J. Cole, Director of College Counseling
I Have Learning Challenges—Can I Succeed in College? (Spoiler Alert: YES!)
It’s a common question: “Can a student with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia, succeed in college?” My answer is always, “Absolutely!” And here are just a few reasons why:
- How you learn has nothing to do with how bright and capable you are.
- Students with learning challenges are often great self-advocates because they’ve had to be.
- Every college has a range of academic resources available.
There’s more to it, however. Every student’s success—regardless of a diagnosed learning challenge or not—depends on their ability to recognize a need for support and a willingness to seek it out.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires colleges to provide accommodations to their students. But compliance varies from school to school, so I encourage everyone to do their due diligence when going through the application process to see not only what resources exist, but also how effective they are.
College admissions staff are quick to name the supports, but it’s up to students and their families to probe deeper. For example, if a school talks about having a counseling center to support students who have anxiety, ask what that looks like: are students given a limited amount of sessions or is support available as needed? Is there a fee? Are students assigned one counselor or do you get whoever is available? You get the idea.
Some schools offer higher intensity support than others, it’s a continuum. At one end you have full programs geared toward kids with dyslexia, ADHD, or executive function and organizational challenges; they are structured and well-staffed to meet the needs of their students. Many schools have an Office of Disability Services (or something similar) dedicated to supporting students with documented challenges, be it a neuropsych evaluation, school learning plan, medical diagnosis, or an accommodations approval letter from the College Board or ACT. This office is usually a great starting point for students looking to learn more about a school’s services.
Along the continuum, you have schools with different offerings for different levels of need. This is where self-awareness comes in, and where a McLean education prepares students for success by helping them understand how and what they need to learn best. For example, a student with dysgraphia knows they benefit from having an advisor work with them on essay writing. So, find out about the writing center: is it available any time? By appointment? Who staffs it? Again, do your homework by visiting the campus and asking questions as part of your college search process.
Often, and in addition, it’s not just about what the college can provide, but rather what the student is willing and able to access: office hours with a professor or teaching assistant for extra help or to answer questions; using the library to get books on tape; reaching out to residence life assistants for additional support or direction when needed.
And one final note: college supports are for the college students, meaning that as much as parents want to help, it’s up to your child to seek help, to self-advocate, and to follow through. Their ability to do that is the real key to college success!
Learn more about our College Counseling Department, College Matriculations, and Alum Outcomes.