Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 13:26     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.


People keep saying this, but I’ve had time pressure at every professional job I’ve held. Your boss will want something done ASAP or by EOD and if you make excuses or don’t get it done, you’re likely high on the future layoff list. And this applies to non-profits I’ve worked at too.


“Time pressure” and “60 minute timed, closed book exam” are two very different things.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 13:19     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
I’ve posted before on other threads. I am a successful big law attorney with physical and learning disabilities who received accommodations all through school, including extended time.

I get accommodations for some of my conditions (I can work from home when I’m having certain medical issues and I get more flexibility for medical appointments). I don’t get or need extended time at work. I’m not the fastest worker on my team, but that’s not a huge problem. I work longer and later if I need to.

I am top performer at work, and no partner or client has ever raised a concern about my timeliness in my seven years as a practicing attorney.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 13:12     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.


People keep saying this, but I’ve had time pressure at every professional job I’ve held. Your boss will want something done ASAP or by EOD and if you make excuses or don’t get it done, you’re likely high on the future layoff list. And this applies to non-profits I’ve worked at too.


Needing extra time on standardized tests is not the same as not being able to do anything with speed. Agree with the poster who say they find careers that are suited to them…. Like Governor of California, Famous Actors, Journalists, Inventors, Artists, Entrepreneurs, President…….


If his processing speed were higher, he might not have let his state burn multiple times.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:57     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.


People keep saying this, but I’ve had time pressure at every professional job I’ve held. Your boss will want something done ASAP or by EOD and if you make excuses or don’t get it done, you’re likely high on the future layoff list. And this applies to non-profits I’ve worked at too.


Anecdotes are not data though

Conversely, I never had this happen in any professional job I had. My projects were long term with reliable deadlines. Both government & a trade association

Frankly, everyone needs to stop acting like people with low processing. ADHD, learning disabilities, etc are a Gen Z phenomenon. I’ve got a boomer uncle that very clearly has (undiagnosed) ADHD & dyslexia. He found a job that fit his strengths & preferred lifestyle.

People with these struggles have always existed & will adapt to the workforce as they always have. They just won’t be told they are stupid one million times along the way
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:48     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They probably find careers/jobs that suit their pace and style and personality. Someone with high anxiety probably doesn't end up being a pilot or a surgeon - they wouldn't make it through, they wouldn't enjoy it even, and they'll find something that fits them better. Someone who needs a lot of extra time probably doesn't end up in clinical medicine as a physician given how fast paced that job is forever. There are so many jobs - I'm sure people end up in something they are good at.

This.


This describes my sister. She needs to take a test or generally have any organization with things that don't interest her? She's going to struggle hard. Put her in front of a computer and ask her to code something? She will flourish. She's made herself quite a lucrative career with her ability to code
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:44     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.


People keep saying this, but I’ve had time pressure at every professional job I’ve held. Your boss will want something done ASAP or by EOD and if you make excuses or don’t get it done, you’re likely high on the future layoff list. And this applies to non-profits I’ve worked at too.


Needing extra time on standardized tests is not the same as not being able to do anything with speed. Agree with the poster who say they find careers that are suited to them…. Like Governor of California, Famous Actors, Journalists, Inventors, Artists, Entrepreneurs, President…….
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:35     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.


People keep saying this, but I’ve had time pressure at every professional job I’ve held. Your boss will want something done ASAP or by EOD and if you make excuses or don’t get it done, you’re likely high on the future layoff list. And this applies to non-profits I’ve worked at too.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:18     Subject: Re:What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Academia is wonderful for teaching you to think, analyze, absorb information, make connection, communicate and gain expertise in a field of study. It is not vocational career training! Jobs and employment are very different than college. When was the last time you took a mid term or final at your workplace? When did you last listen to a two hour monologue and read associated texts? When did you last write a term paper?

Amazingly despite large differences in career functions, the pattern of what is required in colleges is strikingly similar across fields and does not mirror what you do in the workplace.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:16     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:They probably find careers/jobs that suit their pace and style and personality. Someone with high anxiety probably doesn't end up being a pilot or a surgeon - they wouldn't make it through, they wouldn't enjoy it even, and they'll find something that fits them better. Someone who needs a lot of extra time probably doesn't end up in clinical medicine as a physician given how fast paced that job is forever. There are so many jobs - I'm sure people end up in something they are good at.

This.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:08     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
I agree that this world isn't fair. Play the game - we didn't create the game but learn to play if you want to survive.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:07     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
They probably find careers/jobs that suit their pace and style and personality. Someone with high anxiety probably doesn't end up being a pilot or a surgeon - they wouldn't make it through, they wouldn't enjoy it even, and they'll find something that fits them better. Someone who needs a lot of extra time probably doesn't end up in clinical medicine as a physician given how fast paced that job is forever. There are so many jobs - I'm sure people end up in something they are good at.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:06     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is such an uninformed question. It’s like asking how anyone who is not thin, tall, lithe, and graceful can possibly succeed in life when they clearly won’t be successful as a ballet dancer. Perhaps if we just starved teens who aren’t thin enough, or made them have height stretching surgery?

There are people who are really good at thinking fast and reacting quickly, and those people may pursue careers that use those skills. Other people will choose careers that fit the skills that they have. Maybe some people will choose wrong initially and have to pivot. That’s how life goes.


This can actually be some people with ADHD. They need the adrenaline rush to focus. So if they can get through med school, they're more likely to end up working in the ER.


But not those with slow processing speed. Yet how many DCUM parents will tell them that.

That is so true that it was literally a line in The Pitt.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:05     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Like all people, they ultimately choose careers that are actually suited to their stengths, and are not diminished by their needs. Also, because of the accommodations, they were not held back in advancing their learning and education due to basic skills that take much longer to develop in ADHD brains, some of which eventually do develop, as do life long stragetgies to cope that did miraculously show up at age 10 or 15, but by 25 can be much improved through a decade of repetition and practice and hard work.

^^ did *not*

+1
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 12:03     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The standardized test results should include a note indicating whether accommodations were provided.
The only way this makes a difference is if schools start reporting the percent of students using accommodations AND the rankings start to incorporate that data into the formula. Otherwise both the kid and the college are better off getting the accommodations and using the inflated score.


+1

I could see this working. Colleges do have to report the percent of students registered with the disability office. I wish these numbers were publicized more. The ACT used to mark if people got extra time until the early 2000s but faced legal challenges, so can’t see individual students ever having to disclose again.

Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 11:51     Subject: What do Grads do AFTER all the accommodations?
Anonymous wrote:The standardized test results should include a note indicating whether accommodations were provided.
The only way this makes a difference is if schools start reporting the percent of students using accommodations AND the rankings start to incorporate that data into the formula. Otherwise both the kid and the college are better off getting the accommodations and using the inflated score.