Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Yes- the harsh replies here confirm that.

AO here again, with fka-Aspergers diagnosis myself. Do not disclose autism before admission. It’s far too risky. Do feel free to disclose how your child has assisted other autistics, that’s fine and very nice. But don’t out your child unless you’re 100% sure he’ll get in anyway (like, you have a named building or endowed chair). That’s not to say it never works, but it is RISKY and the neurodivergence awareness/insight essays are overdone. I pass on every single one. They read like lazy ChatGPT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

listen if Tim Walz as a white male can lie about his military service and not be called out by the press, this kid can certainly write about this as a male applicant. Think this is a home run

Sure! Lean into the white male privilege and mansplain how your unique and special brain works, and how you know this already at age 17-18 before any college education, .. might impress a male reader! I’m an autistic female AO reader and I would skip this candidate. Just being honest.

What I would endorse though would be a “show, don’t tell” approach. Like, show me how you’ve learned how to communicate and socialize: what have you done and how have you learned how to use the strengths of your autism to connect and be part of a community (like you’ll have to do at college). Bonus points if you can tie in research or alum from that college who is ASD, how and why you think you can benefit the college other than just your big snowflake brain and how much you know about yourself.

DP. My white, male, ASD kid is still a year away from college admissions. He's been working on social communication for years. Last year he volunteered with MCPS for their summer ELO program. He wants a job as a math tutor this year and I told him he had to get some "teaching experience" So under the direction of the teacher, he worked with younger kids on math and science projects. He was quickly able to connect to a few kids who were quirky like him. Is this the type of "show, don't tell" that you're referring to?

Bonus points if he can say that he helped the quirky kids fit in with their peers, or translated their quirkiness to the teacher, or someone aided in INCLUSION without needing supports (it’s legal to need supports of course, but discrimination is real). The most effective essays show that the writer is an advocate, not someone who needs something. Show how he will help the college, not that he knows what he will need from the college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Yes- the harsh replies here confirm that.

AO here again, with fka-Aspergers diagnosis myself. Do not disclose autism before admission. It’s far too risky. Do feel free to disclose how your child has assisted other autistics, that’s fine and very nice. But don’t out your child unless you’re 100% sure he’ll get in anyway (like, you have a named building or endowed chair). That’s not to say it never works, but it is RISKY and the neurodivergence awareness/insight essays are overdone. I pass on every single one. They read like lazy ChatGPT.

You pass on every one? Are autistic students not allowed to bring their authentic selves to their essays?

I agree with you and have advised my smart, autistic student not to write about this important aspect of their identity. They understand why which is sad.

I am bummed out that autistic kids can't "out" themselves as the note above states without worrying that it will ruin their opportunities. But what is really sad is the AO who herself has ASD has drawn such a firm line against it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Yes- the harsh replies here confirm that.

AO here again, with fka-Aspergers diagnosis myself. Do not disclose autism before admission. It’s far too risky. Do feel free to disclose how your child has assisted other autistics, that’s fine and very nice. But don’t out your child unless you’re 100% sure he’ll get in anyway (like, you have a named building or endowed chair). That’s not to say it never works, but it is RISKY and the neurodivergence awareness/insight essays are overdone. I pass on every single one. They read like lazy ChatGPT.

You pass on every one? Are autistic students not allowed to bring their authentic selves to their essays?

I agree with you and have advised my smart, autistic student not to write about this important aspect of their identity. They understand why which is sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Yes- the harsh replies here confirm that.

AO here again, with fka-Aspergers diagnosis myself. Do not disclose autism before admission. It’s far too risky. Do feel free to disclose how your child has assisted other autistics, that’s fine and very nice. But don’t out your child unless you’re 100% sure he’ll get in anyway (like, you have a named building or endowed chair). That’s not to say it never works, but it is RISKY and the neurodivergence awareness/insight essays are overdone. I pass on every single one. They read like lazy ChatGPT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Yes- the harsh replies here confirm that.

Anonymous wrote:In general, people have an unconscious bias against autism. I would not disclose this diagnosis when applying for admission. I say this as a parent of an autistic child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

listen if Tim Walz as a white male can lie about his military service and not be called out by the press, this kid can certainly write about this as a male applicant. Think this is a home run

Sure! Lean into the white male privilege and mansplain how your unique and special brain works, and how you know this already at age 17-18 before any college education, .. might impress a male reader! I’m an autistic female AO reader and I would skip this candidate. Just being honest.

What I would endorse though would be a “show, don’t tell” approach. Like, show me how you’ve learned how to communicate and socialize: what have you done and how have you learned how to use the strengths of your autism to connect and be part of a community (like you’ll have to do at college). Bonus points if you can tie in research or alum from that college who is ASD, how and why you think you can benefit the college other than just your big snowflake brain and how much you know about yourself.

DP. My white, male, ASD kid is still a year away from college admissions. He's been working on social communication for years. Last year he volunteered with MCPS for their summer ELO program. He wants a job as a math tutor this year and I told him he had to get some "teaching experience" So under the direction of the teacher, he worked with younger kids on math and science projects. He was quickly able to connect to a few kids who were quirky like him. Is this the type of "show, don't tell" that you're referring to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

listen if Tim Walz as a white male can lie about his military service and not be called out by the press, this kid can certainly write about this as a male applicant. Think this is a home run

Sure! Lean into the white male privilege and mansplain how your unique and special brain works, and how you know this already at age 17-18 before any college education, .. might impress a male reader! I’m an autistic female AO reader and I would skip this candidate. Just being honest.

What I would endorse though would be a “show, don’t tell” approach. Like, show me how you’ve learned how to communicate and socialize: what have you done and how have you learned how to use the strengths of your autism to connect and be part of a community (like you’ll have to do at college). Bonus points if you can tie in research or alum from that college who is ASD, how and why you think you can benefit the college other than just your big snowflake brain and how much you know about yourself.

DP. My white, male, ASD kid is still a year away from college admissions. He's been working on social communication for years. Last year he volunteered with MCPS for their summer ELO program. He wants a job as a math tutor this year and I told him he had to get some "teaching experience" So under the direction of the teacher, he worked with younger kids on math and science projects. He was quickly able to connect to a few kids who were quirky like him. Is this the type of "show, don't tell" that you're referring to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

listen if Tim Walz as a white male can lie about his military service and not be called out by the press, this kid can certainly write about this as a male applicant. Think this is a home run

Sure! Lean into the white male privilege and mansplain how your unique and special brain works, and how you know this already at age 17-18 before any college education, .. might impress a male reader! I’m an autistic female AO reader and I would skip this candidate. Just being honest.

What I would endorse though would be a “show, don’t tell” approach. Like, show me how you’ve learned how to communicate and socialize: what have you done and how have you learned how to use the strengths of your autism to connect and be part of a community (like you’ll have to do at college). Bonus points if you can tie in research or alum from that college who is ASD, how and why you think you can benefit the college other than just your big snowflake brain and how much you know about yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

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:

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?