MichiganMan7

I have ADD and it wasn't until the summer after freshman year I was diagnosed, and treated.

My gpa in ninth grade: 3.16
My gpa in tenth grade: 3.79

Obviously the treatment helped, however my best case scenario gpa for myself come application time will be about 3.74. If i'm applying to selective schools, this is obviously under the average, and I'm wondering whether it would be worth it to mention the diagnosis/improvement, or to just leave the topic alone?

milkweed

I think it would be useful to explain the low freshman gpa in your application-- there is a section in the common application for additional information:" Additional Information Please attach a separate sheet if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application."

MichiganMan7

would it be negatively viewed by the admissions committee? I feel like having a learning disability could be just as negative; I don't want to sound like I'm making an excuse.

StacJip

I can tell you that in my son's case (he did not have ADHD but had other challenges) it was very important that he reveal the journey he went through. His transcript had either N (for incomplete), Cs, Ds and maybe one or two Bs in special education classes for his first three years of HS. His last year of HS he had straight A's in college classes he took through local extension schools and the community college and A's in HS classes. He did not have particularly good SAT scores. He wrote meaningfully and honestly about the challenges he faced in learning how to learn and deal with his disability. For him it was a painful to open up and write about his challenges. His doctor also wrote a letter that was included in his application. And he got recommendations from people who knew his journey and knew that for him learning was not something that just came naturally but something that he had to work at so he could overcome a significant disability that had made it impossible for him to learn. He was only rejected by one school (Brandeis).

I think as long as you have schools that have a holistic review as part of their admissions process and are not applying to IVY-esque schools your improvement will be looked upon favorably. Especially if you those who are writing recommendations can speak about your motivation and determination to succeed and overcome the various obstacles that were in your way.

I also would make sure that you look carefully at colleges and pick schools that are right for you and where you are as a student and not schools that you perceive as being the best. I am very glad that our son did not end up going to Brandeis (which was his first choice). He is excelling at his current school and will probably have many options available to him when he applies to graduate school his senior year.