatment. The need for diagnosis was based on symptoms unrelated with academic / EC performances.

FWIW, DC scored 1,370 SAT in 6th grade to qualify for a profoundly gifted program. In hindsight the ADHD has been there all along, but did not manifest in poor academic performance since masked behind intelligence, as is common with Twice Exceptional kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

Can I get extra time for these bad analogies?