ADHD- I need a Second Chance!

[Altair91]

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Hello all! I'm from Long Island, New York, its nice meeting you!

So I've hit a pretty bad road block and I'd really appreciate some advice!

I started at Stony Brook University in 2008 with no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I tried engineering and it just wasn't rewarding enough for me. So with B's and C's in 200 level Math and Physics courses I switched to pre-med and declared a biology major. Pretty bad mistake considering how challenging Organic Chemistry and Neurobiology were at Stony Brook for me.

As I was struggling through those classes, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2010. Nothings been the same since. I had to face the fact that I was different; that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was; and that statistically I had less of chance of excelling in my career as compared to people without ADHD. On top of that, my family and I have never really formed a real social support group. I sank into depression and my grades plummeted too.

I graduated Stony Brook with a 2.75 GPA. I guess that means I practically have no chance in the professional world. I've been recommended to take the 'academic enhancer programs' at Hofstra University and Adelphi which may help my chances.

I don't know how much I can really change my GPA but I do know that I most definitely want a career in Physical Therapy. I've volunteered for months now at a Physical Therapy clinic and a hospital and I find the work incredibly rewarding.

I've also been recommended to pursue an Associates Degree in PTA with the hope that I could jump into physical therapy school from there. However, APTA states on their website "Individuals who are seeking a career in physical therapy should not consider PTA a 'stepping stone' to a physical therapist career..."

I'm really just not sure what to do anymore. I really need a second chance at this. I need to prove to myself that I can conquer my ADHD. Any thoughts?

I'm going to start filling out my applications to Hofstra and Adelphi. Hopefully by then I'll have some answers. Thanks guys 😀

 

[pubicsymphysis]

Thanks for sharing that story. It must of been a struggle and challenge to live through those moments. I know I'm going to sound like a broken record but I can relate in some ways. Came out of college with 2.45 GPA with plenty of Ds/Fs/Ws. Did not know what I wanted to do with my life. As soon as buckled down, I did well and brought my cGPA to a 3.1.

I don't know how much of your prereqs are done but that would be the first thing I focus on and bringing that GPA to a 3.0. As far as your story, use that to your advantage and share that through your personal statement. Besides the stats, schools do like to see the intangibles. Make sure you highlight your strength. But I'm sure like many people will tell you.. You need to bring those stats up to really have a fighting chance. It is just getting tough every year. We all get chances in life, we just need to capitalize on it. Best of Luck.

 

[pubicsymphysis]

And be strategical in where you apply. That hurts a lot of applicants.

 

[Litlwarrior08]

Hello all! I'm from Long Island, New York, its nice meeting you!

So I've hit a pretty bad road block and I'd really appreciate some advice!

I started at Stony Brook University in 2008 with no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I tried engineering and it just wasn't rewarding enough for me. So with B's and C's in 200 level Math and Physics courses I switched to pre-med and declared a biology major. Pretty bad mistake considering how challenging Organic Chemistry and Neurobiology were at Stony Brook for me.

As I was struggling through those classes, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2010. Nothings been the same since. I had to face the fact that I was different; that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was; and that statistically I had less of chance of excelling in my career as compared to people without ADHD. On top of that, my family and I have never really formed a real social support group. I sank into depression and my grades plummeted too.

I graduated Stony Brook with a 2.75 GPA. I guess that means I practically have no chance in the professional world. I've been recommended to take the 'academic enhancer programs' at Hofstra University and Adelphi which may help my chances.

I don't know how much I can really change my GPA but I do know that I most definitely want a career in Physical Therapy. I've volunteered for months now at a Physical Therapy clinic and a hospital and I find the work incredibly rewarding.

I've also been recommended to pursue an Associates Degree in PTA with the hope that I could jump into physical therapy school from there. However, APTA states on their website "Individuals who are seeking a career in physical therapy should not consider PTA a 'stepping stone' to a physical therapist career..."

I'm really just not sure what to do anymore. I really need a second chance at this. I need to prove to myself that I can conquer my ADHD. Any thoughts?

I'm going to start filling out my applications to Hofstra and Adelphi. Hopefully by then I'll have some answers. Thanks guys 😀

There are two Touro Campuses in NY state, check out their GPA requirements

 

[Azimuthal]

You should take advantage of the resources available for students with similar backgrounds. I'm sure most schools will provide a note taker, etc.

Here comes the honest part. Your cGPA, thus far, is well below the average of entering students. As mentioned before, you need to buckle down and concentrate on your prerequisites. Get ~155/155 on the GRE and start researching the schools with requirements at or below your stats.

I do not know the severity of your ADHD, but bear in mind that you may have more challenges ahead of you than you may initially think. There are people, thus faculty out there that believe ADHD is over diagnosed or that you are using ADHD as an excuse for poor academic performance, etc. After all, you managed a few paragraphs on SDN just fine. My advice is to mention the ADHD in your application, but not as an excuse.

Also, are you getting any form of intervention to help you concentrate?

 

[NewTestament]

You have to be honest with yourself. Do you think you are capable of getting the minimum 3.0 cGPA that you need to be considered? If you think you have that ability, then go for it. How well do you think you can do on the GRE?

You might as well make an attempt. Like Azimuthal said, I would not emphasize your diagnosed ADHD because some schools might look at that as a cop out or an excuse for your poor academic performance. Many other students have had worse impairments and handicaps and have managed to succeed in school. People diagnosed with ADHD are not confined to flipping burgers and digging ditches.

The only person who give you a second chance is yourself.

Kevin

 

[jdaniels360]

Also, are you getting any form of intervention to help you concentrate?

Adderall!!! 😀

 

[Altair91]

You should take advantage of the resources available for students with similar backgrounds. I'm sure most schools will provide a note taker, etc.

Here comes the honest part. Your cGPA, thus far, is well below the average of entering students. As mentioned before, you need to buckle down and concentrate on your prerequisites. Get ~155/155 on the GRE and start researching the schools with requirements at or below your stats.

I do not know the severity of your ADHD, but bear in mind that you may have more challenges ahead of you than you may initially think. There are people, thus faculty out there that believe ADHD is over diagnosed or that you are using ADHD as an excuse for poor academic performance, etc. After all, you managed a few paragraphs on SDN just fine. My advice is to mention the ADHD in your application, but not as an excuse.

Also, are you getting any form of intervention to help you concentrate?

Thank you so much for your reply!

So the Academic Enhancer Program at Hofstra will be 34 credits of pre-requisite courses (Physics, Orgo etc.) I'l be retaking classes that I got mostly C's in. Even if I do get A's in all those pre-requisite courses at Hofstra, i'm wondering if PT schools will calculate my GPA by replacing my C's with A's or by taking the average?

Also, isn't the GRE scaled on a 130-170 scale for each section? Aren't I looking for a score thats more like 320+?

As for ADHD, I know its pretty disingenuous to use that as an excuse. But I know for sure that I have it and members of my family have it. My original post took about an hour to complete. I reread and edited it about 4 times before I was satisfied enough to post it lol. I guess I plan to add the ADHD as a component of why my grades were suffering, but yeah I won't bank on it.

As for medication, I was prescribed to take Adderall for school but I honestly hated it. It felt like my mind just locked up and my thought processes weren't flowing as well as they used to. I'm almost sure it had some kind of negative impact on my grades. I was also very depressed at the time so I really have no idea how helpful it is for me. Anyway I weaned myself off of it last year. I havn't seen my Psychiatrist since. Honestly want to get through life without being dependent on drugs. But it might be worth trying it again once classes start.

Thank you so much, I'm glad to know there are people out there who actually care 😀

 

[Litlwarrior08]

Thank you so much for your reply!

So the Academic Enhancer Program at Hofstra will be 34 credits of pre-requisite courses (Physics, Orgo etc.) I'l be retaking classes that I got mostly C's in. Even if I do get A's in all those pre-requisite courses at Hofstra, i'm wondering if PT schools will calculate my GPA by replacing my C's with A's or by taking the average?

Also, isn't the GRE scaled on a 130-170 scale for each section? Aren't I looking for a score thats more like 320+?

As for ADHD, I know its pretty disingenuous to use that as an excuse. But I know for sure that I have it and members of my family have it. My original post took about an hour to complete. I reread and edited it about 4 times before I was satisfied enough to post it lol. I guess I plan to add the ADHD as a component of why my grades were suffering, but yeah I won't bank on it.

As for medication, I was prescribed to take Adderall for school but I honestly hated it. It felt like my mind just locked up and my thought processes weren't flowing as well as they used to. I'm almost sure it had some kind of negative impact on my grades. I was also very depressed at the time so I really have no idea how helpful it is for me. Anyway I weaned myself off of it last year. I havn't seen my Psychiatrist since. Honestly want to get through life without being dependent on drugs. But it might be worth trying it again once classes start.

Thank you so much, I'm glad to know there are people out there who actually care 😀

Ask your doc / primary physician about Strattera (you don't have to go to doc/psychiatrist every month for script renewal and its a different set of drugs from the adderall) also sometimes antidepressants are prescribed. I couldn't take Adderall it depressed me and took the fun out of life. Also research various diets and vitamins---high doses of caffeine may have opposite effect on a true ADHD to calm and help you focus.
Regarding essays -- you can include your story about ADHD-when you recognized difficulties, what they were, how you worked to overcome it, any success stories, how you use strategies to study / learn.....etc. Be sure it doesn't come across as an excuse...make it shine as an asset for yourself.
There are also several devices on the market for note taking, recording etc. lifescribe is one-its pretty cool google it.

 

[Dragonash]

Hello all! I'm from Long Island, New York, its nice meeting you!

So I've hit a pretty bad road block and I'd really appreciate some advice!

I started at Stony Brook University in 2008 with no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I tried engineering and it just wasn't rewarding enough for me. So with B's and C's in 200 level Math and Physics courses I switched to pre-med and declared a biology major. Pretty bad mistake considering how challenging Organic Chemistry and Neurobiology were at Stony Brook for me.

As I was struggling through those classes, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2010. Nothings been the same since. I had to face the fact that I was different; that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was; and that statistically I had less of chance of excelling in my career as compared to people without ADHD. On top of that, my family and I have never really formed a real social support group. I sank into depression and my grades plummeted too.

I graduated Stony Brook with a 2.75 GPA. I guess that means I practically have no chance in the professional world. I've been recommended to take the 'academic enhancer programs' at Hofstra University and Adelphi which may help my chances.

I don't know how much I can really change my GPA but I do know that I most definitely want a career in Physical Therapy. I've volunteered for months now at a Physical Therapy clinic and a hospital and I find the work incredibly rewarding.

I've also been recommended to pursue an Associates Degree in PTA with the hope that I could jump into physical therapy school from there. However, APTA states on their website "Individuals who are seeking a career in physical therapy should not consider PTA a 'stepping stone' to a physical therapist career..."

I'm really just not sure what to do anymore. I really need a second chance at this. I need to prove to myself that I can conquer my ADHD. Any thoughts?

I'm going to start filling out my applications to Hofstra and Adelphi. Hopefully by then I'll have some answers. Thanks guys 😀

I'm somewhat in the same boat as you. I have ADHD combined type and struggled with school (prior to its diagnosis). I dropped out of school, but after getting help for the ADHD, came back. I started with a .7 GPA, and now I'm up to a 3.0 with a couple of semesters left. I worry about the same types of things, but my kinesiology advisers said that as long as you show improvement and have stellar recommendations from your clinical work, everything should work out. This doesn't answer any of your questions, but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone 🙂

 

[Litlwarrior08]

DRAGONASH congrats on your current and future successes