University is difficult, and it’s not the right path for everyone. Besides the stress of moving out for the first time, gaining independence, and making new friends; the academic challenges presented by higher education can be more than overwhelming. University can also be extremely rewarding, both for your social and professional life – which is why so many high school seniors take the leap to post-secondary. But for those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this leap might be more frightening than usual. As a student who was diagnosed with adult ADHD in high school, I remember feeling really lost during my transition to university. I was worried that higher education wasn’t compatible with the way my brain functions, despite there being many examples of successful academics with ADHD. But after putting my first semester of university behind me, I know it’s more than possible – and I’m here to share my experience in the hopes that it may encourage you as well.
First, I’ll give you a short summary of what adult ADHD is. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior” (2019). Although it’s known as “adult ADHD”, symptoms arise in childhood, but may not be diagnosed until the person is an adult. I was diagnosed in late 2019 after months of increasing difficulty in school and trouble in other areas of my life. Symptoms vary from person to person, but my own symptoms include difficulty staying organized, poor time management, trouble focusing or multitasking, low frustration tolerance, and more.
Although having ADHD might complicate your life as an academic, it certainly doesn’t mean that university is a bad fit. Symptoms can be managed and improved with treatment, including psychological counseling and medications. I’ve learned a lot about my brain since my diagnosis and found many strategies that have helped me become successful in my first year!
My first tip is to choose a program and courses that actually interest you. One of the biggest challenges that comes with ADHD is low stimulation, and that means people with ADHD get bored super easily. I used to fall asleep in high school math class every day (even with 8 hours of sleep), just because the material was so uninteresting to me. By choosing courses and a program that excites and intrigues you, you’re much more likely to successfully navigate long hours of reading and studying.
One common symptom of ADHD is disorganization. In university, disorganization means you might lose track of deadlines, forget important meetings, or turn in work late, amongst other issues. My tip? Find multiple organization strategies and tools that work for you. I keep a physical planner where I write down things like meetings, appointments, and other obligations. In addition, I have reminders on my phone/laptop set for every class, so that I never mix up my schedule. Finally, I have weekly to-do lists on my iPad to keep track of readings, assignments, and tests, which I update using printed syllabi for each class. All of these methods together may seem overkill, but it works for me; and when one method fails, I always have a back-up.
Work with, not against, your urge to procrastinate. This might sound crazy, especially when procrastinating usually leads students into high-stress, overwhelming situations with loads of work, but hear me out. Some students with ADHD actually work well with procrastination, because the urgency and rush of completing an assignment right before the deadline gives them the focus they need to get it done. This can easily get overwhelming during finals though, so it’s important to be reasonable. When I foresee myself wanting to procrastinate, I make sure I’ve done the reading or research first and have a solid idea of what I’m going to write my assignment on. Then, keeping in mind how long it will take me to do the assignment, I allow myself to put it aside until my own deadline approaches.
Another issue many students with ADHD struggle with is time management and getting sidetracked. My advice is to make daily to-do lists and be accountable for them. Recently, I’ve discovered a great strategy for managing my time is making a list of all the things I want to accomplish in the day (be reasonable – you’re not superman, and you’re probably not going to write two essays, study, do your laundry, and go to the gym all in one day). I like to text these to-do lists to a friend or my mom, and that person will check-in throughout the day to see how my progress is. Having someone else see my to-do lists and encourage me is enormously helpful, but it also works just as well if you self-regulate and use the list as a progress tracker throughout the day.
All in all, it’s important to know that adult ADHD is not a death sentence. It simply means that your brain functions differently (not worse) than most. With strategies tailored to your own abilities and shortcomings, you can be a successful university student too. And, who knows – maybe you’ll be the next Picasso, Thomas Edison, or Agatha Christie.