ADHD School Choosing a College When You Have ADHD By Keath Low Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 27, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Hero Images / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Schools That Support Students With ADHD Evaluate Your Needs ADHD Support Services What to Ask Talk to Other Students A Word From Verywell Students with ADHD may find that the level of support at the college level is quite different from what they experienced in high school. While all colleges are required to offer disability services, the type and intensiveness of these services can vary dramatically from one school to the next. It can be helpful to look for a school that offers strong support for students with ADHD. By researching your options early on, you may have a better experience and find stronger ADHD resources to support your educational journey. Many students with ADHD go to typical colleges without supports and are able to function well. However, there are also students with ADHD who benefit tremendously from a school or support services specifically geared to help them achieve their highest potential. College Scholarships for People With ADHD Schools That Support Students With ADHD Several schools are specifically designed for students with ADHD. If you have severe symptoms or prefer to be in a smaller, more supportive setting with staff who truly understand ADHD, one of these schools may be for you. These are just three of the accredited schools that are specifically intended to support students with ADHD: Beacon College is an accredited college that offers degrees exclusively for students with ADHD. Landmark College is a fully accredited two- and four-year degree-granting institution designed for students with learning disabilities and ADHD. The Institute for Achievement and Learning at Lynn University addresses specific executive functioning issues experienced by college students with ADHD. You don’t have to narrow your search to include just these colleges, however, as there are other options available to make college a successful time for you. Spend time researching the schools you are considering to determine how they will best meet your needs. It is important to be thoughtful in your approach to college. Understanding what's available can help you make the best choice for your needs and goals. Here are two resource guides that may be helpful during the search phase: K&W Guide to Colleges: For Students with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder Colleges with Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluate Your Needs It is important to start by thinking about the type of things that you might need to succeed in college. Understanding what you plan do to and how you are going to go about achieving it can help you stay motivated to continue. Some things to ask yourself include: Do you know what you want to major in?Do you need individual support from your teachers?Do you need a busy, vibrant environment?Do you need structure and support to stay on task? Talking to a guidance counselor can be helpful if you're not quite sure what you want to pursue. ADHD Support Services There are support services available for students with ADHD or learning disabilities at many colleges. The quality and extent of these services, however, varies from school to school. Be sure to contact the disability support office at each of the schools you are considering to find out about the level of support they provide. The support office may be referred to by a number of names depending on the school. Some things to search for include: Office of Student Disability ServicesDisability SupportOffice of Disabled Student ServicesLearning Support Services What to Ask As you are looking at colleges, there are a few questions to ask when you contact the disability support office at each school. They'll give you a better idea of the type of support the school offers for students who have ADHD. Ask About Staff It is important to learn more about the staff the school has available to support the needs of students of ADHD. Ask questions about their qualifications, training, and experience. Examples of questions you might ask include: Is the director of disability support services a specialist in ADHD? How many ADHD specialists work with the program full time? Are ADHD specialists also available for ongoing counseling, guidance, and support? Is there a physician at student health who has experience treating and prescribing medication for ADHD? Does the office have a listing of professionals in the area who are experienced in treating ADHD? Ask About What They Offer In addition to learning more about the qualifications of the professionals who work in the support office, you should also ask more about what type of services they offer. Each program is different, so it is important to see if they will be able to meet your specific needs. Examples of questions you might ask include: How many students with ADHD does the support program serve?Is there a formal ADHD support group available for students on campus?Does the school offer specialized academic advising for students with ADHD?What kinds of specific accommodations does the school offer?Do they offer students with ADHD early registration in order to choose preferred courses and professors?Does support help to communicate each student’s needs to the appropriate professors?Is specialized tutoring available for students with ADHD?Are study skills, time management, and organizing classes available specifically for students with ADHD? Talk to Other Students You may also want to ask to meet with one or two students with ADHD enrolled in the school who currently receive disability support services. They are often the best resource for practical information about the strengths and weaknesses of the program. Online forums and discussion boards can sometimes be another useful source of information. Consider checking the school's Facebook page or any pages or websites devoted to the disability support offices. You can get a better idea of the types of things they have to offer and sometimes find comments written by students who currently attend the school. A Word From Verywell If you have ADHD, taking a proactive approach when selecting a school can help set you up for success. Choosing a school can be difficult, but thinking about your needs and doing some research is a great place to start. If you still aren't sure, consider taking a tour of the school to see what they have to offer. Trust your instincts and remember that support is available. Living Well With ADHD 1 Source Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CHADD. College and ADHD. 2021. Additional Reading Colleges with Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities Or Attention Deficit Disorders. United States: Peterson's; 2000. Kravets M, Wax IF. The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences. 13th Edition. United States: Penguin Random House Children's Books; 2016. Sarkis S. Making the Grade with A+DD: A Student’s Guide to Succeeding in College with Attention Deficit Disorder. New Harbinger Publications; 2008. By Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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