Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here.
Why can people on this board engage in endless discussions about ivies etc but can’t entertain an honest question from a concerned parent of an average kid?? I think I can imagine what you are describing ... might she be a good librarian? Op there is every reason to believe your kid will be fine when you consider all the paths to success but I think it’s also normal to worry.

You need a master’s degree in library science and it’s actually quite competitive to get a job as a librarian. Demand greatly outstrips supply of jobs.

You’re probably thinking of a librarian aid which is a minimum wage job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who wrote:

Hi OP - I want to thank you for writing this. My 16yr old DS is similar to your DD. very average IQ, very slow processing. He also has a diagnosis of ADHD. I spend many sleepless nights wondering if he will ever be able to get a job, or even live on his own. I want to add though that I have the tendency to freak out about stuff, and have a very "glass half empty" attitude. DH thinks I'm being totally ridiculous. I am however resigned to the fact that he will likely go to community college first, and perhaps 4 yr after that. More than likely he will go to some type of trade school. He's very charming and handsome, but also socially awkward - which happens a lot with ADHD kids.

No, no, no!!! Please believe me that CC is not the answer. He will get no support as they are not set up that way given the size and open door admissions. You have to be really mature and motivated to make it in a CC. ( I was an adjunct)

A small college ( if ds wants to go.) They have an office of special services , all do, but they will get to know him and they know add issues.

He can get to know his professors in a small school and they will work with him.

You say he’s charming... he can study marketing, real estate is a Major now, business, etc so that he can work in sales, marketing.

Please don’t write him off or compare to all the high flying students around you - I know our neighborhoods of full of them!

He will be okay if he has your “ light “ help now, and then a good small liberal arts school to develop in to the young man he can be.

He was my son a few years ago. Sending good thoughts!!!

This is PP who you quoted. Thank you so much for writing this - it means more to me than you can ever imagine. I truly thought CC/trade school was his only option, which breaks my heart because he speaks almost daily about "when he goes to college", as in a 4-yr school. I haven't had the heart to tell him "sorry buddy, looks like you're headed to community college". It would literally smash he dreams. I'm going to research schools with an open admission policy right now - thank you!!

They won't say they are open admission but they are if you are a c high school student. Mt. Saint Mary and Marymount are two in the area. To the poster that said they are expensive - they really aren't that much more expensive than 1st teir public schools (if you get in as a freshment, there are big scolarships for most students). But I will also say that supporting a learning disabled child is more expensive. We go to public middle school but pay 8,000 a year for private tutors for reading since my daughter has dsylexia. And while it is not teh cheapest route, it is probably less expensive in the long run than flunking out of CC and not getting a degree. A caveat to that would be the trade school route or a trade focused AA degree from a community college - that would be cheaper, but it would also depends on the child's interest. But I think college is an social and cultural and intellectural experience worth having beyond vocational potentional.

Anonymous wrote:I will flat out admit it. I don't think my daughter is particularly bright. She is 12 years old and has taken the WISC IV that showed her IQ as being a 110, but with an extremely low processing speed. I realize that her iq definitely puts her well in the average range, but she is so impacted by her low processing speed that for all practical purposes she doesn't come across as smart in many areas. Her teachers always have concerns about her. She has to study very hard to retain anything, and she's very easily distracted and only manages to get B's because we sit down with her to study every night. But this can't go on forever and I have a hard time seeing how she can get through college. However, what worries me even more than college is if she will be able to remain employed. To be completely honest, I just can't imagine her being very good at any job. This is extremely painful for me to admit to myself, much less post. But I am absolutely worried to death about her future, and am just trying to envision what kind of job a person like her could possibly do.

Anonymous wrote:I will flat out admit it. I don't think my daughter is particularly bright. She is 12 years old and has taken the WISC IV that showed her IQ as being a 110, but with an extremely low processing speed. I realize that her iq definitely puts her well in the average range, but she is so impacted by her low processing speed that for all practical purposes she doesn't come across as smart in many areas. Her teachers always have concerns about her. She has to study very hard to retain anything, and she's very easily distracted and only manages to get B's because we sit down with her to study every night. But this can't go on forever and I have a hard time seeing how she can get through college. However, what worries me even more than college is if she will be able to remain employed. To be completely honest, I just can't imagine her being very good at any job. This is extremely painful for me to admit to myself, much less post. But I am absolutely worried to death about her future, and am just trying to envision what kind of job a person like her could possibly do.

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here.
Why can people on this board engage in endless discussions about ivies etc but can’t entertain an honest question from a concerned parent of an average kid?? I think I can imagine what you are describing ... might she be a good librarian? Op there is every reason to believe your kid will be fine when you consider all the paths to success but I think it’s also normal to worry.

Anonymous wrote:Community college is not the best option for someone who needs support and accommodations. It is cheaper but not easier than a 4 year college and the class sizes are big some of the teachers not as good. The better option is a second or third tier private with small classes and lots of supports. Those are basically open admissions and some aren't that much more expensive than in-state colleges. You might look at regional campuses of in-state schools or non-flagship in-state schools, but I worry about class size.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who wrote:

Hi OP - I want to thank you for writing this. My 16yr old DS is similar to your DD. very average IQ, very slow processing. He also has a diagnosis of ADHD. I spend many sleepless nights wondering if he will ever be able to get a job, or even live on his own. I want to add though that I have the tendency to freak out about stuff, and have a very "glass half empty" attitude. DH thinks I'm being totally ridiculous. I am however resigned to the fact that he will likely go to community college first, and perhaps 4 yr after that. More than likely he will go to some type of trade school. He's very charming and handsome, but also socially awkward - which happens a lot with ADHD kids.

No, no, no!!! Please believe me that CC is not the answer. He will get no support as they are not set up that way given the size and open door admissions. You have to be really mature and motivated to make it in a CC. ( I was an adjunct)

A small college ( if ds wants to go.) They have an office of special services , all do, but they will get to know him and they know add issues.

He can get to know his professors in a small school and they will work with him.

You say he’s charming... he can study marketing, real estate is a Major now, business, etc so that he can work in sales, marketing.

Please don’t write him off or compare to all the high flying students around you - I know our neighborhoods of full of them!

He will be okay if he has your “ light “ help now, and then a good small liberal arts school to develop in to the young man he can be.

He was my son a few years ago. Sending good thoughts!!!

This is PP who you quoted. Thank you so much for writing this - it means more to me than you can ever imagine. I truly thought CC/trade school was his only option, which breaks my heart because he speaks almost daily about "when he goes to college", as in a 4-yr school. I haven't had the heart to tell him "sorry buddy, looks like you're headed to community college". It would literally smash he dreams. I'm going to research schools with an open admission policy right now - thank you!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who wrote:

Hi OP - I want to thank you for writing this. My 16yr old DS is similar to your DD. very average IQ, very slow processing. He also has a diagnosis of ADHD. I spend many sleepless nights wondering if he will ever be able to get a job, or even live on his own. I want to add though that I have the tendency to freak out about stuff, and have a very "glass half empty" attitude. DH thinks I'm being totally ridiculous. I am however resigned to the fact that he will likely go to community college first, and perhaps 4 yr after that. More than likely he will go to some type of trade school. He's very charming and handsome, but also socially awkward - which happens a lot with ADHD kids.

No, no, no!!! Please believe me that CC is not the answer. He will get no support as they are not set up that way given the size and open door admissions. You have to be really mature and motivated to make it in a CC. ( I was an adjunct)

A small college ( if ds wants to go.) They have an office of special services , all do, but they will get to know him and they know add issues.

He can get to know his professors in a small school and they will work with him.

You say he’s charming... he can study marketing, real estate is a Major now, business, etc so that he can work in sales, marketing.

Please don’t write him off or compare to all the high flying students around you - I know our neighborhoods of full of them!

He will be okay if he has your “ light “ help now, and then a good small liberal arts school to develop in to the young man he can be.

He was my son a few years ago. Sending good thoughts!!!

This is PP who you quoted. Thank you so much for writing this - it means more to me than you can ever imagine. I truly thought CC/trade school was his only option, which breaks my heart because he speaks almost daily about "when he goes to college", as in a 4-yr school. I haven't had the heart to tell him "sorry buddy, looks like you're headed to community college". It would literally smash he dreams. I'm going to research schools with an open admission policy right now - thank you!!

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who wrote:

Hi OP - I want to thank you for writing this. My 16yr old DS is similar to your DD. very average IQ, very slow processing. He also has a diagnosis of ADHD. I spend many sleepless nights wondering if he will ever be able to get a job, or even live on his own. I want to add though that I have the tendency to freak out about stuff, and have a very "glass half empty" attitude. DH thinks I'm being totally ridiculous. I am however resigned to the fact that he will likely go to community college first, and perhaps 4 yr after that. More than likely he will go to some type of trade school. He's very charming and handsome, but also socially awkward - which happens a lot with ADHD kids.

No, no, no!!! Please believe me that CC is not the answer. He will get no support as they are not set up that way given the size and open door admissions. You have to be really mature and motivated to make it in a CC. ( I was an adjunct)

A small college ( if ds wants to go.) They have an office of special services , all do, but they will get to know him and they know add issues.

He can get to know his professors in a small school and they will work with him.

You say he’s charming... he can study marketing, real estate is a Major now, business, etc so that he can work in sales, marketing.

Please don’t write him off or compare to all the high flying students around you - I know our neighborhoods of full of them!

He will be okay if he has your “ light “ help now, and then a good small liberal arts school to develop in to the young man he can be.

He was my son a few years ago. Sending good thoughts!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, this reminds me so much of my best friend from middle and high school. She certainly seemed smart enough to me, but I’m also 100% sure she didn’t test well. She has severe problems with math and numbers - as a senior she was in Algebra 2, the lowest math track, and even struggled with that - and was medicated for ADHD. I’m glad to say she graduated from high school and went to a smaller private college in the suburbs of a major city. She changed majors there once and graduated in 4.5 years, so not bad at all. Landed a job with the city government, just clerical work but it was stable and paid ok. But she worked hard and was a supervisor within 4 years and is now basically the 2nd in charge in her area, 12 years out from graduation. Being a good employee and working bard are super important factors. I think there’s something out there for your daughter. She might not be a doctor or a college professor, but that’s ok, very few people are!

Such good points. Unlike school (where you are required to take so many different subjects), work is something where you can choose to focus on your strengths. And when you do something over and over, you get good at it. So it's definitely possible to excel in the workplace, even if you did not excel in school.