The mass exodus to college started this past week. From mid-August to mid-September, students from all over the United States will go to college to embark on their studies.
In order to be successful, students need to arrive with a varied set of skills. Time management, organization, life skills, and study skills are all important. For students with ADHD or executive function challenges, these are the very skills that can be particularly challenging.
Here are 5 ways for students with ADHD or executive function challenges can prepare for the upcoming school year.
1. Apply for accommodations. Colleges offer all kinds of support to all students, so help is easily accessible. For many students with ADHD or executive function challenges, this can mean receiving extra time on tests and exams or having preferential seating in the front of the class to minimize distractions. Many students with ADHD or executive function challenges have received accommodations in high school, but they will often tell me that they want to give college a try without accommodations. This is not a great strategy. Transitioning from high school to college is often particularly challenging for students with ADHD and executive function challenges. Students and parents alike often underestimate how difficult the change can be. In fact, this transition is probably one of the biggest transitions that a student may have experienced in their life thus far. Therefore, this is NOT the time to give college a try without accommodations. If a student starts to fall behind in their work, things can go awry very quickly. It is better for a student to have accommodations in place and find that they don’t need them than to have no accommodations in place and find that they do need them.
How to get accommodations: If you have not already applied for or obtained accommodations, now is the time to do so. It is not too late to apply for accommodations for the fall semester. First, you should look at your college’s website. Search for the“Office of Disability Services.” The website will provide instructions on how to apply. If you cannot find how to apply on the website, call the Office of Disability Services. When you get to campus, stop in at the Office of Disability Services and find out what they have to offer.
2. Don’t overpack. If you struggle with organization, remember that the less stuff, the better. Students almost always bring more than they need. This creates clutter and chaos in your living space. This can be particularly difficult for someone with ADHD or executive function challenges because a cluttered living environment can increase the chances of becoming distracted and misplacing important things. Bring only the essentials.
How to know what to pack: Most colleges provide students with a suggested packing list. Use it and stick with it. Any more is unnecessary. If you find you do not have enough of something, you can always have your parents send it or you can get it when you go home on break.
3. Plan your workspace. Make an agreement with yourself right now: no homework on the bed! All dorms provide a student with a desk for a reason – to provide a place to do your work. If you have your own apartment, decide where you will keep all of your schoolwork. Before you go off to college, make a plan for how you will organize your workspace.
How to plan your workspace: The typical college desk is 48 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Cut out a piece of paper that size and use it as your blueprint. Put your lamp, your laptop and your other items on the space to see how it fits if you already packed these items away, draw them on there). Take a photo of the finished product and bring it with you to school so you can remember how to organize your desk.
4. Plan where you are going to study: Oftentimes, students find it distracting to study in their dorm room because their roommate might be in the room or they hear their neighbors playing music. Therefore, it is important to find other places to do your school work. In order to decide where you are going to study, take your schedule and a map of the college. Look at where you will be attending class, then plan your path to the nearest library or study space. An empty classroom can be ideal. Research this before coming to campus and ask older students if possible. It is important to remember that what works for someone else might not work for you. Some students want windows and sunshine when they are studying. Other students prefer a library cubicle with a lamp with soft light. Some students enjoy studying in a room alone, but others prefer studying with other students around, such as in a library or open study area in an academic building. It is important to learn what environment is best for you and will allow you to be most productive. Since students with ADHD or executive function challenges are often easily distracted, it may be best to study in a room alone. Other students with ADHD may prefer to study alone but with other students around, which “holds them accountable” and makes them feel like they have to do their work.
Schedule your study time. College schedules leave lots of free time, much more than high school. It may seem easy to have enough time to get all of the work done. However, for a student with ADHD or executive function challenges who struggles to manage their time and procrastinates, the unstructured time can wither away. It is extremely important to not just plan where you are going to study, but to schedule your study time. Treat your study time as if it was a class. Add the time and place to your schedule and STICK WITH IT. If you don’t know how much study time to schedule for each class, guesstimate the time, then double it.
5. Get extra help. Students who are successful at college know when to seek out help. Whether it is going to see a professor outside of class, joining a study group, or attending a tutoring or session, students reach success when they ask for what they need.
How to get extra help: On your first day of class, your professors will provide a syllabus. This will usually include their office hours, telephone number, and email. Make an appointment to meet with them and go introduce yourself. If you have accommodations, discuss these with the professor during this meeting. Find out what other support services the school offers – make note of tutoring center hours and library locations. Look for study group opportunities. If you can’t find any of this information, go to the Office of Disability Services for assistance. Even if you don’t have accommodations, the office will provide you with this valuable information.
If you want more assistance than the school has to offer, you might consider working with an ADHD and executive function coach. For more information on coaching, contact me here.