The Student Room Group

ADHD has ruined my life- Cambridge Applicant.

Disregard atp
(edited 2 months ago)
Original post by Laylafromleeds
Im a mature student (21) I am very behind revision with my subjects which are very intense/difficult. I am a high achiever with potential but ADHD and family issues has overcomplicated everything in my life. Its reason i havent started university because i have extreme time blindness, i also dont have anyone to ensure i am focused/encourage which makes it easier for me to fall off the wagon. ADHD referral takes way too long
If i sat two of my subjects this cycle and sat the other one next year with an extra A level subject, do you think Cambridge and UCL would prejudice me much for missing one of my A levels, I applied to both this year and was placed in the August reconsideration pool for Cam, UCL is still pending.

Loads of people at Cambridge have neurodiversities, but that doesn't mean there's a free pass based on 'potential'. If your ADHD isn't well managed, then an intensive university course is just going to be another cluster. You need the grades to get in, there's very little leeway on that for ADHD/Autism type reasons, because if you haven't learnt techniques to manage at school, picking them up at Cam is even more difficult - though resources are there to help.

So you need to be honest with yourself - can you get on top of things and get organized enough to do a fast-paced, high pressure degree, or would you be better served doing a degree at a less intense institution where you have more time to look after your well-being?

Reply 2

Original post by threeportdrift
Loads of people at Cambridge have neurodiversities, but that doesn't mean there's a free pass based on 'potential'. If your ADHD isn't well managed, then an intensive university course is just going to be another cluster. You need the grades to get in, there's very little leeway on that for ADHD/Autism type reasons, because if you haven't learnt techniques to manage at school, picking them up at Cam is even more difficult - though resources are there to help.
So you need to be honest with yourself - can you get on top of things and get organized enough to do a fast-paced, high pressure degree, or would you be better served doing a degree at a less intense institution where you have more time to look after your well-being?

Fair enough but my ADHD is exacerbated by the fact that i dont have a remedy for it- it takes forever to be referred by the NHS, ive also developed a plan to manage it for the duration of my examination. ill just have to be three steps ahead in every regard to account for my neurodiversity. I also didnt imply that i deserve a leg up, i meant, once i DO get a hold on it by next cycle would i be percieved negatively because of it?
Original post by Laylafromleeds
Fair enough but my ADHD is exacerbated by the fact that i dont have a remedy for it- it takes forever to be referred by the NHS, ive also developed a plan to manage it for the duration of my examination. ill just have to be three steps ahead in every regard to account for my neurodiversity. I also didnt imply that i deserve a leg up, i meant, once i DO get a hold on it by next cycle would i be percieved negatively because of it?

There's no systemic 'looking down' on neurodiversity - Cambridge has an extremely high proportion of neurodiverse people, if they were marginalised etc the University would grind to a halt. But it needs to be in a situation where it enhances, not detracts from your academy ability, whether student or staff.

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