The transition from high school to college can be difficult for any student, but especially so for students with ADHD and other learning difficulties. Many college capable students with ADHD have trouble focusing, difficulties with impulse control, activating to do work, retaining information, and other executive function challenges, which can make it much harder to succeed in a college environment. When students are in an academic environment that isn’t conducive to their learning needs, they often receive negative reinforcement when moral weight is attached to actions associated with attention issues. For example, a student may feel shame when they show up late for class or miss a due date for an assignment. This can lead to a student becoming discouraged and losing motivation and confidence both in and outside of the classroom. However, when students have the right tools, professors, and scaffolding at their disposal, they can find remarkable success in and beyond college.
So how can students with ADHD find success in college?
College capable students with ADHD require a different approach to learning to succeed academically. At Landmark College we help our students to explore and employ new learning strategies by teaching differently. We hold high expectations for our students, and encourages independence while also providing academic and social support.
Many of Landmark College’s faculty have been working with students with ADHD since the disorder was first classified in the 1990s and our approach is constantly evolving based on developing research and extensive experience in the classroom.