High schools are, quite frankly, not designed to accommodate neurodivergent students. IEPs and other programs help, but the fact that they are necessary simply illustrates the gap. We have good news though; college offers a fresh start, with much more freedom to explore topics of serious interest to you, and to set aside the ones which are not.
Of course, this requires getting to college first; always a difficult prospect for any student. This general challenge is compounded for neurodivergent students, who face a unique set of challenges in the process. In this article, we’ll cover how the college application process differs from the norm for these students, and how best to navigate every aspect of it. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Understanding the Student
Every student is unique, with their own challenges and strengths. Understanding these for the student is key to guiding them through the admissions process, as they will inform every aspect of it, beginning with whether or not they apply at all.
The fact is, college is not the right choice for every student; this is true for neurodivergent students as well as their peers. One of the things you have to consider is whether or not a student is ready. This requires both hard and soft factors. Hard factors include:
- Is the student academically prepared for college?
- Do their grades and test scores indicate they will be able to get in?
- Does their IEP indicate they will be able to function in a collegiate environment?
Then there are the soft factors:
- Is the student able to take care of themselves? Can they get up every day, manage their own bank accounts, deal with transportation, do their own laundry?
- Do they have interests and passions that can be pursued through college?
- Can they navigate the complex social relationships which occur on college campuses?
The answer to all of these does not need to be yes. There was a theoretically competent student in my dorm who arrived not knowing how to do laundry, and then made the problem worse by asking a date for help since that was women’s work. These are competencies we need to determine for all students, so we can help them build realistic college lists, and determine the path forward for their future.
Step 2: Building a Plan
Once you understand where your student is, and where they would like to end up, we can begin building towards that. Here it is good to begin early; we like to do that with all of our students, but students who struggle with executive function can find the application process exceptionally difficult.
By beginning early in high school, you can start helping students build the habits they will need to succeed. High school is about growing and strengthening their independence, so when they reach the deeper waters of college and adulthood, they don’t immediately sink.
We also recommend brushing up on the college admissions process generally; we have a complete guide to the process here, covering timelines, all of the moving pieces, and what you will need to do every step of the way. College admissions have become much more intense, and by understanding what’s required, it is much easier to plan ahead.
Finally, we recommend finding students help for the admissions process. This can be you, a teacher, a counselor, or an independent consultant. You want to get them support, but not someone who will do the work for them. The application process is a great preview for college itself, and if they are unable to manage the work while being well supported, then they may struggle to succeed in college as well.
Step 3: Choosing Colleges
We explore this topic generally in our article on building a perfect college list, but neurodivergent students have some additional factors to consider. Namely, how will the college they choose be able to give them the support they need?
While all colleges are required to give neurodivergent students reasonable accommodations because of the ADA, some go above and beyond, while others simply do the bare minimum. At one end, there are colleges designed specifically for neurodivergent students, made to help support them in every aspect of the college process.
An example of this is Landmark College, a small private college designed exclusively for neurodivergent students, and their needs. While this is clearly not the right choice for every student, it is good to have options like this on your radar.
Other colleges offer extensive support to their students through their student support offices. These are required by all colleges, and provide things like ADA approved housing, transportation services, testing accommodations, and the other reasonable supports students are legally entitled to.
Note that colleges do require evidence to offer these supports to students. Some want one year, some want several; generally the IEPs and testing students get in high school are the proof colleges need to provide the support students need. That said, every college is different, and you should look into their requirements when building your college list.
Finally, many other colleges offer strong programs. You can determine this in two ways. First, you can look up their student support services or ADA office, to see what they offer; from writing centers to support staff. Next, you can look at their official statements and policies, to see how dedicated they are to supporting and welcoming neurodivergent students, and building a campus atmosphere that works for them.
Applying to College
When applying to college, there are several things to consider. First and foremost, there is no requirement to tell colleges that you are neurodivergent. We think that you should in most cases, but it is in no way required.
Second, and most commonly, comes the question of whether or not your personal statement should discuss your situation with neurodivergence, and how it has impacted you. This is probably the question we get asked the most by students and parents in this situation, which makes sense. The essays you write are one of the biggest factors you have direct control over in the admissions process.
The disappointing answer is that this depends on the student in question, and the story they are trying to tell with their personal statement. Each student’s story and struggles are different, and how best to highlight their strengths and character to colleges is unique to them.
In general, we recommend picking a topic that explores one of your most fervent passions, or which dives into a struggle they faced and overcame. This struggle does not need to be their neurodivergence, but it can be. If their particular challenges with neurodivergence touched upon the story they are trying to tell, they should be included. But you should not feel compelled to write your personal statement about this if there are other subjects which would serve better.
The Common App offers the Additional Personal Information Section (APIS) as a place for students to discuss any factors which impacted their educational progress or extracurricular involvement. We recommend you touch on your neurodivergence here, regardless of whether or not you discussed it in another essay.
The APIS is not an essay, but a place to cleanly and clearly state what issues you contended with, and how you dealt with them. Admissions officers want to understand the full context of what you accomplished, and what challenges you faced while doing so. Doing more with fewer resources is more impressive. This isn’t a place to explain away every low grade, but to earnestly reflect on the challenges you faced.
Final Thoughts
College admissions are difficult and stressful for all students, and neurodivergence simply adds another layer to that. You face all the normal challenges of the application process, with a few added quirks along the way. We hope that this article has given you the information you need to begin your own college journey, and shown you where pitfalls may trip you up.
Of course, as with all things, having support on a challenging journey can make all the difference. Wherever you are on the path towards college admissions, Ivy Scholars can help you. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, and check out our Candidacy Building and Application Coaching services to see how we can help you.
Notes
Podcast is aimed primarily at students with ADHD, but covers other forms of neurodivergence
Led by a college admissions consultant: Emerging Educational Consulting
Note: this was back in August, we should see if they want to do one about high school activities/CB for neurodivergent students (I think Sasha may be good for this)
Seems to be generally aimed, with a few specific notes towards ADHD students
Top priorities when evaluating colleges
Securing accommodations is important
Learning disabilities, autism, adhd, other learning disorders
Education system is not built for neurodiverse students; it gets much easier outside of high school
Wrote a guide to the education process: capstone guide (look into that)
Understanding student and process
Neurodivergent students have unique needs that need to be considered; amazing gifts and challenges
Each student is different, but things in common
Gifted at being able to focus on things they love; passionate and intense on subjects of interest
Challenges: not focusing on non preferred activities, executive function, getting things down on paper, see beyond what’s right here
Need to be experts on the kids, because they need to become experts on themselves
Decide whether they are college ready: academic achievements, social/emotional health, social awareness/relationships, interests and passions that can be pursued through college
Collect both quantitative and qualitative data
IEPs, neuropsych exams, grades and transcripts, standardized tests
See if they are growing independently based on their own goals
Do they wake up every day, do they manage their own medication, manage money, manage public transportation, live independently generally
Build independent living skills; start slow and add a new habit every few weeks
Once you determine if the student is ready, then you need to understand what the process entails
We have a bunch of things different now, but other articles cover that
Building relationships with teachers
Start the process early: tiny steps build up (we also start in 8th grade)
Creating a realistic and balanced college list: big aspirations are good, but…
There are colleges designed specifically for neurodiverse students
Colleges with strong disability and support services
Even more traditional schools can have inclusive environments
Not traditional college ready: not go to college, pursue a trade, gap programs can be helpful but should not be used to prolong the inevitable
Specialized college programs: landmark and related are designed for students with diagnosed disabilities
Strength-based model places students in classes where they can access the curriculum
Worth considering, but traditional opportunities work as well
University of Arizona has the SALT program for students on the spectrum
Lewis and Clark has a great office support system
There are executive function support agencies
How IEP/504 fits into college
The binding legal document in K-12 education, prohibits discrimination based on disability
Reinforces the requirement for reasonable accommodations; IEP does not go with them, each college makes their own plan, and does it differently
What does the student need, what does the student think they need, what does the college offer
To qualify for ADA services, you need documentation; some require several years up to date
You do not need to disclose a disability on a college application
Staying organized is the most difficult part of this process
Having an application system to keep track of required documents/deadlines
The project continues even after students are in college, so it’s good to have the habits in place early
Motivating students is key; how it happens depends on you and the student
Telling the student’s story
Essay about the neurodivergence: maybe; every kid is different
Is there a better story to tell that highlights their strengths? The disability may be a part of that, but APIS exists as well
If the student can’t do the project without doing the heavy lifting, they may not be ready for college; the application process is a great test
The project does require support, but this does not have to come from parents, since teens are looking for and trying to build that independence anyway
