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I have OCD which affected my studies and my grades suffered, can i tell the uni this?

OCD destroyed my life and my grades have suffered.....

if u wanna know more about how OCD affected my studies,life and grades then just reply to me or message me or anything ...and i will happily tell you

so basically can i send like a letter or something to the university with proof that my grades were affected due to a medical problem...

need 300 UCAS points to go to the uni i want, but i dont think i am gonna get that...

note: to reply to me plz always quote this post

Moderator edit: - Please respond to the OP politely and in a constructive manner. Anyone who does post, but does not post anything constructive, will have their post removed and may be alerted/warned as appropriate. Thank you.
(edited 10 years ago)

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Details like this can be sent to your unis BUT they should come from your referee and not from you (also you may find if you speak to your exams officer that they'll be able to contact the exam boards too to get special consideration made).

When approaching unis though you need to be confident that the things that have affected your grades this year aren't going to recur in the next three years - otherwise they would be making an allowance for you only to fail you in a years time.
Reply 2
Original post by PQ
Details like this can be sent to your unis BUT they should come from your referee and not from you (also you may find if you speak to your exams officer that they'll be able to contact the exam boards too to get special consideration made).

When approaching unis though you need to be confident that the things that have affected your grades this year aren't going to recur in the next three years - otherwise they would be making an allowance for you only to fail you in a years time.


So what do I do? Talk to my exams officer ?


Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by study beats
So what do I do? Talk to my exams officer ?


Posted from TSR Mobile


yup
As an Admissions Tutor I'd be asking the following questions ;

1. In what way does OCD affect your ability to study? I'd want very specific details/examples and confirming details from whoever diagnosed this and is treating you.

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.

3. If OCD is such a big problem, how will you cope at Uni? Not only with the work but being away from home. If it is such a big problem that you potentially stuffed up your A levels because of it, you need to get this sorted out and under control before you go to Uni. You cant have it both ways - either its a big problem that affects all your studies or it isnt a problem.

4. If you raise this an issue, most Unis will want formal detailed diagnosis reports in order to 'provide appropriate support'. If they see your MH issues as too big an issue for them to cope with (they are a University not a MH Day Centre) then they can and often do either withdraw or defer the Offer until you are better placed to cope with the stress of being at Uni. Remember - if you raise this as an issue, you cannot then stuff the genie back in the bottle if you dont like the consequences of announcing it. Again, is this a real problem - or just ' the University might feel sorry for me' exercise?
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by returnmigrant
As an Admissions Tutor I'd be asking the following questions ;

1. In what way does OCD affect your ability to study? I'd want very specific details/examples and confirming details from whoever diagnosed this and is treating you.

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.

3. If OCD is such a big problem, how will you cope at Uni? Not only with the work but being away from home. If it is such a big problem that you potentially stuffed up your A levels because of it, you need to get this sorted out and under control before you go to Uni. You cant have it both ways - either its a big problem that affects all your studies or it isnt a problem.

4. If you raise this an issue, most Unis will want formal detailed diagnosis reports in order to 'provide appropriate support'. If they see your MH issues as too big an issue for them to cope with (they are a University not a MH Day Centre) then they can and often do either withdraw or defer the Offer until you are better placed to cope with the stress of being at Uni. Remember - if you raise this as an issue, you cannot then stuff the genie back in the bottle if you dont like the consequences of announcing it. Again, is this a real problem - or just ' the University might feel sorry for me' exercise?
I think a version of this would make a useful sticky.
Reply 6
Moved to Disabled Students.

As mentioned, if you've had genuine difficulty you will need to provide medical evidence, often through your school's exam officer. Medical evidence will be needed if you want to apply for Disabled Students Allowance or specialist support at university.

Original post by carnationlilyrose
I think a version of this would make a useful sticky.


An OCD one is probably too specific. However, a section on mitigating circumstances (and guidelines for those with disabilities or medical conditions supplying medical evidence to university) will probably be added to the Disabled Students Resources when I get the chance.
Original post by River85
Moved to Disabled Students.

As mentioned, if you've had genuine difficulty you will need to provide medical evidence, often through your school's exam officer. Medical evidence will be needed if you want to apply for Disabled Students Allowance or specialist support at university.



An OCD one is probably too specific. However, a section on mitigating circumstances (and guidelines for those with disabilities or medical conditions supplying medical evidence to university) will probably be added to the Disabled Students Resources when I get the chance.

Yes, that's what I meant when I said a version of it. Mitigating circumstances generally.
Reply 8
Original post by returnmigrant

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.


True. But like mental illnesses, it can come on at any time. I've had some form of OCD due to my Autism since I was at least 7, which got really bad 8 years ago. Thankfully, it has mostly calmed down now.
Reply 9
Original post by returnmigrant
As an Admissions Tutor I'd be asking the following questions ;

1. In what way does OCD affect your ability to study? I'd want very specific details/examples and confirming details from whoever diagnosed this and is treating you.

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.

3. If OCD is such a big problem, how will you cope at Uni? Not only with the work but being away from home. If it is such a big problem that you potentially stuffed up your A levels because of it, you need to get this sorted out and under control before you go to Uni. You cant have it both ways - either its a big problem that affects all your studies or it isnt a problem.

4. If you raise this an issue, most Unis will want formal detailed diagnosis reports in order to 'provide appropriate support'. If they see your MH issues as too big an issue for them to cope with (they are a University not a MH Day Centre) then they can and often do either withdraw or defer the Offer until you are better placed to cope with the stress of being at Uni. Remember - if you raise this as an issue, you cannot then stuff the genie back in the bottle if you dont like the consequences of announcing it. Again, is this a real problem - or just ' the University might feel sorry for me' exercise?


1. do u want all the details now?

2. because when i was doing my UCAS application, my problem was just developing, it was getting worse...and after that point it got really worse to a point where it affected everything in my life. i am not making excuses, everyone didnt have stress, depression and OCD like i did....because of my OCD i arrived late for my exams and have like 100 lates !!!

3. i will be able to cope at uni because i am getting therapy....and i will hopefully be better and the best i ever was by the time i start...i can study, its not that i cant study.....its the problem i had, decreased my time of studying..i spent too much time in the toilet....was late for every lesson in class...so it decreased the time i should have been getting to study....

4. i am scared now from this point u have made....i feel like crying.....this is what i feared, no one understands how i feel.
Reply 10
Original post by carnationlilyrose
I think a version of this would make a useful sticky.


no?
Reply 11
Original post by River85
Moved to Disabled Students.

As mentioned, if you've had genuine difficulty you will need to provide medical evidence, often through your school's exam officer. Medical evidence will be needed if you want to apply for Disabled Students Allowance or specialist support at university.



An OCD one is probably too specific. However, a section on mitigating circumstances (and guidelines for those with disabilities or medical conditions supplying medical evidence to university) will probably be added to the Disabled Students Resources when I get the chance.


why have u moved this to the disabled students section?? i am not disabled....r u trying to insult me? i will report the manager.
Reply 12
Original post by OU Student
True. But like mental illnesses, it can come on at any time. I've had some form of OCD due to my Autism since I was at least 7, which got really bad 8 years ago. Thankfully, it has mostly calmed down now.


whats OCD due to autism?
Reply 13
Original post by returnmigrant
As an Admissions Tutor I'd be asking the following questions ;

1. In what way does OCD affect your ability to study? I'd want very specific details/examples and confirming details from whoever diagnosed this and is treating you.

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.

3. If OCD is such a big problem, how will you cope at Uni? Not only with the work but being away from home. If it is such a big problem that you potentially stuffed up your A levels because of it, you need to get this sorted out and under control before you go to Uni. You cant have it both ways - either its a big problem that affects all your studies or it isnt a problem.

4. If you raise this an issue, most Unis will want formal detailed diagnosis reports in order to 'provide appropriate support'. If they see your MH issues as too big an issue for them to cope with (they are a University not a MH Day Centre) then they can and often do either withdraw or defer the Offer until you are better placed to cope with the stress of being at Uni. Remember - if you raise this as an issue, you cannot then stuff the genie back in the bottle if you dont like the consequences of announcing it. Again, is this a real problem - or just ' the University might feel sorry for me' exercise?


I think these are very important points for everyone to consider when revealing details of their disability. When I spoke to the disability support team at my university I ended up causing a bit of a kerfuffle with having to get support and authorisation from people to carry on working - even for a minor and potentially temporary physical disability. I think it's essential that people realise that they can open a can of worms if they start talking about problems they are suffering from.


Original post by study beats
why have u moved this to the disabled students section?? i am not disabled....r u trying to insult me? i will report the manager.


If you're not disabled then why would you want to have special consideration of your grades? I think most people would consider OCD that affects your grades and life to the point where you need to get dispensation for it, to be a disability. What are you going to report the manager for?!
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by returnmigrant
As an Admissions Tutor I'd be asking the following questions ;

1. In what way does OCD affect your ability to study? I'd want very specific details/examples and confirming details from whoever diagnosed this and is treating you.

2. Why wasnt this raised either in your application or to the exam boards? I'm suspecting this is only a 'problem' now because you think you may miss your Offer and you are scrabbling about for excuses.

3. If OCD is such a big problem, how will you cope at Uni? Not only with the work but being away from home. If it is such a big problem that you potentially stuffed up your A levels because of it, you need to get this sorted out and under control before you go to Uni. You cant have it both ways - either its a big problem that affects all your studies or it isnt a problem.

4. If you raise this an issue, most Unis will want formal detailed diagnosis reports in order to 'provide appropriate support'. If they see your MH issues as too big an issue for them to cope with (they are a University not a MH Day Centre) then they can and often do either withdraw or defer the Offer until you are better placed to cope with the stress of being at Uni. Remember - if you raise this as an issue, you cannot then stuff the genie back in the bottle if you dont like the consequences of announcing it. Again, is this a real problem - or just ' the University might feel sorry for me' exercise?


I know rep isn't important but I still feel kind of bad for accidentally hitting negative rep rather than positive, this post has raised some very good points.

OP, don't get upset and frustrated already because you haven't tried to talk to the universities yet. Once you're able to provide the proof that this is an actual issue for you, you have been formally diagnosed and you're able to prove that you're going through therapy then you should contact the universities and inform them about it, providing all of your evidence. There's no need to get upset about it before you even try and even if they do say no, try applying again next year, after your therapy has hopefully helped you.
Reply 15
Original post by Strangey
I think these are very important points for everyone to consider when revealing details of their disability. When I spoke to the disability support team at my university I ended up causing a bit of a kerfuffle with having to get support and authorisation from people to carry on working - even for a minor and potentially temporary physical disability. I think it's essential that people realise that they can open a can of worms if they start talking about problems they are suffering from.




If you're not disabled then why would you want to have special consideration of your grades? I think most people would consider OCD that affects your grades and life to the point where you need to get dispensation for it, to be a disability. What are you going to report the manager for?!


i am not disabled
Reply 16
Original post by sliceofcake
I know rep isn't important but I still feel kind of bad for accidentally hitting negative rep rather than positive, this post has raised some very good points.

OP, don't get upset and frustrated already because you haven't tried to talk to the universities yet. Once you're able to provide the proof that this is an actual issue for you, you have been formally diagnosed and you're able to prove that you're going through therapy then you should contact the universities and inform them about it, providing all of your evidence. There's no need to get upset about it before you even try and even if they do say no, try applying again next year, after your therapy has hopefully helped you.


but these guys are scaring me, what if the universities think i am hopeless and my life is ruined even further....

and i really wanna get into unviersity this year, if i cant then i am probably gonne die
Reply 17
Original post by study beats
why have u moved this to the disabled students section?? i am not disabled....r u trying to insult me? i will report the manager.


I have moved this to the Disabled Students forum as this is the appropriate discussion place for those with medical conditions or disabilities who are going to, or currently at, university.

You might not view OCD as a disability, though it may be classed as one.

No offence was intended.
Reply 18
Original post by River85
I have moved this to the Disabled Students forum as this is the appropriate discussion place for those with medical conditions or disabilities who are going to, or currently at, university.

You might not view OCD as a disability, though it may be classed as one.

No offence was intended.


OCD is not a disability, i do believe this thread belongs in the mental health section....
Reply 19
What type of OCD do you have? I've personally been struck by various forms of OCD's and it does have a huge impact upon studies and your social life so I do understand you OP :smile: .
Since you mentioned that you spend lots of time in the toilet it could possibly be the typical "Hygiene-OCD" which you suffer from. If it is then I can definitely help you as I suffered from it for 5 years between the age of 12 and 17.

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