Good point. While i was my little tiny LAC a 24 year old student came and ended up being a friend of my group. Never gave it a moment’s thought after the original recognition that she was “older.”
This is very helpful. Thank you.
Someone who is on an academic appeals committee wrote this and I think it helpful:
My committee would consider you a strong case for reinstatement if you can provide:
a) documentation from your health care provider of a diagnosis
b) confirmation from your health care provider that you have been compliant with treatment and your situation has improved so that you are better equipped to handle the stress of college life if/when you return
c) details of how you plan to continue your treatment plan after you return to school
d) details of other campus resources you will use and adjustments you will make after you return to enhance your success
e) some statement of how you know your treatment has improved your situation (e.g. if you have been working during your time away and found it easier to handle the stress and demands as your treatment progressed)
I respectfully disagree with Hannah. I think experiencing illness or injury of a significant nature causes dramatic jumps in maturity, and widens the gap between a somewhat older student and traditional-aged undergrads. I also feel that alienation is stronger for a 24 year-old than, say, an obviously older student like someone in their 30’s or 40’s, because although the student returning from leave looks like they fit in, they really don’t.
I think it is much less painful to join other non-traditionally aged students, whether at a program like Smith’s or Wellesley’s. a continuing ed or adult learner or degree completion program, a low residency program (Goddard), or even an online program.
And depression rarely just goes away forever. It gets more manageable with experience. But I think it is wise to work toward acceptance that the journey has changed, rather than trying to go back to the beginning and try to do the original journey over or rejoin it.
@MaineLonghorn - would you be willing to share (even privately) about your son? I’m curious to know how his condition may be similar, and steps you took to place him, etc. Thank you.
@compmom - you seem to have good insight into the situation. She has not had good luck with doctors. Meds have not helped her and she says CBT isn’t helping either. She’s starting with a new psychologist next week. I don’t know about ‘less evident bi-polar disorders.’ Would you be willing to email back and forth privately? Thank you.
I’ve had many patients take the GeneSight or something similar test, which is done with a swab from mouth. Sometimes a person says all the anti depression meds don’t work, and these tests can confirm they need a med from a different class, e.g. meds for a bipolar disorder. It would help if you DD is on the right meds, and can see someone well trained in CBT. Even so, I have the highest respect for students at UChicago. It’s a tough environment, and may not be the best place for you FD at this time.
MaineLonghorn ‘s posts about her son can be found if you do a search in this forum.
Meemie I am PM’ing you. Do you know how to find PM’s?
I agree with the poster who suggested it might be time for inpatient evaluation and med trials. Or something similarly drastic, like renting a place near good help, for a few months, if your small town is not near a big city.