It’s that time of year again, starting the semester anew. A change of classes, catching up with friends, and the opportunity to try new things can all be exciting and at the same time, a little overwhelming. Most college students experience this type of emotion at some point or another, but for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the feeling may be more pronounced.
With a little preparation, however, college students with ADHD can make sure to get the most out of the school year. Here are a few tips to get the semester started off right:
1. Seek reasonable accommodations early. Request any needed accommodations before the semester starts as they may take time for approval. Petitions will most likely need to be submitted to the student services office. Check back to make sure they have all materials needed to deliver their decision. Collect accommodation letters the beginning of the first week back so they can be distributed to teachers as soon as possible.
2. Review and plan to meet coursework deadlines. Allow 30 minutes every night the first week to review coursework and exams for each class. Plug due dates for all assignments, course projects, and tests into a smartphone or paper calendar. After everything has been entered, it will be easier to see which times are the busiest. Set alarms as reminders for when to start working on big projects or major homework assignments so they can be spaced out. Do the same thing when scheduling time to study for tests; this way it won’t be as stressful as having to cram for everything at the last minute.
3. Keep a record of class schedules. It’s easy to forget what time or where a class is meeting during the first week of school. It’s helpful to note this information into a calendar as a back-up. Roughly outline the day’s events and use calendar reminders as tools to help stay on track.
Family Guidance Center offers assistance to help kids with special needs such as ADHD. With proper coping techniques, students can achieve higher academic functioning and improve relationships with others. Contact Family Guidance Center to learn more about ADHD and local programs.