Best elite school for Disabilities

gjgjggk485669 · 07-05-2008, 03:57 PM

OK, here is my deal.

I am a white kid from an elite school in a suburb of Washington DC. I have documented LD issues and some minor psych problems, but have still not done very well in school. I love learning, and really wish I could go to a school where people value learning for its own sake. I am hoping to somehow exploit my LD problems to get into a good school. What school would be best for this? What about Stanford? Brown?

Do not reply with some rant about what a dishonest little hack I am. If you something useful to say, say it. No ethics. No BS.

AnonyMom · 07-05-2008, 10:36 PM

I can't even tell you how much I hope this is a troll.

AnonyMom · 07-05-2008, 11:04 PM

OK, just looked at your other post, and it seems possible that you are an actual kid asking this question. You seem to be asking not which elite schools are best in terms of accommodating and supporting students with LD's, but which school would be likliest to see your LD as a hook. Do I have this right?

According to your other post, you have a 3.8, pulled down by a 9th grade year in which you received some low, but not failing, grades. If, in fact, these grades are partially explained by your not having been diagnosed, medicated, or accommodated properly, and after getting appropriate help in your soph year, you pulled things up, then colleges should know this as it will put your freshman year into context.

Beyond this, I'm not sure what you could conceivably do to "exploit" your LD. What do you have in mind? If you self-identify in the admissions process at UC Berkeley (one of the schools you mentioned in your other post), your application will be considered separately, taking the LD and its possible impact on your achievement into account.

But the fact is, you have a 3.8, despite a rough 9th grade year -- which a number of schools, including Stanford and Berkeley, won't even look at -- at what you describe as an elite prep school, and a 2040 SAT. These are strong numbers, particularly if you retake and bring up the SAT a bit, or try ACT. If you have genuinely overcome something very challenging to achieve at this high level, you might consider letting colleges know in the additional information section, but remember that GC's at elite private schools have relationships with admissions reps from elite colleges; if you make something up, the possibility of it backfiring in a way that will be fatal to your application is not inconsiderable.

Also, it is hotly debated whether it's wise to self-identify in the application process. You should really talk to your GC before you do so, particularly if your exploitation plan involves presenting yourself as a variant of the poor little match girl. My thought is that you have a very decent academic background and numbers, and some EC's that colleges will find appealing. It seems to me likely that you will screw up your chances of being accepted by doing something weasely in your presentation of your LD, and this seems like a particularly bad choice given your solid credentials.

Also, what is it about your plan to exploit your LD that would make you a "dishonest little hack"? If you really have an LD that has an impact on your ability to function, then revealing that to colleges would not be dishonest. It sounds as if you're planning to lie about something, and I'm not clear what that would be or how lying about an LD would be helpful in college admissions. What is your thought process here?

gjgjggk485669 · 07-06-2008, 04:11 PM

Thanks a lot for the response.

Exactly, I want to know at which school my LD would be seen as a hook. I can prosper at any school for 4 years time, it will be worth it.

Any Ivy league schools? Do any have really good LD admissions systems? What about a special admissions processes for those who self-identify?

Best!

AnonyMom · 07-07-2008, 02:53 AM

Gjg -- I think you missed the guts of what I was saying. Elite schools do have LD students in their populations, but those students are not lower or marginally achieving kids who were accepted because their LD's propelled them across the finish line. They're there because despite their LD's, they were competitive applicants using the same criteria as other applicants.

I don't think there is really good data as to the desirability of self-identification at top schools, but many people believe that at some schools, self-identification may be risky. (Anecdotal info suggests that Berkeley may be an exception, but again, check with your GC before you accept this as gospel.) And remember that there was enough data to support the notion that identifying students as LD by flagging their special administration SAT's was stigmatizing with a negative impact on college admissions that the ETS was forced to stop flagging through heavy duty litigation. Clearly, if college admissions committees had been crying, "Oh joy, a really high achieving LD student who needs accommodations! Let's accept her at once!" there would have been no point in pursuing the court case that forced the ETS to stop earmarking, and no possibility of prevailing.

The problem I have with your posts is that you seem to be asking for help in hoodwinking admissions committees. If you have an LD and you want to self identify in order to better convey a full sense of who you are, fine. But your "dishonest little hack" comment leads me to think that you may be planning to misrepresent yourself. Since you are quite aggressively clear about your lack of interest in hearing comments on the moral or ethical implications of what you hint you are planning to do, I tried to present you with some practical reasons not to proceed...although, if you are really planning to present yourself in a dishonest way that will "exploit" your LD in the hope of tricking elite colleges, perhaps finding that you've shot yourself in the foot will be a useful learning experience.

gjgjggk485669 · 07-07-2008, 11:32 AM

Here is what I want to know:

Which schools will my LD be seen as a "in".

I know Berkeley has a special admissions process, do any other top schools??

emeraldkity4 · 07-07-2008, 12:00 PM

You may want to review this thread
What top university is most friendly to students with learning disabilities?

TransitionSucces · 07-09-2008, 09:57 AM

Although I suspect this response will be in vain, I ask you to think about this:
Your "dishonest little hack" comment implies you are trying to exploit the system to obtain something you don't deserve - is this true? If not, and you truly ARE an outstanding LD student, quit using that terminology.

Those who use the system (i.e. students whose parents buy them diagnoses for extra time on SATs, etc) only make things more difficult for those who truly have disabilities -- and they have enough hurdles, as is. It also tends to make people unschooled in disabilities cynical as to their existence. I have heard adults who I thought knew better say that LD/ADD is just an excuse. Even the former Provost at Boston U, which used to have one of the finest LD programs, dismantled the program and required all students to be retested, as a result of whether this "LD thing" is really valid.

One other point -- a prestigious school is not the be-all and end-all. I know plenty of students, including my own son, who excelled at "good" schools and were favorably recognized by employers or grad schools. Do you really think a competitive pressure cooker is the best place for you to stand out?

gjgjggk485669 · 07-09-2008, 10:30 AM

Maybe I was wrong about the "hack" comment. Thanks, guys.

I am a so-so LD student, not an extraordinary one.

I want to go to a top-notch school because I am interested in learning, just not in school, if that makes any sense. Outside of school, I have decent EC's, started a summer business, and I interview very well. I am getting a business internship senior year at a high end DC lobbying firm.

I want to be a lobbyist when I grow up like my Dad, and going to a elite school is pretty important for this profession (I'm a Penn legacy).

No Sat II's, also, which is why I am not applying to Princeton.

CA looks nice! Any schools besides Berkeley that have special admissions processes for declared LD students?

Any Stanford info would be appreciated!

Thanks and all the best!!

gjgjggk485669 · 07-09-2008, 11:14 AM

All the LD dept's I have emailed from the Ivy League say they have no special app process. That's a bummer.

Stanford has an LD liaison in the normal adcom pool. Not sure of their role in the admissions decision.

Tsdad - Care to offer some insight on USC??

MissFiskeGuide · 07-09-2008, 05:20 PM

I don't mean to be disparaging, but having a learning disability will not give you a leg-up in the admissions process at most of the "elite" (USNews top 25?) schools. There are tons of students out there with stellar applications - 4.0+ GPA, perfect standardized test scores, zillions of hours of community service, leadership positions, varsity athletics, glowing recommendations, etc. These schools view the "whole package," so successful applicants tend to have many strengths, and maybe one or two weaknesses. If you believe that disclosing a learning disability will patch up the weakness in your 9th grade grades, then go ahead.... On the other hand, I do not believe that one bad grade in 9th grade will taint your application. I think you would be best served to refrain from mentioning your learning disability, as there are thousands of kids who do not have that "baggage". Tons of kids make mistakes during freshman year of high school. It seems that you have done very well ever since.

Also, if you plan to apply to elite universities, you really should take at least two subjects of the SAT II or the ACT. Your SAT score is not bad. Did you have extra time for it? Maybe you can improve it, but don't worry if you can't.

UCLA77 · 07-09-2008, 08:25 PM

Even Berkeley weeds out the users.

You have to have the stats whether you are LD or non-LD. If you are LD, but otherwise meet the criteria, if accepted, you will get the help you need. That's a federal mandate.

Berkeley does an "augmented review" where the student QUALIFIES (big proviso) for admission, but the stats may be a bit skewered. In other words, just because you've been diagnosed since 3rd grade or whatever with an LD, doesn't mean they're going to let you in with a 3.0, 1200 SAT score.

What they and any other college is looking for is whether you have the potential to succeed with their programs.

MQD · 07-10-2008, 02:47 PM

Any ideas for high functioning Asperger kids?

gjgjggk485669 · 07-10-2008, 05:37 PM

A good friend of mine has Asp. syndrome.

He went to CC for a year and now is it UMD. He thinks it is OK. Big social scenes can be very difficult for kids like this, though. Stay away from large state schools!

I would recommend a LAC in an isolated location where he/she will not feel overwhelmed and have attention, help, etc.

TransitionSucces · 07-11-2008, 09:38 AM

Gjg,
I have a master's degree from Penn's grad school of education. I also live in the Philly area, so I have returned for conferences. I am amazed at the extensive support Penn gives to students with LD - the first time I went back as a professional I was floored, expecting an Ivy school wouldn't be that concerned with LD students.

I work at a community college in the suburbs of Philly where you would THINK they would serve LD students, since they comprise a good percentage of their student body. Yet there is only a director and a part-time tutor. Penn puts my college to shame.

If you are a legacy (I hope that means more than just parents - that's not enough) and think that may improve your odds, I would visit the disability dept at Penn. Disclose to them anonymously and ask for advice about your application.

I think, however, you have to be less obsessed about Ivy League. In the end, it's your college record that will impress a lobbying firm. If you are at the bottom of the heap because of competition with extraordinary students, you will be demoralized. Why don't you look at schools like GWU or American? I would think going to school in DC would give you the BEST chances of getting a lobbyist position. Internships led to employment for BOTH of my sons. Think about it - when an employer is hiring, would she rather hire a known quantity or a risk? Impress the heck out of them this summer, and take it from there!

Good luck... glad to see you are changing that "user" mentality!