Furious Seasons brings us this advice column where a concerned parent is asking about her daughter’s desire to be diagnosed with ADHD to help her get into college:
[… Y]ou can imagine my surprise when she asked that I take her to the doctor to get a prescription for ADHD medication. I was blown away.
She says many “smart” parents have their children tested and diagnosed with attention deficit disorders so the students have the advantage of prescription medicine and un-timed standardized tests.
Is this really a trend in education?
Dr. Yvonne Fournier, who writes the advice column for the Scripps Howard News Service, notes that it is a growing trend amongst high school students looking for an “edge” to get into competitive colleges. A high or even perfect GPA is no longer enough. The competition is fierce and students are looking for ways to try and circumvent the system a little by claiming “disability” where none exists.
But the gains that are achieved from stimulant medications often prescribed in ADHD (and other possible allowances, such as untimed test) are not automatic. This article describes how disclosing a disability may actually be a liability, as colleges could potentially see such students as requiring more work and attention (even if, by law, they are not allowed to consider such disabilities in their application process; they still do).
Once a student has an ADHD label, they may be surprised at how much it follows them throughout school, and even life too. It may even follow them to graduate school, if they choose to go that route, and what was once something used to the student’s advantage may end up becoming a liability on the student’s academic record.
Dr. Fournier’s advice is good, too:
Talk to your daughter and explain to her that this scenario is no different from a student-athlete taking steroids to increase physical performance.
Just like steroids, ADHD drugs will not magically provide the skills needed for success in school and life. Any perceived benefits from these drugs are fleeting, and long-term success is rooted in hard work and dedication.
Like with steroids, there can be serious side effects from these medications, and these attention-deficit drugs can sometimes cause results very opposite from those intended. Potential side effects include hyper-focusing, headaches and stomachaches. Even worse, some students become psychologically dependent on the medication, believing it is a solution for all difficult situations. This “quick solution” could turn into a long-term addiction.
Ask your daughter about her willingness to jeopardize her health to gain a perceived advantage of immediate results. It amazes me that some of the best students are lured by this siren song. It is evident by her grade-point average that your daughter is a bright, successful student. She possesses the ability to succeed on her own, but the stress and demands of our society tell her that is not enough.
Explain to your daughter that she can gain an advantage in life with good decision-making skills, a positive attitude and a well-rounded perspective. These advantages will take her further in life with a lasting impact more than any medication could ever afford.
Of course, at the end of the day, once a teen turns 18, they’re a legal adult and can make their own decisions about medications and such. The risks of taking stimulant medications are fairly low and many students are seeing these kinds of medications as giving them a much-needed edge in academic work.
I’m not sure it’s so easy for a teen to see the larger picture, or health concerns, when the pressure for them to get into a good college and perform while there can be so intense in some families…
(13 votes, average: 4.54 out of 5)
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15 Responses to “Need to Get Into College? Try ADHD!” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
Marcy Percy at 4:17 pm on
April 25th, 2008
I have read Dr. Fournier’s column for a while and she gives really sound advice. Much of the things I’ve read she is spot on about. I appreciate this article. My junior in high school has been approached by friends about this subject. This is good info for parents. Thanks for posting it.
Lee at 8:55 am on
April 28th, 2008
Great Advice from Dr. Fournier.
dre at 10:06 pm on
April 28th, 2008
I am in law school. Most, but not all, of the top five percent of my class are students with disabilities (e.g., ADD, ADHD, etc.). They take their exam in a separate room without the time constraints of every other law student. The alleged point of law exams is to evaluate student’s ability to think quickly and cogently to develop persuasive arguments. These students are not subject to the time standard (which is inherent in law practice, statute of limitations). As a result of these preferential standards, these students get the best jobs with the most responsibility. So, if you want good grades without the educational experience take drugs and get extra time. Courts do not care about your personal problems and neither do clients.
Ally at 10:44 am on
April 29th, 2008
I actually have ADHD and it infuriates me that others would do this. I take medication, but turned down other accommodations flat out. Instead, I learned/studied techniques to help me in school and life. I am also researching intensive exercise, so I can stop taking meds. Accommodations only happen in school and you will be discriminated against. Having a disability is not a positive thing, and “faking it” mocks those of us who are working hard to overcome it.
Proud mom at 11:44 am on
April 30th, 2008
This also infuriates me. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was four years old. We taught him from that early age that it was not a handicap, but rather a difference that set him apart from others in a positive way. He was given NO accomodations, was admitted to college without accomodation and completed his engineering degree without accomodation. We also learned that other students in his engineering classes were given extra time, less work etc for their “ADHD”. What are these pampered students going to do when they enter the real world? Take drugs to complete a work assignment when there is nothing wrong with them? Expect to get a pass from the boss? I think not. Shame,Shame,Shame on these parents. How proud can these students be of their accomplishments knowing they could not compete on a level playing field. My son has pride in his accomplishments and as do we, his parents.
Lea at 12:53 pm on
May 2nd, 2008
The last comment from Proud Mom is just out of line. As we all know, there are different levels and problems associated with the ADHD. Where you were able to assist your son & he was capable of progressing in this manner - some cannot function as your child did and need the extra help, time and focus. Their doctors say they cannot function on life’s terms as you are stating, then need the medication and help to learn how. Just as there are different levels of retardation, autism, etc … same for ADHD. No other family should sit on their “high horse” because their situation was not the same.
stellarr at 11:14 pm on
May 3rd, 2008
This article does not address the fact that many students, especially high school ones, ask to be diagnosed with ADHD for extra time on school tests — but do not actually take the drugs.
amy at 6:55 pm on
May 7th, 2008
I found this article while researching how people with ADHD make it through college because I am currently struggling. ADHD is a lifelong struggle with a number of mental and psychological issues. Now it seems that people who have been blessed w/ normal minds are claiming it to get ahead when they are already ahead compared to those who actually suffer from it. This is shameful! Next, they’ll be claiming cancer so they can benefit from the Make a Wish Foundation!
X at 7:03 pm on
May 7th, 2008
I agree with Lea, while extra-time is certainly an advantage on an exam, exams aren’t the best particularly good predictors of success in the real world - how often are lawyers, as per dre, required to prepare a document or brief without precedents? Most programs have taken this into account and now require work outside of the exam context, so while unneeded accommodation provides a clear advantage when unneeded, it doesn’t necessarily hamstring the performance of individuals who truly need the help later on. Hence, the discussion is best still focused on the use of performance enhancing medication, as opposed to a general discussion of cheating.
Y at 8:45 pm on
October 10th, 2008
The current system angers me to no end. I’ve seen kids with blatant autism refused from the help they need while others get away with a IEP or 504 from the slightest symptons of ADHD. It really isn’t fair to the students who actually need help. Cutthroat views on the college admissions process only make this problem worse.
V at 11:10 pm on
November 16th, 2008
As a current high school senior, I completely agree that this situation is ridiculous. I recently took the ACT, and was very proud of my score, a 35 composite. Now, as good as this was, the only section I missed points on (science) was the one that I did not finish. I didn’t mind at first, but then in talking to some kids at school I found out that they can take the ACT with NO time limitations. This infuriated me, because not only could these kids avoid the only flaw in my performance, but they could also out perform thousands, heck millions of other kids out there who may or may not have problems just as they may or may not have problems. The real world does not allow people with ADHD or similar disabilities extra time to do certain tasks (take trauma care in the ER, for example) so they should not be granted such drastic bonuses.
Also, aren’t the medications that they receive supposed to alleviate their problems such that they are on a level playing field anyways? Where does the extra time factor in there?
I realize this is a difficult issue, as we are in a time now where we want things to all be equal and fair, but this is simply too far. Perhaps if there were tighter regulations on diagnosis of ADHD (at this time one of the top 2 most overdiagnoses illnesses, along with depression) so as to allow students who truly have issues with it to get the help they need without so many cheaters this issue would disappear. Regardless, something must be done.
Steven at 1:47 am on
December 2nd, 2008
I’m despised by people who fake having ADHD or any other disability to gain an upper hand. It jeopardizes the accommodations that I legitimately need in order to get through college.
I struggled all through public school and am only finally reaching college at the age of 28. Living with an undiagnosed case of ADHD was absolute hell growing up. Having access to medication AND accommodations allows me to have an even footing with my classmates, not an overt advantage.
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I have read Dr. Fournier’s column for a while and she gives really sound advice. Much of the things I’ve read she is spot on about. I appreciate this article. My junior in high school has been approached by friends about this subject. This is good info for parents. Thanks for posting it.
Great Advice from Dr. Fournier.
I am in law school. Most, but not all, of the top five percent of my class are students with disabilities (e.g., ADD, ADHD, etc.). They take their exam in a separate room without the time constraints of every other law student. The alleged point of law exams is to evaluate student’s ability to think quickly and cogently to develop persuasive arguments. These students are not subject to the time standard (which is inherent in law practice, statute of limitations). As a result of these preferential standards, these students get the best jobs with the most responsibility. So, if you want good grades without the educational experience take drugs and get extra time. Courts do not care about your personal problems and neither do clients.
I actually have ADHD and it infuriates me that others would do this. I take medication, but turned down other accommodations flat out. Instead, I learned/studied techniques to help me in school and life. I am also researching intensive exercise, so I can stop taking meds. Accommodations only happen in school and you will be discriminated against. Having a disability is not a positive thing, and “faking it” mocks those of us who are working hard to overcome it.
This also infuriates me. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was four years old. We taught him from that early age that it was not a handicap, but rather a difference that set him apart from others in a positive way. He was given NO accomodations, was admitted to college without accomodation and completed his engineering degree without accomodation. We also learned that other students in his engineering classes were given extra time, less work etc for their “ADHD”. What are these pampered students going to do when they enter the real world? Take drugs to complete a work assignment when there is nothing wrong with them? Expect to get a pass from the boss? I think not. Shame,Shame,Shame on these parents. How proud can these students be of their accomplishments knowing they could not compete on a level playing field. My son has pride in his accomplishments and as do we, his parents.
The last comment from Proud Mom is just out of line. As we all know, there are different levels and problems associated with the ADHD. Where you were able to assist your son & he was capable of progressing in this manner - some cannot function as your child did and need the extra help, time and focus. Their doctors say they cannot function on life’s terms as you are stating, then need the medication and help to learn how. Just as there are different levels of retardation, autism, etc … same for ADHD. No other family should sit on their “high horse” because their situation was not the same.
This article does not address the fact that many students, especially high school ones, ask to be diagnosed with ADHD for extra time on school tests — but do not actually take the drugs.
I found this article while researching how people with ADHD make it through college because I am currently struggling. ADHD is a lifelong struggle with a number of mental and psychological issues. Now it seems that people who have been blessed w/ normal minds are claiming it to get ahead when they are already ahead compared to those who actually suffer from it. This is shameful! Next, they’ll be claiming cancer so they can benefit from the Make a Wish Foundation!
I agree with Lea, while extra-time is certainly an advantage on an exam, exams aren’t the best particularly good predictors of success in the real world - how often are lawyers, as per dre, required to prepare a document or brief without precedents? Most programs have taken this into account and now require work outside of the exam context, so while unneeded accommodation provides a clear advantage when unneeded, it doesn’t necessarily hamstring the performance of individuals who truly need the help later on. Hence, the discussion is best still focused on the use of performance enhancing medication, as opposed to a general discussion of cheating.
The current system angers me to no end. I’ve seen kids with blatant autism refused from the help they need while others get away with a IEP or 504 from the slightest symptons of ADHD. It really isn’t fair to the students who actually need help. Cutthroat views on the college admissions process only make this problem worse.
As a current high school senior, I completely agree that this situation is ridiculous. I recently took the ACT, and was very proud of my score, a 35 composite. Now, as good as this was, the only section I missed points on (science) was the one that I did not finish. I didn’t mind at first, but then in talking to some kids at school I found out that they can take the ACT with NO time limitations. This infuriated me, because not only could these kids avoid the only flaw in my performance, but they could also out perform thousands, heck millions of other kids out there who may or may not have problems just as they may or may not have problems. The real world does not allow people with ADHD or similar disabilities extra time to do certain tasks (take trauma care in the ER, for example) so they should not be granted such drastic bonuses.
Also, aren’t the medications that they receive supposed to alleviate their problems such that they are on a level playing field anyways? Where does the extra time factor in there?
I realize this is a difficult issue, as we are in a time now where we want things to all be equal and fair, but this is simply too far. Perhaps if there were tighter regulations on diagnosis of ADHD (at this time one of the top 2 most overdiagnoses illnesses, along with depression) so as to allow students who truly have issues with it to get the help they need without so many cheaters this issue would disappear. Regardless, something must be done.
I’m despised by people who fake having ADHD or any other disability to gain an upper hand. It jeopardizes the accommodations that I legitimately need in order to get through college.
I struggled all through public school and am only finally reaching college at the age of 28. Living with an undiagnosed case of ADHD was absolute hell growing up. Having access to medication AND accommodations allows me to have an even footing with my classmates, not an overt advantage.
