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pending
Emu Egg
Joined: May 18, 2008
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: Autistic Anticipating College |
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Hello,
I have a brother who will enter his second year of high school this coming fall, and it's time for him to prepare for SATs and college admissions. He has language and learning problems, and my main concern for him is his reading skills. Though I do think it important to help him gain admission to a college, I also worry about his succeeding in college. Right now, he receives much help from my parents with his homework, but he lacks the discipline, study skills, and creativity, and good reading skills to study well independently. Can anyone who has had or does have learning problems and had been or is in college give me some advice? How did you succeed? What helped you during college? How did you prepare for the SATs and college applications? My brother would most likely study some kind of computer major, so can anyone give suggestions in doing well in computer programming/science type of courses?
Thanks,
Christina |
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Tim_Tex
Fork and Spoon Operator
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 28
Posts: 18907
Location: San Marcos, Texas
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to WP!
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When you need something, that's a responsibility, that only an adult...of my maturity...Bunnies!!!
~Meatwad, Aqua Teen Hunger Force |
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Orwell
Outer Party Member
Joined: Aug 09, 2007
Age: 18
Posts: 3250
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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If he has trouble with reading, contact College Board IMMEDIATELY to try to get extended time or whatever else he needs for his SATs. He shouldn't fail the test just because he can't read quickly enough. Computer science programs tend to be dominated by Aspies anyways, so once he gets to college it shouldn't be a major issue. Most universities offer accommodations if you can show them documentation. I'm trying to get note-taking services along with separate testing room from my university. If your brother needs it, most schools will also offer a study skills counselor or something similar to help him out in those regards.
It's hard to give much more specific advice unless we know a bit more about your brother, though. This is predominantly an Aspie site, so most of us will assume Asperger's, but you only said autistic; what diagnosis does he have specifically? I have Asperger's, so my experience might not be as useful if your brother has classic autism. What types of schools is he interested in? What geographic region is he limited to (if any)? Limits on college expense? One school I considered that seemed like an Aspie paradise was Rochester Institute of Technology, in New York. My interviewer told me that the computer science program was filled with Aspies, so he might fit in there.
And welcome to WP.
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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
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pending
Emu Egg
Joined: May 18, 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for your reply. My brother had never really been diagnosed as "autistic" or "aspergers", but he's definitely in the spectrum. Anyway, he's not particularly knowledgeable of computers. He's of normal intelligence and he's very obsessed with anime and computers and video games. So, are there aspies who are of average intelligence, with learning disabilities, and still succeed in a computer-type major in college? |
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pending
Emu Egg
Joined: May 18, 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:39 am Post subject: |
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Also, I guess my question would be:
How could I help my brother prepare for college? What kind of study skills/learning methods would be most appropriate for people of learning disabilities? For example, are there special textbooks for visual learners? What specific study methods helped you in college? |
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JerryHatake
Kumdo Practitioner
Joined: Jul 02, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 8712
Location: Woodbridge, VA
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:19 am Post subject: |
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Well a study method I use is study the material at least twice a day because it goes a long way in the end. Also if your brother does get diagnosed then he should try to use Disability Services to assist him a bit.
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Jerry
"No one is the same you can't compare yourself to other people because everyone is different" - Michelle
"Everything happens for a reason, no matter how hard that is to believe sometimes, it is so true!" - Michelle
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GreatCeleryStalk
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Mar 19, 2008
Age: 25
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:01 am Post subject: |
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To get the kind of accommodation he'll need to do well on the SAT, he would need documentation of a learning disorder or AS.
It might be worthwhile to go to a community college for a year or two in order for him to see if he has the desire and aptitude to go to university. |
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JerryHatake
Kumdo Practitioner
Joined: Jul 02, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 8712
Location: Woodbridge, VA
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| GreatCeleryStalk wrote: | To get the kind of accommodation he'll need to do well on the SAT, he would need documentation of a learning disorder or AS.
It might be worthwhile to go to a community college for a year or two in order for him to see if he has the desire and aptitude to go to university. |
I agree with you as well though I got into a university in the first place.
_________________
Jerry
"No one is the same you can't compare yourself to other people because everyone is different" - Michelle
"Everything happens for a reason, no matter how hard that is to believe sometimes, it is so true!" - Michelle
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aspydude1985
Emu Egg
Joined: May 19, 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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I would suggest not sending your brother to college at all, from every case I have seen including my own the forced social atmosphere of college is a brutal charade of near-torturous experiences on a daily, if not hourly, basis. College is far too confrontational for the delicate mind of an Aspie. Some could succeed, sure, but it's far more likely he will suffer emotional trauma by being forced into new experiences and rendered more "broken" than before. It may seem like a cop-out, but you really are better off letting your brother live at home and explore his interests, be they anime or rocket science or what have you  |
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pinkbowtiepumps
Toucan
Joined: Mar 17, 2008
Age: 19
Posts: 270
Location: US
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| aspydude1985 wrote: | | I would suggest not sending your brother to college at all, from every case I have seen including my own the forced social atmosphere of college is a brutal charade of near-torturous experiences on a daily, if not hourly, basis. College is far too confrontational for the delicate mind of an Aspie. Some could succeed, sure, but it's far more likely he will suffer emotional trauma by being forced into new experiences and rendered more "broken" than before. It may seem like a cop-out, but you really are better off letting your brother live at home and explore his interests, be they anime or rocket science or what have you |
Wait, wait. Hold on a sec.
Many aspies survive college just fine. I'm an aspie in college, and I'm survivng socially. Granted, parts of what I've dealt with this year have been very difficult, but I've never been happier. Don't rule out the option of college! Also, I don't know what pending's brother is like, but most aspies want to make friends. This really depends on the needs of his brother rather than his diagnosis as a whole.
If he's afraid of forced awkward situations (which only persist for the first two semesters or so), then maybe I'd consider a small technical school or community college, where he will learn the same things in a less overwhelming environment.
I'd look into the services the school provides. My school has a writing center, counseling, and special tutors for those who need help.
If you want him to survive, see how he reacts to stress, and use it to his advantage. My parents basically scared me into producing decent college applications, a somewhat high GPA, and a good portfolio. Without this stress, I wouldn't have been accepted to 4 of the 6 schools I applied to. Get him an SAT tutor, and MAKE SURE he studies. Drilling him at this point will not only improve his chances of getting into a good school, it will give him the work ethic he needs to survive. He is going to be miserable at times, but it will be worth it. He will thank both you and your parents afterwards. Make sure he is getting extra help in his high school from teachers. This will help him focus more on studying, so it will be easier in college. College teachers are more than willing to stay with students and help them individually. They genuinely want students to do well, and don't mind helping. Make sure he takes advantage of this!
For large exams, I'd put the information that would typically be on flashcards on an iPod, so that he can study them on the go. This is what I did, and it kept me from failing Art History! It also plays in with his technology use as well.
When writing papers, have him listen to music that won't distract him - techno, instrumental and more mellow music on low volume like Iron & Wine works well for me.
Hope this helped! Tell him I said good luck. He's picked a good major. I hope he succeeds! |
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Orwell
Outer Party Member
Joined: Aug 09, 2007
Age: 18
Posts: 3250
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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He's goign to need a diagnosis of some sort to get any help at all.
| pending wrote: | Also, I guess my question would be:
How could I help my brother prepare for college? What kind of study skills/learning methods would be most appropriate for people of learning disabilities? For example, are there special textbooks for visual learners? What specific study methods helped you in college? |
I don't really know if I can answer these questions very well; I don't have any learning disabilities. If your brother has a diagnosis, the university will help him out. Other than that, there's not really any useful advice to be given, especially as "learning disability" is such a broad term that I can't even know for certain what you're referring to.
_________________
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH |
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GreatCeleryStalk
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Mar 19, 2008
Age: 25
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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There's also the possibility that he isn't suited for university education at all, and in this case it sounds like that might be a possibility. However, if he really wants to attend a university, get a diagnosis for him and extra SAT and admissions essay help.
College isn't for everyone, and as a college administrator I would rather see students who want to be there rather than students whose parents or family want them to be there. |
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Thomas1138
Velociraptor
Joined: Apr 06, 2008
Age: 29
Posts: 454
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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I agree. If he's having this much trouble in high school it would at least be advisable to let him mature in a local community college environment and make sure he can handle the material.
Either way, it seems pretty early for him to be worrying about such things. Only super-students really have to worry about college admissions before their sophmore year. |
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MsTriste
OTS
Joined: Dec 08, 2005
Age: 44
Posts: 3373
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:56 am Post subject: |
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| Most US colleges have disability offices that are very helpful. If he's a visual learner, and he's in a class that's mostly lecture, he'll need notes to rely on. If he can't take notes himself, perhaps the disability office can provide him with either a note-taker or typed up notes of the lectures (depending on the size of the school). I'm a visual learner, and for undergrad took copious notes. I was always amazed that the next day it was all brand new material - I hadn't retained a single memory of the lecture. Once I read it, though, I got it. |
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Thomas1138
Velociraptor
Joined: Apr 06, 2008
Age: 29
Posts: 454
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I was always amazed that the next day it was all brand new material - I hadn't retained a single memory of the lecture. Once I read it, though, I got it. |
Of course not. You were too busy writing. |
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