Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it sounds fascinating and would be happy to read this as an admissions officer.


They must get so tired of reading the same themes again and again. This has the very real potential to be interesting. Frankly, I'd love to read this essay and I'm not in admissions---I'd love to know how an autistic kid's brain works!

autism and neurodivergence are not at all unusual for essays the pat 3 cycles. Yes I do have access to that information.

By the same logic, should students who have a diverse viewpoint to share due to their race or religion not share it in the short answer because it might not be unique enough?

Anonymous wrote:Hannah Gadsby wrote a whole book about it. Autistic self-insight as monologue is within the zeitgeist. I wouldn’t do it for fear of being MeToo/PickMe, but maybe a male applicant can. As an AO, I’d be annoyed and wouldn’t choose him. And I am autistic.

So what is a white ASD male supposed to write for a diversity short answer?

Hannah Gadsby wrote a whole book about it. Autistic self-insight as monologue is within the zeitgeist. I wouldn’t do it for fear of being MeToo/PickMe, but maybe a male applicant can. As an AO, I’d be annoyed and wouldn’t choose him. And I am autistic.

Anonymous wrote:I think it sounds fascinating and would be happy to read this as an admissions officer.


They must get so tired of reading the same themes again and again. This has the very real potential to be interesting. Frankly, I'd love to read this essay and I'm not in admissions---I'd love to know how an autistic kid's brain works!

autism and neurodivergence are not at all unusual for essays the pat 3 cycles. Yes I do have access to that information.

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

+1000

I think it sounds fascinating and would be happy to read this as an admissions officer.


They must get so tired of reading the same themes again and again. This has the very real potential to be interesting. Frankly, I'd love to read this essay and I'm not in admissions---I'd love to know how an autistic kid's brain works!

DS wrote about this very topic and was accepted ED at T25.

Anonymous wrote:Has he been in therapy and groups throughout his childhood? Who diagnosed him? There are so many people who diagnose themselves as Autism once they widened the spectrum.

He is diagnosed by a professional with all of the thousands of $ for full neuropsych testing required to get a diagnosis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

Those who would’ve formerly been diagnosed as “Asperger’s” are stereotypically more on the gifted side of things academically while having true struggles with social communication. That’s not stolen valor. If the OP’s kid is writing about their experience, that is in no way stolen valor.

OP here. thank you PP! Although I think some of the other posters have confirmed my suspicions that people really can be very clueless about the topic so including might be a bad idea. What if AO is as stupid as "stolen valor" comment or?

If it's a thoughtful essay, I wouldn't worry about it too much. My academically gifted autistic kid has struggled with social isolation and feeling different. It's a thing and it's very real.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

Those who would’ve formerly been diagnosed as “Asperger’s” are stereotypically more on the gifted side of things academically while having true struggles with social communication. That’s not stolen valor. If the OP’s kid is writing about their experience, that is in no way stolen valor.

OP here. thank you PP! Although I think some of the other posters have confirmed my suspicions that people really can be very clueless about the topic so including might be a bad idea. What if AO is as stupid as "stolen valor" comment or?

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

Those who would’ve formerly been diagnosed as “Asperger’s” are stereotypically more on the gifted side of things academically while having true struggles with social communication. That’s not stolen valor. If the OP’s kid is writing about their experience, that is in no way stolen valor.

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

Agreed.

If he doesn’t need accommodations and can get into a top college, claiming autism seems like it could either be seen as “stolen valor” or as more of a struggle than it is. Not worth it.

Has he been in therapy and groups throughout his childhood? Who diagnosed him? There are so many people who diagnose themselves as Autism once they widened the spectrum.

DS wrote thoughtful essay about how Autism has given him a different way of looking at things for the diversity essay at a few schools. We are not going for top 20 schools but UMD is a reach/ target. DH thinks this will hurt chances as AO may assume Autism = struggle to succeed at school. Strong grades and rigor. in HS Has not taken opportunity to use accommodations in HS.

Has anyone heard anything on these situations?