How to Navigate College With ADHD

Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience unique challenges. A recent study from researchers at Lehigh University, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Rhode Island, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln showed that college students with ADHD face a higher than average risk of dropping out of college.

Whether or not college students with ADHD excel academically, they often need extra support to manage college, which can be overwhelming. College students experience new social environments, as well as new and different distractions in less structured settings than they may be used to.

If you have ADHD, the following strategies may help you decrease your struggles or even avoid them altogether.

What is ADHD? | Impact of ADHD | Tips and Strategies | Resources

Despite its name, ADHD is not actually a deficit of attention. ADHD is a neurological difference or neurodivergence.

Since much of society was created for those considered “neurotypical,” ADHD is often considered a disability. ADHD can be experienced as having an abundance of attention, but with some trouble regulating it. At times, the ADHD mind can be hyper focused on one particular topic. At other times, the ADHD brain may shift focus rapidly, seeming to attend to many things at once.

College students with ADHD may struggle with executive function and sensory challenges. Since executive function includes the cognitive processes of prioritization and organization, learners with ADHD often struggle with time management and self-motivation.

Students with ADHD may also struggle with inhibition and emotional sensitivities. Due to stigma and social norms, many college students who have ADHD struggle socially as well.

There is no single presentation, no single look of ADHD. There are, however, three different presentations, which can change over time: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. According to the ADHD magazine ADDitude, approximately 9.4% of children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. About 2.8% of adults have been diagnosed.

For children, diagnosis requires six of the nine symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These symptoms must significantly interfere with a person’s life, must have been present since before age 12, and must have persisted for at least six months. These symptoms cannot be explained by other conditions.

Adult examinations consist of a diagnostic interview. A doctor might also interview close friends and family members to learn about the patient’s childhood, as well as examine the patient to rule out psychological and medical conditions.

Visit your college’s disability or accessibility office. This office works with faculty and staff to accommodate students managing disabilities. Accommodations can include extra time on homework and tests as well as notetakers and realtime captioning services. When available, on-campus therapists and psychiatrists can help you manage any anxiety, depression, or trauma that may have arisen from having had to manage your challenges.

Try managing time by wearing a watch programmed with alarms and timers, or set these alarms on your phone. Place wall clocks in your home. A wall calendar or a bullet journal could help you manage assignment deadlines. If you’re digitally minded, you might use an app to stay focused.

It may be easiest to create a social life with people who share your interests. Orientation and the first week of classes can be an excellent time to meet people. You can find clubs and activities by reading bulletin boards or by searching your school’s website. You may also find it worthwhile to connect with various communities of neurodivergent people online or in person.

Try attending an in-person class and an online one. Try tutoring. Visit your professor during office hours. Try studying in a library. You may find yourself more focused if you take notes, doodle, or use a sensory device. Remember to also ask others with ADHD for their advice, but don’t be too disappointed if a tip that worked for someone else didn’t help you.

Editor’s Note: This article contains general information and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a professional advisor before making decisions about health-related issues.

Angelique Geehan is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education freelance review network.

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