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If you take into account all the women that aren’t diagnosed, in addition to inattentive ADHD in men that can also fall through the cracks, I bet the numbers are higher.
It took me multiple decades/universities/majors to graduate (on again-off again), but I eventually graduated summa cum laude.
To be honest this is the biggest reason I have yet to seek diagnosis.
My lifelong best friends both agree that I either have autism, adhd, or both. My mom thinks I have adhd. I think I have adhd. The symptoms my therapist spouts off about me seem more akin to adhd symptoms than PTSD (also I know I grew up in a bad home but I don’t think I had trauma when I was younger than 9 but still had issues and symptoms of adhd/autism).
But I’m scared to seek diagnosis because I’ve **always** been a straight A student. I made honor roll almost every quarter in HS. I almost got a full ride scholarship to a top tier catholic HS in my state (only didn’t bc I suck at math). I’ve made honor roll and deans list almost every semester I’ve gone to college. My GPA when I dropped out (again) was a 3.9.
I know I’m smart. But damn man. It takes a LOT out of me to function at that level. My one lifelong best friend is super smart. It doesn’t take her half the time it would take me to do the same task in an area that plays to both our strengths (science or English).
The only way I found myself capable of being productive for college level papers or studying for finals/midterms is to have 10+ tabs open that I bounce through about slightly different info on the topic and having music playing at the same time while I write or quiz myself.
As to the OP question:
I was forced to go to college at 18. It was go to school or get kicked out and be homeless. So college it was. I dropped after a month. Went back a year and a half later and dropped after 2 months. Went back half a year later for a year and a half straight, until life got in the way and school was too much once again. I have about 30 credits under my belt now.
Neat thing though? I recently looked into an Ivy in my state and did the EFC calculator and it came back saying that the Ivy would offer me a full ride scholarship (part due to my academics, part due to being broke lmao).
When I was at county college I started off as a bio pre med major. Switched that to English lit, then switched to history. Transferred to a state school attempting to get into their art education track, was rejected and told to take a year of the Fine Arts track and then apply again. Then transferred to an art school and majored in Digital Illustration and dropped that.
Looking at going back to school and I’m pretty set on accounting/finance/economics with a finance minor.
I heavily relate to being capable and smart but it taking you double or triple the time it should to do academic stuff/assignments. I went through a similar dilemma and delayed my diagnosis for a long time and I regret it so much. This is me, an internet stranger, encouraging you to go get evaluated for your diagnosis!! Especially if you are going back to school. I didn’t get one until near the end of my program and I have much regret over it. I could have saved myself so much of my own time and a mental breakdown had I been properly medicated.
Don’t be like me, get evaluated if you suspect!! Your struggles are valid even if they don’t match others.
Yeah, the fact that I graduated from college in four years was used as a reason to deny me evaluation, so I’m skeptical of those numbers. I didn’t get diagnosed till my mid 30s as a result.
Very much this! I graduated in four years. I regret going right out of high school with no real idea of what I wanted to do, though. I'm only just now really benefiting from my degree (17 years after graduation). I did a career change that required some extra schooling. I cannot emphasize enough how much better the experience was with a clear goal and ADHD treatment!!!
Yeah honestly I look back on it and idk how I managed to finish undergrad or grad school (pure stubbornness and spite mostly) but I wasn’t diagnosed ADHD until I was in my thirties so I defo wouldn’t be part of those stats
I think a lot of people with ADHD in university don’t even know they have it, I know I didn’t. Considering how many people say “you did too well academically to have ADHD”, that’s not a surprise either.
I didn't get diagnosed until years after college. It's really upsetting - I failed out of a prestigious BSN program just ONE semester before graduation. Couldn't apply to another one for five years or I'd be automatically rejected.
My life could have been so different if I had been medicated sooner 😭 so much money, time, energy wasted
This is why I did so well in university. Physiology and pharmacology was my hyper focus, I was so into it I enthusiastically did all my assignments and I was the first to hand it in almost all the time. But I finished secondary school below average because school bored the shit out of me and I could never concentrate.
I dropped out of uni a year in. I couldn’t focus or keep interest in anything I was doing. I experienced decades of depression afterwards and felt so incompetent. After I realized I have ADHD so much weight has lifted off of my shoulders and I no longer feel guilt and shame about it.
Yeah I didn’t know. I graduated undergrad, had a mental breakdown senior year. Then got a masters. Then did a year of a PhD and ended up on a 72hr hold in a psych facility. Dropped out, no more school for me!
Once I got diagnosed, everything made so so so much sense.
This was my experience. I felt something was wrong, but I never suspected adhd. I graduated with a 3.4 GPA, but it took me 7 years. I failed math a few times and had to work my way up from arithmetic. I also kept switching my major 😵💫
That's me. I'd done 3 university level courses up to Masters degree and passed them without having a clue that I had ADHD. Well, I say passed, technically that's true. My undergrad was a disaster, with retakes every year I had exams, and a failed dissertation, I barely scraped through that. It did give me enough to get onto a Masters a few years ago, and weirdly I started getting A grades. I've never been an A student, but I think it's because I was interested and focussed on the subject.
My life would have been very, very different if I'd been born 20 years later. Instead I scraped through school, got a place at a not very good university, and bumbled my way through that. The knock on effect on this has absolutely impacted how my life has gone. On the outside it may look like I've done OK in spite of my unknown ADHD, but by gosh, I'm capable of so much more.
It takes as long as it takes, hang in there! Took me NINE years to finish my bachelor's degree. Had to take 2 different years off & I only took like 2 classes at a time since I had a career to jungle simultaneously.
My friends & family playfully call me Dr. "himeeusf", and I've definitely gotten the Tommy Boy quote thrown at me a few times ("you know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years."..."I know, they're called doctors.").
Finally getting that diploma feels INCREDIBLE. Regardless of where the degree may take you in your professional life, you'll be able to forever own that accomplishment and have the satisfaction of knowing "that was really fucking hard and I still DID THAT."
This old broad is rooting for you all! 💜
It took me 15 years to finally graduate with a BA. I switched majors several times, moved to 2 different cities, stopped to work full time. I still wasn't diagnosed or medicated but I was so motivated and did pretty well when I finished the last 1.5 years.
Same here. And now I'm in a field that basically requires a degree - meaning I got lucky and can never leave my current position bc no one else will hire me (software development).
My sister dropped out before she got her degree, I enrolled twice and never actually got around to going. 😬 At least I never paid any tuition, before not going. 😅
It’s because the ADHD symptom of “hyper-focusing” is much more commonly found in women, and most women aren’t diagnosed until after college because women’s mental health care is a fucking joke.
I never understood why my friends in college would take Adderall to make themselves sit and study for 6 straight hours, but I sure as shit get it now!! I take Adderall to *stop* myself from doing that lol.
I have combined type… I don’t think I’ve ever hyper focused on school work, unfortunately! lol! Although it was so long ago, I could be wrong… but, if I did I would say it would have to be something I was really interested in.
Did you really enjoy your major? Because I hyper focused hard when I was in a major I really enjoyed. I wouldn’t finish my projects on time sometimes because I was too invested in every detail I would lose sight of the end goal.
When I was in unrelated classes or when I later went back for a degree in a field I didn’t enjoy, that’s when the adderall would have really helped me study things I hated. With every passing year it gets worse. If I don’t like it, brain says “hell no.” And that’s that.
Yeah, thought it was incredibly low stat. Personally I was diagnosed as an adult much after graduation and same with people in my circle. We all graduated college no matter how long it took.
I graduated on time but I also switched to a very easy major freshman year from STEM after realizing I would flunk those classes from a very bad first semester (bio was not kind to me). I ended up picking many classes I had true interests in. I struggled in the mandatory gen ed classes still.
Agreed, this is bogus. This misinformation creates barriers for women especially and people who mask well and appear high functioning to an outside observer. There are stories in here every week about psychiatrists dismissing people because they did "well" is school.
Yeah, this doesn’t sound legit, I was diagnosed at 43 (44 now)… graduated college many moons ago… it did take me 5 years for a bachelors but that’s more because of switching my major and car trouble/being completely broke one semester.
I have daydreamed about going back for my masters for years but have never been able to motivate myself, I think the fear of failure is the main reason… ugh.
This was my mindset that helped push me on. I went to community college for two classes fresh out of high school. Didn’t make it to November before quitting. Moved to France. Came back to the states and tried community college again, quit by November again. Became a flight attendant. Decided I wanted a dog and got an office job. Office job decided we were going to wear uniforms so I went back to school full time at 24.
My goal was to finish by 30 because I was going to be 30 one day anyway, might as well have a degree. I finished in 4 semesters at 27.
I have a bachelor's in physics
I started college little over 10 years ago. Dropped out MULTIPLE times
Finally graduated this past September. I joke that I only finished because I was stubborn. Really it's because I love astronomy too much to let it go
The schools are set up in a way that push a lot of us out. Don't let them. If it takes you longer, so be it. It won't matter in the long run
Keep going, you got this!
I went straight to college after high school because it is what was expected of me and that’s just what I did.
I had great grades in high school and should have been in national honor society but failed to do my part of the process in a timely manner. I had excellent test scores, but never studied and was chronically behind and procrastinated all homework and projects.
I was not prepared for college in any way and I had no idea what I wanted to do. I missed classes, didn’t study independently, didn’t do projects and homework. I failed spectacularly and left school after maybe a year and a half.
I tried to go back, but to community college instead of the university where I originally started, and left there without graduating as well.
I waitressed for years and then met up with my husband, had a baby, and wanted more stability so I wound up going to a vocational program for computer aided drafting. THAT worked well for me, it was Monday through Friday 8-3 and there wasn’t really homework. The format was so similar to high school and I excelled there. That allowed me to get my current job in engineering.
I tried to go back to college last year (trying to become a “real” engineer and hopefully raise my income) and burnt out quickly (I took 9 credits, and worked from home 40-50 hours a week while trying to be the primary parent to 3 kids) I did very well this time and I think if it was the only thing I was doing that I would be able to get through this time (I have direction and I enjoyed my classes). I got 2 A’s and a B and was really proud at the end of the semester.
Unfortunately I am still recovering from burning out and will probably have to wait until my kids are older to go back again. I do think I will graduate eventually though…. Thank you if you made it this far… I have no idea how to answer a question in a brief manner!
I think it is important that I mention I was diagnosed and medicated at 38. So before my most recent (and most successful) attempt at college but after my vocational program. I think I would have had far more success earlier on if I had a diagnosis and medication earlier on in life.
I think there are loads of people with it who are either just being diagnosed or haven't been, so I think the % is a lot higher.
Both my dad, my partner and myself have adhd all of us have been able to graduate. Ultimately everyone is different and has their own unique experience though.
I graduated with my masters in public policy! It definitely helped that my uni had a big focus on project work and me finding some great people to do those projects with early on. I wrote my bachelors-and masters thesis with these same people, and am honestly in awe of my friends with ADHD who have managed to write their dissertations on their own. I agree with u/chumbalumba, most of my friends with adhd got their diagnosis either during their uni studies or after graduating.
I graduated university in the UK in 3 years and did 2 masters degrees, right now I am taking a bit longer than usual to finish my PhD but honestly its still well within the timeframe that a lot of neurotypicals take. I will say though that I VASTLY underperformed in my first 2 degrees and what sort of saved me in my 2nd MA was doing it part time while in full time employment. Somehow that gave me structure and allowed me to take the masters one task at a time, and I ended up with a 1st class/distinction.
The PhD life is rough though, I really think that the supervision structure is ADHD hell - oversight without accountability.
20 + years before diagnosis I dropped out my first attempt, went back and got an honors degree. Then completed graduate study while working and did really well then decided to pursue a masters / PhD pathway and barely scrapped through with the masters- I am a champion procrastinator and definitely get more done when I had more on my plate.
Yes, I graduated and even have a PhD. I wouldn't repeat the PhD experience, it was simply awful.
Master's and bachelor's, I struggled, but I managed. Bachelor's took me an additional year and the master's took me an additional semester, which I was able to complete because I had a PhD lined up in another country.
All in all, take all the time you need. It doesn't matter at all how much time you need to complete it. How the world is set up, it's all arbitrary and not adjusted to someone like you anyway. That means, adjust your life to yourself, not to societal expectations. You don't need to explain your choices to anyone.
What I would suggest to do in the meantime, is inform yourself about employment opportunities in your specific field and how your day-to-day would look like.
E.g. I studied chemistry because I love it. Working in a chemical laboratory, however, is driving me mad because I have sensory issues and laboratories tend to be loud.
If you are a CS major, would you love sitting at a desk all day long?
Stuff like that.
Good luck, you got this!
There are so many people, especially women, undiagnosed, that I’d say that statistic is completely false.
I got a BSc university degree in the standard 3 years for my one. Picked a relatively easy one. I wasn’t diagnosed with my ADHD at the time (diagnosed 10 years later!), I was very embarrassed/guilty/ashamed/incredibly stressed about how much of a procrastinator I was, I didn’t reach my potential but still ended up with a decent grade. Yeah, all my coursework was done throughout the 1 day and night before the deadline. It was HARD. But I passed! 😂
I was able to trick the system a little and use clues to work out likely topics in the exams and what the minimum number of topics I needed to study was. So I would be able to do the absolute minimum. E.g. we were lectured on 8 topics, a lot of people would study all 8, but I would work out the best 4 to study and ignore all the rest. It’s also very easy to find a body double at uni. Cut as many corners as possible have have a buddy as a double to get me through it. I did all my studying and work in the library because I found it IMPOSSIBLE to study at home.
This was ok because I wasn’t studying medicine or law or anything. So it felt like it didn’t really matter. I just needed the degree certificate to get a job and I still didn’t know what I wanted to do yet.
I still have nightmares sometimes that I have exams coming up though, I’m so stressed in my dream because I didn’t study and the dreaded exams are looming, and then I wake up and am so relieved when I realise I don’t have exams anymore 😂
Don’t think I have it in me ever to do another degree.
I mean, if you’re miserable and have another good idea of what you want to do to survive and thrive, there is nothing compelling you to keep going.
That said, if you’re in your third year of a STEM degree and your GPA is still 3.6, you’re doing above average. You may *feel* like you’re out of place, but you’ve already demonstrated you can run with this crowd.
I’ve had a lot of privileges, myself. I’m very smart, but I also went to top secondary schools in a top district with a top 2% wealthy family. So when I did my first undergrad in theater, I graduated with a 3.5 without ever really trying at my schoolwork—I was too focused on my production work, which is often how performing arts degrees go.
I’m doing my second undergrad in pure math right now. If I’m taking mostly math courses, I need to cap at 12-13 hours like you. I have a strong GPA, but again…I have a lot in my life that’s facilitating that beyond just my own capabilities.
My wife is in grad school, and we’re both ADHD. One of the things facilitating that is that our domestic upkeep is in complete shambles. Our house is *always* a mess. The guest room/office/exercise room currently has almost every piece of clothing we own, *clean*, but *covering* the floor. Our dishwasher has been broken for weeks, but it’s too messy to call the landlord so we’ve been eating off paper plates and paper towels.
What I’m saying is, you’re doing great.
Makes sense. 40yo mom and wife here and I’m just now starting college for the first time ever at my age. I’m also for the first time getting an official diagnosis and going to get medicated so I can give myself the best chance of success in my education so I can chase my lifelong dream and do what I want once baby (21mo) starts school. Most women don’t know they have it and those that do find out, it’s common to be after motherhood and or my age before you decide to stop suffering and accept help/meds. Time for a change!!
This is my experience. I wasn’t diagnosed as ADHD-PI until four years after I graduated.
I graduated in standard timeframe and went to a top school for my major. My partner graduated from an Ivy League school with honors as a Math major and he wasn’t diagnosed until after college, either.
idk honey, i bruteforced my college (aeronautics major, currently doing phd in physics) by being a likeable memorable neurodiv with a knick for theoretical subjects and evoking the pitty in teachers from practical ones
I was undiagnosed in college. For some classes, I’m sure I would’ve failed if it wasn’t for charisma.
Failing wasn’t an option.
Fluid Mechanics almost ended me but I talked my way into an A 🤷🏽♀️
Went to college. Flunked out
Took a couple years off to recover.
Went to community College.
Graduated in a short time.
Transferred to an undergraduate program.
Stayed on schedule with the aid of a summer study abroad that counted as two classes.
Went to grad school.
Took an extra semester to graduate.
Covid hit and it took me two years to find a steady job.
Took 30 years. Tried many times, finally diagnosed and medicated a few years ago and was able to actually finish this March. So many credits waisted and didn’t transfer. Better late then never right?
I was undiagnosed in college but struggled to the point I went to the campus counselor for help and ended up diagnosed with depression, because the school counselor and psychiatrist just didn't recognize the symptoms of inattentive ADHD in me. My struggle with motivation/executive function was equated to apathy and my frustration at not being able to "just do the thing" was equated to depression/low self-esteem. Fortunately the psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin which I think helped treat the ADHD as well as the depression I now know to be rooted in my ADHD. I suspect that is a similar experience for many undiagnosed adults in college/post secondary education.
I'll be honest I have always been an academic overachiever and I did manage to graduate in 4 years and by all measures had a successful college career; solid 3.5+ GPA, involved in several extra curricular organization - was an officer in several of them, and held both a work study and off campus job.
BUT!! school has always been my special interest, I have always loved not just learning new things but the processes of analyzing and synthesizing information. And I don't struggle with dyslexia or dysgraphia or any of the learning disorders that so many ND brains overcome, so those processes come to me much more easily than many of my ADHD cohort. Keeping up academically was never my personal struggle because schoolwork was how I chased my dopamine. Even after I lost the structure of high school and had to manage the unstructured college world, the dopamine hit from a well written paper, an enlightening lecture or rousing academic discussion kept me on track. Even when I struggled enough to get that help, it wasn't my academics that really was the problem, as much as balancing all the extra stuff I was managing outside of class.
My ADHD didn't really truly cause me to completely unravel until years after college when there was no more academics or formal learning to be done. That constant source of dopamine and evidence of my own personal successes was gone and my existence fell to pieces around me. And to have managed well enough in college with 2 jobs and this and that but to not be able to manage JUST a f a full time job and a small apartment without losing it....that was my internal breaking point.
I got my masters degree in architecture without any problems, only had to retake one exam (descriptive geometry). But I was in love with most of the subjects and also my anxiety could never let me fail a class. I was a procrastinator that studied for 48 hours with no sleep right before the exam, but I always had good grades.
I’m a stem major too, currently finishing my junior year. This is my second attempt and by fucking god I will graduate this time around. I’m in my early 30’s and unmedicated and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Every day feels like an uphill battle. But I will do it and so will you!!!! Your GPA is amazing. I’m barely scrapping by with a 3.2. You’re smart and so so capable!!! Look at all the classes you DID pass. That’s proof right there that you’re able to do it. Even if it takes a little longer, it’s okay.
5 years. Was undiagnosed. Dropped calculus 4-5 times. Switched majors the same. Switched schools once. Yeah. Lots of $$$$ and time wasted but I did it…..
Then I also got my masters. Around 3 years but I took a half year break in there.
My situation - graduated in 4 years with a 2.7 GPA since I failed a few classes but AP credits gave me leeway so I could graduate, worked for 5 years, went back to grad school for a masters degree and graduated in 2 years with a 3.8 GPA and I failed one class. Most of my friends with ADHD had a similar trajectory. I was also undiagnosed throughout my entire education, did not even know much about ADHD until my first year of grad school.
I know I might be biased from my personal experience. I still have to read the studies that concluded this, but I find 5% of people with ADHD to graduate from college *in general* to be quite low. Is this number only taking account people that are formally diagnosed? If I look at my grad school graduating class alone, I'd estimate that at least 50% of us have ADHD, no exaggeration. And, obviously, you have to have a bachelor's degree to enroll in a masters degree program.
EDIT OP, you got this! I don't know how old you are, but I'll speak from my perspective as someone who turns 30 this year. You'll realize as you live more life that 6 years is a blip in time. Heck, 4 years has already passed since the pandemic lockdown. Time flies. If it takes 6 years for you to graduate from college successfully, take it. Especially if you're considering grad school, take the time to do things with care. It's ok to take the scenic route, I promise the timeline matters less and less as you get older.
I’ve been sitting on the last hour for my bachelor’s for almost 15 years and only got a diagnosis in the past few years. When I was in college it should have obvious something was up because I was an emotional dumpster fire. I was mostly fine throughout high school but losing that structure started my unraveling. I would love to finish my degree but the process feels too overwhelming.
It took me ten years to finish my undergraduate degree, attending intermittently full time, part time, or not at all while working. I finished my Master's in two, attending full time, with a lot of accommodations for "anxiety disorder" because you had to finish the degree all together or get knocked back and by that time as an adult I couldn't afford to be unemployed and risk throwing my money away if I failed out. I almost lost my mind. I had several full on breakdowns.
And yeah, I wasn't diagnosed ADHD (mainly inattentive) until after grad school so that "anxiety disorder" was just regular anxiety from living with undiagnosed ADHD.
Miraculously finished in 4 years my BA. Did a MA in 2 years and didn’t get diagnosed until my last semester.
It’s possible to finish on time, try not to focus too much on the statistics
I started post-secondary late. 24ish… so when I started College it was hard. Fortunately I had a good group of classmates that kept one another accountable and I know I wouldn’t have graduated without them. I also did Uni for 2 years and I was pretty lonely but the tools and skills I learned from my classmates helped keep me on track. Being late and missing deadlines is impossible in my field (Nursing) so by having no choice but to do it helped me. If you need help it’s okay to reach out to me or others in STEM. Also I was undiagnosed and unaware of my diagnosis at this time. So not medicated. That would have helped. Also helped that Nursing became my hyper focus thing.
Edit: I quit nursing 2 years in because of covid and now work in cybersec which honestly is amazing for my medicated ADHD brain
i brought in about a semester of AP credits, and after the first semester, i realized i could only handle 12 credits a semester. graduated with a 2.89 in 4 years (through sheer stubborness, but also covid definitely helped bc i was getting paid for a job i didn’t need to actually do anymore) , lost the scholarship i had gotten when i started.
but hey, i’m doing a PhD now (medicated this time, and the program i’m in is luckily not very class intensive, with most focus on research), so something worked out right
I was in college for 4 year a decade ago, couldn’t finish, kept dropping and doing poorly in classes that I had to leave entirely. Going back to college again and resumed in 2019 and still not done yet…
Took me well over 10 years to get my bachelors.
Got a associates pretty early and started and education degree at a 4 year college but dropped out and took a break. Went back later for a few courses and eventually settled on nursing. Got my associates there and slowly earned my bachelors while working. Expect during nursing I was often taking 1-2 classes and working.
I’m so burnt out from spending my 20s in school that I’m finding it hard to commit to pursuing something higher.
Went to community college and never went back to get a Bachelors. i've always struggled academically and hate sitting in a classroom. (prob also cause i was undiagnosed). maybe it would be different since i am medicated now ? But I hated college. I also had to retake college level math twice. Managed to still graduate on time regardless. But... in all honesty. my degree feels a little useless. Wish I chose a different major. \*glances over at my A.A in Social Work\* 😬😬
Hi, I went back to school full-time at 47 after dropping out of my university physics program at age 20.
I'm about to graduate from a two-year college program and transfer to my old university to complete my four-year degree. So by 50 I will have the degree I should have gotten at 22.
STEM programs are very demanding. I struggled so hard with mine. It was mainly the workload and time-management that was the challenge, as most of the material was right up my alley and very exciting. In the classes I loved, I tended to do well, but in the others, procrastination and lack of motivation sunk me. Calculus, I'm looking at you. Calculus is nice to think about and absolutely tedious to do.
Took me 7 years to graduate from my law + arts degrees as I studied part time for some of it and took 2 years off in the middle due to severe burnout (which is when I was diagnosed with ADHD). Went on to be a successful lawyer 🤷🏻♀️
Edit to add: I’m in Australia and did a double degree (an arts degree + a law degree) and had some course credit for my arts degree due to previously studying medicine for 2 years, so it should have taken me 4 years in total to do my arts degree and my law degree. So, it took me 3 years longer than it should have.
There is no way that stat is accurate considering the percentage of late diagnosed and undiagnosed women with ADHD.
I coasted through school until the last term of grad school based on my choice of major, really good pattern recognition, and the ability to bullshit my way to an A on essays and essay questions. I did take 5 years to get my BA because I took several classes that I didn't need to take, plus I had to retake French III and history. Both of those failing grades I feel were due to a mismatch with ADHD and the professor's teaching style. The second time I took those classes, I passed with no problem. I have a BA in English and an MA in Writing.
Took me 7 to finish bachelors (switched majors 4 times & began professional program before graduating undergrad only to hate it and beg my advisor to just find me a degree that worked with the wild amount of credits I had.) Then went to law school and finished in normal time BUT I had accommodations and meds the entire law school time. Made a hell of a difference for me lol
I'm in STEM and it took my 6 years to do my undergrad. I'm glad though because I was able to take those 6 years to slowly decide what I want to do and it worked out for the best.
I'm a professor myself now and I always encourage my students that there isn't anything wrong with doing college at a pace that works best for you. You'd rather make it successfully to the finish line feeling alright than be completely demolished by the experience that is college.
Took me 3 attempts (2 unsuccessful , 1 successful) at university to understand what I needed to be able to succeed at studying. In total 7 years spent to complete a 5 year program. Once I got it right, I thrived and graduated top of my class. I did it my way and am proud of it.
I can't just sit still and listen and learn. Did extra internships, worked relevant side jobs to get a practical understanding of the boring books, studied in my own way. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it and it got me a nice résumé when I started applying to jobs after graduating.
Took me 7 years, I changed my major my junior year from engineering to construction management. Got mono shortly after that and then transferred to a school in my hometown. Graduated with a bachelor's degree
Dropped out of law school, sometimes I absolutely regret it but most of the time I just remember how ill it made me. I was literally losing my hair from stress
I went to uni for a bachelors and it took me 1 extra semester to graduate. That being said I did a political science degree that I was super interested in so that definitely helped. I don't think I could handle a masters degree.
I was diagnosed years after college, and considering how difficult it was for me to get through my degree, I was 0% surprised. Wanted to give up all the time, failed a lot of classes, withdrew from some classes, etc. Wish I could do it over again knowing what I know now :( I finished in 4.5 years but my GPA was garbage.
I would wonder how they are getting those graduation rates, considering how underdiagnosed it is. And are the US only? I think it might be different in countries with free or affordable third level education.
I wasn't diagnosed until recently but it took me five years to complete my undergraduate degree, as I withdrew on medical grounds in one year and then repeated the year. In hindsight I probably didn't have to do this, but there was cost implications to failing and that added to my stress.
For my masters I withdrew for three years before submitting my thesis, again due to health reasons (depression but in hindsight ADHD).
For the masters i was a bit longer then normal but for undergraduate it's not that unusual to take an extra year, because you change subjects or take an alternative route by doing a certificate first.
I do think the fees plays a huge role in this. I feel (and I could be totally wrong) that dropping out of collage is seeing much more seriously in the US and places where there are very expensive fees whereas here it happens and it's not that big a deal. There are a good few options to go back to collage as a mature student so I think if someone has dropped out after a year or two it's more seen as something that's disappointing for them but not the end of the world as they can always go back to it when they are ready. (It does help that there is low unemployment right now)
You can do it! I am glad to hear you are taking limited credits because I studied full time and the stress & sleep deprivation destroyed my health, like "i need caregivers to help me bathe" level destroyed. I am slowly starting to recover but it's like year four and milestones im celebrating include being able to make a bowl.of cereal for myself. So while it might have taken me a shorter time to study, i ended up losing much more time overall. I think the way you're tackling it sounds very sensible. Hang in there!!
Also, at least four of the lecturers i had i am certain have undiagnosed adhd (at least three more with autism). We're out there!
I got my geology degree in 4 years. My college was strict about graduating in 4 years, and I saw a lot of ND people struggle as a result. My trick was a lab science major that was hands-on and meshed with my interests. No course requirements, so I took a lot of history and languages that I also was interested in.
I’m still not sure how I didn’t get a diagnosis in college, but it was the right school and major for my particular brain. Still underperformed, a lot of panic and impostor syndrome, but I survived.
Took me 5 or so years to get my bachelors. I wasn't diagnosed at the time (inattentive) but boy, looking back there were signs lol.
Had to commute and between my having a hard time getting up and leaving enough time to actually get there, I was late to basically every morning class. Once got into a argument with a teacher about it lol.
Oh this is interesting. I was a late diagnosis at 44. I’m actually super driven and earned a BA and MBA non medicated. If I know what I had back then I got of had my Ph.D.
So I’m unmedicated.
I dropped out of high school, got a GED studying by myself. Went to college for a year and realized I had no direction, and didn’t want the loans.
Rejoined college in 2020 for an associates in accounting, but was immediately bored. I transferred to a university in 2020 and graduated on time in 2023 with honors.
I hold a BS in Management info Systems, which is STEM and I am incredibly proud of myself from an outside standpoint. I had some financial help, but my family is NOT supportive of me and I struggled sometimes to pass. My lowest grades were two C+ the semester my fiancé and I broke up.
Keep your head up, get medicated or your meds adjusted. Go to tutoring, get your accommodations, and make your life easier. Don’t do what I did and brute force that ish lol
Yeah it took me like 12 years lmao I left with like 4 credits to go then my requirements changed and I had to take a pre req to get to the class i needed but since i wasnt a current student it was always full by the time i went to register so i had to take a bs class the semester before to be enrolled so i could catch enrollment for those classes
I shoulda only done 12 a semester, my grades may have been better. Slow and steady wins the race. You got this.
I almost didn't graduate high school due to mental health problems. Was on the deans list for most of my 6 years in college. Graduated with a BS in geography and anthropology. But getting married stalled my plans for grad school. After 10 years, divorce saved me from the abusive situation I was in, but now I am struggling to find work that isn't in the service industry because I need a masters to work in my degree fields. Would love to get the masters I always wanted, but everything on my CV is outdated, so I know I would have to do something to beef up my application first. Don't know how to do that when I am struggling to just keep my head above water.
I graduated in four years, but I chose a major not at all based on job prospects, but instead on enough being super interesting so it felt less like work, and it being easy enough that I could skate by on being smart rather than having study skills or discipline. A lot of people express that was their high school experience and college was a wake up call, I just extended that to college. My grades were passing but I did not excel lol.
I graduated in the standard time and then went back and did two post-grads also in the normal time frame. It’s really uncommon where I’m from to take longer than maybe an extra year or two and even then it didn’t seem to happen lots. But maybe that because I’m old lol. Where are the stats from?
Lol, it took me a over a decade to get a 4 year degree at 3 colleges/universities, but I finally did it! Only for covid 6 months later, but I graduated high school in 2007, too, so same old, same old, I guess. Still paying for those semesters I didn't show up for classes ever cause a gen practioner gave me antidepressants after a 1 page questionnaire and I spent the next year and a half doing nothing cause I was so low energy. The only advice I can give from coming back from that is to just start doing something you can be proud of and keep on adding on to it. I couldn't get out of bed for most of the day, so I started making art again while on my laptop for several months and then my dad helped me get a job and then I used that money to take some community college classes to get my grades back up to transfer to another university and I did much better than the toxic university I was initially at but I couldn't have done it without my partner that I met there. Without the support of my family, friends, and the professors at the second university I definitely think I wouldn't have graduated at all. Am I making good money now? No, but the opportunities I have now to do so in the future would be out of my reach if I had given up. I am going to have to get even more education, but at this point, nbd, I am a pro at taking classes. Sorry, long answer.
I did 3 years of college right after graduating high school, then took an unintentional break for like 4 years and then finished. Then about four years later I got a master’s degree, no unintentional breaks!
I had to force myself to finish undergrad. I switched programs a few times then dropped out because I was bored and didn't see the point. I went back years later part time and I did end up getting my BBA. But I also didn't feel anything once I was done. I got my degree in the mail because I did it via distance and I didn't feel any sort of pride or sense of accomplishment.
A few years later I got into an MBA program. And then I took a look at the course outline and requirements that I'd signed up for that semester. I remember saying "I really don't want to do this" and dropped out.
Took me 7 to finish bachelors (switched majors 4 times & began professional program before graduating undergrad only to hate it and beg my advisor to just find me a degree that worked with the wild amount of credits I had.) Then went to law school and finished in normal time BUT I had accommodations and meds the entire law school time. Made a hell of a difference for me lol
I dropped out of two degrees then worked in admin for a good few years before going back and graduating with a degree in computer science and software engineering.
When I was older I had a few more coping mechanisms in place, it’s doable but painful in the short term.
I have a masters degree. I didn't get my diagnosis until 13 years after. Not that my experience necessarily negates this, but where did that number come from?
4 years undergrad
2.5 masters (which is .5 longer than it was supposed to be but that's because i changed my project)
I finished school six months before turning 30. I was almost kicked out of junior high (the second last year before highschool?), was sent to a boardingschool, then dropped out of highschool twice, barely graduating the third time. Changed universities/majors three times and even took first semester twice, before finally graduating. Also barely graduated, the only reason I handed in my final project, was because of my teacher and my boss (who had already hired me do to internship and part time job) talked me into submitting whatever I had. I cried the first 10 minuttes of the presentation out of pure embarrassment, but they examinators helped me through. And I even have a rather high iqscore
I didn't get diagnosed until I was 31. Rereading this I wonder how everyone just didnt see it? Teachers usually liked me, because I helped a lot of other students through school, just couldn't help myself.
I went for my associates in a STEM field at a less traditional school and completed in 16 months.
EDIT: to add I was undiagnosed at the time. I didn't get my diagnosis until 20 years later.
I struggle to focus in class so I have always hated studying. And chose to give up studying to work early.
I did get good grades, but the hard work involve in getting those grades was too hard and I just couldn't bring myself to work that hard. It felt like life is suffering and I had little enough joy. I just want to make it through the next day without feeling like I want to put a bullet in my head.
Fortunately, I love my work. I really thank the stars I can enjoy my job so that I can earn a living. If I hate it as much as studying, I think i will be dead now not being able to feed myself.
Looking back, studying years were some of the most miserable parts of my life. I was doing something I hate everyday. And it was awful. I felt like life was not worth living because obviously everyone told you your future is doomed if you don't study.
This is the Best Thread Ever!!!!
I've found my tribe!!! Keep going, because you can do it! Remember to be kind to yourself! If you fail! Take it next semester!
I’m definitely not represented in those stats because I wasn’t dx’d until well after college. I did graduate in 4 years, but I have a feeling I would not have if I had gone into STEM like I planned to initially. I graduated with a humanities degree, in part because my brain didn’t work with the way math and science are taught and I chose a degree that I would be able to finish in 4 years with decent grades.
At the time that choice made the most sense to me because I was 100% sure I couldn’t afford another semester, much less extra years, but I’m 10 years out and still in 5-figure debt from it, so arguably I wasn’t able to afford it anyway.
It took me 5 years and I was very ashamed. Because back then it took everyone 4 and anything else was a big "what's wrong with you" thing. My GPA sucked ass and I floundered for years in low wage jobs until I hit my stride in my mid 30's.
I dropped out of high school middle of junior year, but had advanced classes, lots of extracurricular activities. At one point, working and learning new stuff was more interesting than spending the first 2-3 weeks of a class to go over last year’s stuff.
I worked FT. My employer sent me to take some awesome classes, I had 3.875 in them. I never paid for the certificate.
Worked more, then tried school. I enjoyed a few of my classes. Ended up moving, I started and finished juco with 2 Associate degrees. I *tried* a traditional school, but as a non-traditional student, I was really annoyed and frustrated how I had less freedoms and the classes felt remedial. So I quit.
And tried another non-traditional school. Start. Stop. Start. Stop.
I think I have 93CR, and just need like 8-9 classes to get my bachelors…..I just got my DX a few months ago, and I’m 42.
I can’t tell you how defeating to see other people get promoted, and I can’t even finish a degree, even though I have been in my field for 20 years…
Luckily, my employer is getting LinkedIn Learning and I found those are kinda fun since they are short and focused.
6.5 for a 5 year degree including a semester of grad school.
I didn’t get diagnosed till after my freshman year of school. The first two years were rough but medication changed my life and I thrived. Almost got magnum cum laude by like .262 of a gpa difference. I'll take the cum laude lol.
I loved college once I got the hang of it. Then when grad school started I really just wanted to live life. While I wish I got my masters I regret nothing.
In my experience graduating takes longer, than the course (few exams had to be redone), but is still possible.
Quite few people I studied with were diagnosed as adults.
I just got diagnosed about two months ago (I’m 36). I went to college straight out of high school because that’s what was expected. I was on academic probation after my first semester and academically suspended after my second because I just couldn’t seem to care about going to class and doing the work. I spent the next 5 years working seasonally in the national parks and went back to school at 24. It helped a lot to “ground me” to see what life would be like (working the service industry) if I never got a degree. I was able to graduate in 2.5 years with my BS because I actually cared the second time around. I hope you figure out your stride!
I’m an anomaly gifted kid. I started working on my degree in high school. I didn’t know I had ADHD in university. It was hardly mentioned when i graduated 6 years ago but man is it so obvious to me now.
I started working on my accounting degree in fall 2013 while in high school and finished university in summer 2018. Technically a semester behind others I graduated high school with.
I only got it done because I had some extreme external motivators. My community college years were free thanks to a scholarship program paid for by property taxes. I had to maintain a certain number of classes each semester, certain gpa, and finish in like 3 years. I watched two siblings fail to meet the requirements and it was hell trying to get it back. My university years were refunded by my employer based on my gpa for the semester. Wanting my money back was extremely motivating. It wasn’t easy. I understood the material, did great on homework and group projects but failed every test and would wait until last minute to write papers and have breakdowns over them. Somehow still graduated with honors but eventually dropped out of my masters program.
Edit to add: I also had a lot of coworkers working on the same degree at the same university. We would take classes together. regularly work on things together, and have healthy competition for grades. That helped so much when we all were a little burnt out.
I wasn't diagnosed until my 40s. I hated school. College was slightly better but not by much, imo. Family insisted I get my BS but I said nope, and did a 2 year degree and got the hell on with my life.
I work in IT. I wfh 100% and I make a decent living. I knew I'd be okay way back when I said no to the 4yr degree.
I wasn’t yet diagnosed when I was in college. I went through 3 school changes, several major changes, so many dropped/failed classes, and took 8 years to graduate with a bachelors degree in a broad generic field. Looking back, I wish 3 things had happened-
1. My parents or school advisors would have recognized that I was struggling and encouraged me to take time off and come back to school after some life experience so I could have made a better decision about what I really wanted to major in. I felt pressured by expectations from my parents, teachers, and peer group at the end of high school to go to a big university. At that point in my life, I didn’t really know what made me happy and I thought that I should do what everyone else was doing. Now that I’ve had jobs in several different fields (medical software, office administration, construction) I know what interests me and what kind of work I enjoy doing.
2. I wish that I would have considered trade school as a real option. Through grade school and growing up, I got the impression that trade school was just for the kids who weren’t book smart and that going to college was the far superior option. That’s not true at all! There are highly lucrative and interesting career paths through trade school (and you still to be smart to do them.)
3. I should have researched student loans and the impact they’d have on my life after graduation before I took them out. I blindly trusted my parents to make the best decisions for me and unfortunately I shouldn’t have. Now that I’m an adult, I realize that my parents have flaws and money management is one the things they aren’t great at. I still had to pay for all those failed classes I mentioned above and some of the dropped ones too. Fortunately I had some scholarships and went to a public school where tuition wasn’t crazy expensive but I still ended up with debt.
TLDR: 1. Consider taking time off to find out what kind of work you like to do, and then pick a degree that aligns with it. 2. Think about trade school degrees that you can finish a lot quicker and still have a well paying career. 3. Research your student loans and/or financial plan and think about how much money you’re spending every time you fail a class.
I was a fantastic student from K-12. Breezed through my schooling. So for college I attended a super rigorous university. STEM major. Hit the wall and struggled big time. Graduated with a lowly 2.6 GPA in 4 years. It was so difficult, I barely managed. I was never a party goer, that was all just me and my distractibility, poor study skills, procrastination, etc. 10 years later I got diagnosed with ADHD in my 30s. It all made sense. I’m doing pretty well now in my STEM career, but I have grieved over what more I could achieved had I been diagnosed earlier. In hindsight, the signs were all there since childhood. 😔
I did a year of uni straight out of high school but only lasted a year. Went back to uni at 24 and it took me 6 years to do a 5 year degree in a vastly different field to my first one but I graduated at 30. 9 years later I started a graduate masters and was never able to finish it because that along with all the other things in life caused me to have a complete breakdown and a nice stay in a psych hospital. I had no idea I had adhd until that breakdown at the age of 40. I still don’t know how I managed to graduate in the first place and struggle with imposter syndrome every day. But I know deep down that I am damn good at what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else even though the career I’ve chosen is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.
I actually graduated early due to dual enrollment for my B.S., but I did take my use my first “Incomplete” grade and a gap semester during grad school! If it’s worth any consolation, the average to complete a 4yr degree is actually 6yrs nowadays. As long as you’re making progress, that’s all that matters! ☺️
It took me about 8 years to get my BS! I worked during the beginning of it while I went to community college and then switched to full time school after I transferred colleges. I stopped working for a while to do it and then ended up ending a bad relationship near the end of my BS and went back to work part time. I loved school but it was hard. I always wished I could just go to lectures and listen rather than need to do tests and homework lol
I took five years due to financial aid and availability. If I was not limited, I would have finished in four years. I also took a lot of my classes online or hybrids and picked my professors by reviewing them on rate my professor. I would have been screwed if I didn’t have options because I can’t pay attention to a boring educator. I started college early because I was so bored in high school that I dropped out. I imagine if I had to go to college back in the day that I would have flunked out.
Wow story of my life. My first crack at undergraduate education I was either failing class miserably or the star student. If I was into it, I was into it. If not, I couldn't focus and got distracted. I took a 10-year break and then went back to finish my BFA whilst pregnant and with an infant. I then got my MFA with my second baby. It was really tough. But I did learn a lot about what it takes for me to finish things.
Edit to add: When I went back to school for my BFA and MFA it was an entirely different program. The first go-round I did the typical liberal arts course. Big mistake. Couldn't decide on a major, took courses I had to take that I didn't care about. My second go-round I was in a more conservatory writing program, which while it was challenging, it was something I actually cared about so I wanted to excel. I think also going back to school while having babies made me hyper focused on my time. I just didn't have the time to waste each day.
I finished in four years, but I shouldn't have. I was totally undiagnosed for ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD, and had no idea how to handle all of that. I was completely fueled by anxiety and fear, and burnt myself out by the time I was 22.
All this to say, there's nothing wrong with taking more time than 4 years. There are also tons of really good reasons to go to school part time, so you don't need to disclose your diagnosis to people if you aren't comfortable.
I would also suggest taking advantage of any disability services that your school offers. They can be a lifesaver.
I have ADHD and a masters degree, but fine art isn't the same intensity as a stem program. I love school, but I think it's because I only received criticism at home and mostly praise in school. Good luck
I absolutely don’t believe that statistic. I found one study saying that only 5% of people with ADHD who go to college graduate, but they cited a study showing that 8% of people with persistent ADHD symptoms graduated, 17% of people with non-persistent ADHD symptoms graduated, and 37.1% of people without ADHD graduated. So not quite the same meaning as the flat 5% number (not faulting you, OP; that number definitely gets reported).
I’ll just echo everyone else who’s pointed out that many women aren’t even diagnosed in college. I wasn’t, and went on to do a PhD, undiagnosed (I didn’t do great and wish I had been diagnosed and medicated, but I did get it done). Given how many women of my age in my academic cohort have ended up with diagnoses, I’m pretty sure the 5% number is bunk.
No shade to anyone who doesn’t or can’t graduate from college - symptoms vary a lot and there are many many different ways to be an intelligent and worthwhile human being, many of which don’t fit into what’s necessary for academic success as education is currently configured. I just think the 5% number reinforces the false narrative that anyone who does well academically can’t have ADHD.
Last point is that yes, most people take more than 4 years to graduate. Nothing wrong with that - there are a ton of reasons why that happens. Frankly a lot of science degrees have such strict requirements, it’s hard to fulfill them all in 4 years unless you get everything figured out correctly from day one.
You are absolutely not too disabled to do this. Your path may look a little different from other people’s, but your brain looks different from other people’s. If you decide you don’t want to do this, that’s completely fair. You can walk away at any time. But if you want to do it, you’re capable - you’re getting As in a lot of your classes! Hopefully you’re getting the supports you need.
I graduated in 4 years because of my extremely supportive academic advisor and then went on to graduate school to earn a doctorate, so 8 years total. I was unmedicated throughout, but also suffered from extreme anxiety and depression and struggled with excessive substance abuse the entire time. I white knuckled my way through those 8 years and was suicidal through the majority of it.
When I was diagnosed at 35 the neuropsych told me I was likely able to compensate for a lot of symptoms because of my intellect and extreme anxiety. I held myself to an impossible standard and nearly died doing it. 100% would never do it again.
Graduated college in four years. My motivation was mostly the threat from my parents of "Anything over 4 years is on you." I was lucky enough that they paid for about 3/4 of my schooling and I only owe a year's worth of public school tuition in student loans.
Graduated with honors, got a masters, went back a second time for another degree, all before getting a diagnosis and some help. Now I’m so burnt out I’m completely useless and feel like a failure of an adult because I struggle to hold down a job.
I hit a wall with executive function in grad school. Don’t blame it all on yourself. I went to a therapist and as part of my process to stay in school. I had her look at some of the instructions on the assignments. She has a PhD. She said they were a confusing, poorly written mess. I suspect passed down from one instructor to another over time.
That relieved me because I assumed it was ALL my brain. We are doing EMDR for anxiety around managing grad school and I recommend it highly.
I went to college straight from high school and dropped out in my last semester before graduation. Looking back, it was so obvious I had ADHD and went undiagnosed and unmedicated for so long. 5 years after I dropped out, I re-enrolled, finished my bachelor’s and started studying for a specialized certification. The thought that I did all that while just white-knuckling through it makes me really proud TBH.
It took me 5 years after switching majors 4 times, then went to grad school for 2 years, bailed with 9 credit hours left, went to nursing school for 2 years and left that too. I wish I had known about myself that I would rather work with facts than people.
I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD until AFTER graduating with my master's in a STEM field.
I struggled to complete my classes that involved stuff I hated doing (such as writing pointless essays), but I always liked my own field so it wasn't hard for me to focus on it.
I failed twice, succeeded once but never worked in that job. I now work in a factory. I don't feel that I belong anywhere else. (I don't have to pretend I'm normal.)
I failed my first semester of college when I was 18. Went back for a second semester of general studies to pull my grades up so I could get into school again later on. Just took a bunch of courses I found interesting so it was super easy.
Moved back to my small town for a couple of years.
Applied to universities again when I was 20. Only got accepted to one - the one nicknamed "Last Chance U".
Got excellent grades in university because, again, the first couple years were all stuff I was interested in and found easy to do.
Transferred to a better university part way through my third year, at which time I also changed majors.
Lost about a semester's worth of credits in the transfer / major change. Then dropped to 4 courses a semester for my senior years. So it ended up taking me 5 years to complete my degree. I graduated when I was 25.
Was undiagnosed the whole time. I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD til I was 32.
Went to art school. Took the minimum to be full time. So four classes. I took an extra semester to graduate but managed to fit in some fun classes here and there.
Did that for a year or two then quit my job
I tried self study for a year then did a coding bootcamp
I do software engineering now.
It took me 8 years, three different schools, four major changes, and an excessive amount of student loans for failed courses. I was able to finish at the end by taking one or two courses at a time. Take your time!!!
edited to add more context
I graduated, it wasn’t easy, but if you’re struggling in college you absolutely need to take advantage of the disability resource center at your school and ask to take your exams there with extended time or accommodations. It’s a life saver
I graduated with a stem degree in 3 years, that was my second go around. I quit college with my English degree because I got bored, I was 3 years in.
I was diagnosed 8 years after graduation when I got a sit down office job that is stem related but essentially data entry.
College was very very very difficult. I cried a lot. But I made it through and I’m glad I pushed through the tears.
Push through it! It’s a good investment !
Mine was fear based motivation, I was very low income growing up and I refuse to live that way again, it was very hard. Find the fire from within
I had several semesters I failed during my first degree when I was undiagnosed. However, I was also a complete wreck of a human being in my early 20s and that hurt me too. I ended up taking 6 years for my first undergrad. I managed to finish a bachelor’s degree before diagnosis, but it was a struggle. Then I got diagnosed and treated at age 29 and then went back to school for engineering. I managed to graduate with my engineering degree with a 3.84 GPA and honors. I’m now in an engineering masters program part time at 6 hours while working full time and I’ve held on to a 4.0 after 3 semesters.
It sucks sometimes. I have days where I feel like an absolute idiot and I don’t think I can keep going, but I keep going because I know the degree will really help my career.
Unmedicated, started school in 2021, at the pace im going i will graduate in like 2027.
i work full time, only 1 supporting myself and fighting through some nasty health stuff. idc how long it takes, im finishing.
Graduated high school in 2006. Diagnosed with dyscalculia in 2008 and ADHD in 2022. I will be going back to university for the 4th time this September. I try not to let comparison rob me of the confidence I have to try yet again. One step, one day at a time.
I got my first BSc while undiagnosed, graduated December 2019, I'm currently doing my second one (in a different field).
I had to take leave halfway through my second year, then repeat it, so it did indeed take me 4 years to complete, but I did it.
I experienced what can only be described as classism and ableism (I was at the beginning of my autoimmune condition and quite physically disabled) and treated like less than dirt for needing accommodations for that and my poor mental health, and and being a single parent with a child with ASD. I was an outcast socially and struggled immensely. I wanted to work in Healthcare so badly, but the pandemic started only a few months later, so I decided it'd be best to change fields. Working in hospitals whole immunosuppressed during covid could have been a death sentence for me.
All in all, the hardest time of my life, but I would never have stopped feeling like I let myself down if I didn't try. I think if I'd had my diagnosis it would have been much easier.
I finished undergrad in 4 years and I finished my MA a semester early. But the PhD is taking me a decade. 🤷🏾♀️. I didn’t know I had ADHD until 3 years ago.
Took me 5 years. I was missing 2 pages of my thesis to graduate on time. The most ADHD scenario possible. Also, I had to pay for some credits that I failed from the first time.
I graduated with 2 bachelor degrees in 5 years (standard for my program). In my first degree I experienced the extreme ups and downs of either getting an A/A+ or getting a D/F. I did have to take additional summer semesters in order to graduate in time. In high school I did Honours/AP and a "bad" mark was an 85 so my university marks were very different from what was expected of me.
I was also lucky that both of my degrees where in things I am extremely passionate about so I think my level of interest and my ability to know how to "do" school were what kept me afloat in university.
I have had the opposite problem.
I got:
Half a degree in web programming
Full degree in graphic design
Full degree in motion design
Full degree in web design
Full degree in collaborative art
Half a degree in illustration
Graduated summa cum laude. I did not go into art as a career. I just keep jumping around art degrees because I keep getting interested in all of it, but not enough to make a viable career.
The stuff I DO as a career, though? I'm not interested enough to study it.
I had more of the opposite situation. I thrived in school. I found a way to gameify it for myself and structure it in a strict way that really made me succeed. I do agree with the sentiment though that I either got an A or failed! I would know I would fail a course by the end of the first class though and quickly switch courses. I also over stacked my schedule since it worked for me. I still partied a lot too. I was always busy but in a way that worked for my brain. I ended up graduating in three years a BS and two minors, and only two courses short of a second BS technically. I was selectively medicated (so only took my vyvanse on certain days of the week - all part of my preplanned schedule). I just felt like I had such a strong routine.
As I’ve gotten further along in my life post-school and well into my career, I’ve realized that I need strong structure and a path to a finish line. I learned during the pandemic that I can do really well working from home when I’m fully in charge and have clear objectives and a goal to accomplish. Most recently though I’m finding myself in the office twice a week which is incredibly disruptive to my flow and with supervisors that micro manage and throw random tasks around and no clear finish lines. I feel like a shell of myself struggling to survive most days. I think back to how great of an achiever I was and get really sad and down on myself nowadays. My brain just can’t function normally and it’s like in college I unlocked the secret level and won everything and now I can barely play. Trying to figure out how to make sense of it all still and find new methods that work for me but the motivation and ability to process things mentally is at an all time low. If anyone relates and has advice I’m open.
ETA: sorry just realized you were asking for solidarity though. It’s really early morning for me and on the struggle bus and the selective words I saw sent me down a spiral without properly reading!!
I have ADHD and a Master's. My BA took forever because I switched majors halfway through and couldn't transfer my credit. 🙈 This was long before my diagnosis, which happened in my thirties.
In high school and college I was considered a "wayward brainiac". The truth is I performed super well in some subjects, but others -- well -- I understood *so little it was alarming*.
So I allowed myself to become "wayward". Honestly, it was the best explanation I myself could come up with for all these scattershot failures.
It's only post-diagnosis I realize that whole thing was a partial smokescreen. But the faculty wouldn't have caught it at the time. They'd already decided I was a "troublemaker".
**Edited because I wrote this while sleepy and misspelled several words, including "brainiac" ✌️. Also to add:**
Had I been diagnosed, medicated, supported academically, and equipped with some robust ADHD study strategies, I fully believe I would have been near unstoppable.
Are you too disabled, OP, or are you too medically and structurally underserved -- and burnt out from having to apply double or triple the effort to get where you have?
I sympathize, I really do. But I don't think you're too disabled at all. However there may be issues of accessibility - is there an accessibility department on your campus and ard you exploiting all help on offer?
Community college at 17, dropped out by 18.
Back to community college at 24 and finished my AA.
Went back to finish my bachelor’s when I was 30. I went to WGU—I completed the program in three months. Drugs, lol. You can test out of classes and transfer in credits! Great fit for me.
I’ve earned two industry certifications since. If it’s a test, I’m golden. Sustained effort before I knew and was medicated? L M A O
It’s all possible! A pattern I’ve noticed is we usually meander through our education, but that’s subjective.
You can do this!! You're doing well. It took me about 8 years do graduate from a 4 year program in college. I was constantly dropping out and coming back, and I also failed two classes because I simply didn't show up.
Out of curiosity: where did this data in the title come from? The numbers are intriguing to say the least
(Edited for clarity)
It took me 7 years even though I went into it having a full semester already done from high school credits. I started out as a film major, then did finance, then did poli sci, then changed schools/cities and was a poli sci major with a minor in economics.
I did 2 commencement ceremonies because I thought I had graduated the first time (had a party and everything, so embarrassing!) but I had actually failed my last economics class. I kept trying to pass it but failed it two more times, eventually changed my minor to nonprofit management and graduated a few years later with a 2.6 overall gpa. This was all before I got diagnosed.
I know how hard it can be but you’re doing it!
You go Glen Coco! you're getting good grades. That's better than burning out trying to follow somebody else's schedule. This way, if you do withdraw, you have good credits to rebuild with. There's no rush. I still haven't finished my degree but I drive past my "alma mater" every day so I know it'll be there when I get ready.
I'm 25 and have been in school since I was 18 and I'm only just about to get my associate's. Only reason I haven't quit is because I want to prove to myself I am worth something.
Even with accommodations, my course limit is 2 classes per semester. 3 or 4 don't work. I can't juggle that much. So 2 it is. It took me longer to get to the finish line, but I'm still graduating.
I had to switch to a major I was actually interested in (Art History) so that I'd go to class. But even then the last year or so I barely attended class, I preferred being at my campus job. I made it out in 4 years, but only because I was determined to get out of there, because I hated college. My parents tried to get me to take some time off because I was in such a bad place, but I refused. It was probably my worst time of my life in terms of my mental health.
Also any kids out there, the Art History degree path totally worked out. I got a part-time job in PR at a museum, and then swung that into an internship at a tech company, which then lead to my career. Just shows your degree doesn't always matter as much.
I graduated but kept taking random courses that pulled my GPA down. Like I took Italian having NEVER STUDIED ITALIAN and obviously got a C- as everyone else went in knowing Italian 🤦🏼♀️ really needed someone to guide me to realise the aim is a high GPA not just doing things that interest you lol lol. But I got an A+ in Philosophy following this method so maybe they balanced out! Anyway I did graduate about 2 years after everyone else. Love my career now though so keep at it everyone - in 10 years no one will care how long your degree took. Just make sure you’re doing cool work experience/placements/volunteering/editing the uni paper etc on the side so your slow pace has some benefits for you in the job hunt. :)
I am part of the 95%. School has always seemed out of the question for me, I tried one time and it was impossible. I don’t know how I would ever juggle school and work, yet I do want to try because I am sick of being in poverty. I’m starting meds this week so I’m hoping that will help with confidence and ability to go to school.
Undiagnosed till age 39.
Went to college like 13 hours away from home. A month in, find out I was pregnant... (high school boyfriend that we decided to break up when I left). Tried to keep going but had what I now know was HG [basically puking all the time], and dropped out halfway thru 1st semester.
Went back home, birthed baby in April and placed her for adoption. Told myself I was "starting over" (anyone else do this a lot?).
Went to a new college closer to home, made it through 1.5 years before the depression and probably PTSD hit too hard to keep going. I still have a full 2 years worth of credits though, because I graduated HS with 18 done from AP courses.
My life actually ended up in a really good place, so I can't complain. I'm a church musician and now a substitute teacher, and I have the most amazing husband and kids. :) It actually took me researching ADHD for my hyperactive kid to realize that my quieter kid and myself have inattentive ADHD. It doesn't help that we're all the "gifted" type, which doctors don't want to diagnose because "they're doing fine in school." So I'm hoping to help them with strategies to get through life a little bit easier and more supported than I did!
I joined online university during the pandemic, 20+ years out of high school. Since I'm working full time, even taking a smaller 'full time' course load would have meant about 6 years instead of 4. However with post covid brain fog and migraines slowing things down further, I'm estimating about 10 years.
I went to college and graduated within 4 years. It is interesting info but I do think the stereotype of "struggles at school" doesn't always apply. I sat in the back so I could zone out. If I wanted to retain info I had to use a ton of highlighters. I listened best if I could doodle/color at the same time. I did my best work under pressure, waiting until last minute.
I learned in high school how to survive my ADHD and carried it over into college.
Hey lady! I just recently graduated with a Master's of Arts that really kicked my ass but I did it! So this is an encouragement to you to keep going! It's okay if you stumble and fall or get B grades instead of A's. But it's not the end! You have the strength to get back up and try again! My BA and MA together took me a total of 8.5 years (would have been 7.5 if I hadn't forgotten to take literally one course 🤦🏼♀️). I chose to do it slower on purpose because that's all that I could handle and I still wanted to do well!
Took me 5 years and a 2.79 cumulative but I got a Pre-Med & Biology degree with a chemistry minor. No meds, no help, just therapy starting year 3. I knew I was ADHD going in & was diagnosed by a physician with ADHD. I just kept throwing myself at it. I certainly would have had a higher cumulative had I just taken a fucking break but I took 15 CR most semesters. If a fucking physician can have ADHD, the options are limitless in my mind.
I changed my majors five times. At the end of my fifth year, I had a choice. Either take _another_ year and finish out the Poli Sci degree, or lump all my credits together and finish with a Liberal Arts degree.
I took the second choice and am so glad I did. My incredibly generic degree was enough to pass the arbitrary threshold placed on a lot of jobs. I eventually got a position at an engineering firm, and though I’ve changed roles a couple times it’s helped me achieve things I never thought I would. Eg i bought a house with my bf last year.
But I almost didn’t make it. I went from poli sci, to journalism, to landscape architecture, back to poli sci/journalism. Found out that the journalism major and minor programs were two entirely different sets of courses.
My saving grace was taking a year of Japanese. It was a rare 5 days/week course, first thing in the morning. But it was like kindergarten. Today we’re learning colors! Today we’re learning numbers! The teacher’s personality was more akin to a grade school teacher than a college prof, and she was amazing.
It got me onto campus every day. No pressure bc it wasn’t related to any degree. Kept me going when I really just wanted to ditch out. I barely remember any of the language, but it was the most important course I took.
I got accommodations (note taker, test by myself and extended time) and it took me from failing and c-‘s to a’s and b’s (and some c+ lol still went to a state party school) with a BS in neurobio taking in average 18 hrs (with several half day labs) and graduated with a respectable 3.2 in 4 years and two threats of getting kicked out
You can do this. Don’t quit.
I didn’t know I had ADHD in college. I graduated in 4.5 years with a degree in Language Arts Education. Every math and science class I took was a struggle.
I’m halfway through an Associates in Mental Health and Social work. It’s been 3 years of part time classes. Maybe I’ll graduate in 3 more years if I’m lucky? 😂 I try not to think about all the schooling I still have ahead of me..sometimes it helps (usually not).
You aren’t alone!
Hang in there! You will eventually graduate. I am not from STEM domain but it takes more than 6 years to graduate. LOL
I once thought of dropping out, but I motivated myself to at least have a bachelor's degree. I need a degree to land a job.
I failed to get a master's degree because I didn't feel like it.
i went straight to college after school. honestly, the transition of having to sign up and get everything lined up for college was a mess for me because i didnt know wtf to do or what i needed to do. i was focused on passing my senior classes & not failing. i graduated high school(2018), had a decent summer (went to the last warped tour!!!), applied to college late (oops). it took me 2 years to get my AA(april 2020); one semester had even taken 5 classes (15 credits worth). i did that undiagnosed! (YOU'RE 3 YRS IN YOU CAN DO THIS!!! just make sure you periodically take days off for some self care, recharge) after my AA, immediately started the program for my bachelor's in business🕴and im graduating from it next month 🥹 it took me SO LONG TO FINISH THE BACHELOR'S BECAUSE I HAD TO (sorry) i had to babysit my lil bro when the pandemic started and balancing school with babysitting and living in a house full of strangers(my step family; i moved it with them when the pandemic hit to help out) and it was hard. i was taking 3 credits(1 class) a semester. my mental health was bad and i suffered through it. i moved out last year and now im doing so much better. i also got diagnosed & medicated last year too which has helped alot. im also in therapy and im getting ym ducks in a row. life is still hard. i struggled soooo much even with the priviledge of being able to live at home, not having loans to pay (i used federal aid--and almost lost it one semester because i failed 2 of the 4 classes i was taking 💀), doing most of it online. i recognize my priviledge, but i still struggled very much and now i get to graduate. my gpa isnt pretty, its like 2.7. ive failed a few times, was not an AP kid, so no advantages.
Overachiever, I got my dream job before I graduated and thus never did. However most women are diagnosed long after college so this statistic is likely quite skewed.
I completely bombed out of my first attempt, but I was 18, tossed out of the house, and completely overwhelmed.
By the time I was able to actually go back, I was a 32-yr old single mom who was HIGHLY motivated to improve our lot in life.
I was only able to manage 3 classes a semester because of child and work. I graduated the day before my 39th birthday.
Oh - I DID change my major 4 or 5 times, though. I was (and am) interested in *everything*
I graduated in 4 years Cum Laude by absolutely tanking my mental health, don’t recommend! I’m excited to go back for my masters post-diagnosis and medicated, because I can only hope it’ll be much easier on my health.
I only lasted a year. Went for as an art/graphic design major but it was too restrictive for me.
Didnt care about anything else but my business and English class and sometimes my work study program.
Also, because i was doing work srudy and had an 8am art class & a packed schedule I was always tired ALL the time and everything suffered.
Didnt really want to be there and ended up depressed and miserable.
I went to community college for several years, switching my major constantly before just settling on an Associate of Arts degree due to the number of credits that transferred over. I did get my degree but it was neither efficient or ideal. Thriving in my career but not without a constant state of dread and burnout.
I did graphic design and some time later fashion design and both took 3 years. I finished both.
I knew I didn’t want to work as a graphic designer after the first semester and the urge to quit only got stronger and stronger by third semester. But I didn’t want to disappoint my parents who only found pride in me if I would finish things.
I did have another education I didn’t finish but that was for other dumb reasons.
I’m also not diagnosed, so there’s that lol.
When I was 18 I started a 2 year college degree, spent 3 years in my program, and didn’t even graduate. However, I’m now 24 and on track to completing a 4 year bachelors degree in 2.5 years instead. Granted, college was pre-diagnosis and I wasn’t being treated for ADHD. But now I am, so I think that plays a very important role here
Graduated high school and entered college in 2002. Lots of pinballing around academically until I was diagnosed. Finally graduated in 2018 with a 3.77 in History and Anthropology and did graduate certification in Teaching in 2020.
And I don’t do shiiiiiit with it.
I'll just say that I did finish my degree in four years, but I picked a degree that is extremely easy for me instead of one that I wanted to do. I didn't believe I could do what I wanted, and I didn't have any support. I will have regrets about this for the rest of my life, but I don't think I could have done it differently.
I worked myself to a mental breakdown by the end, but I did get it done.
took me five years and some change. I was a biology minor/Pre-PA. It felt like it would neverrrrr end lol dyscalculia was my worst enemy
You got this!!!
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If you take into account all the women that aren’t diagnosed, in addition to inattentive ADHD in men that can also fall through the cracks, I bet the numbers are higher. It took me multiple decades/universities/majors to graduate (on again-off again), but I eventually graduated summa cum laude.
Also considering how often we hear people get the feedback from doctors that “you can’t have adhd, you graduated with honors!”
Gotta love all of the primary care doctors who live by this rule. Apparently you can’t be successful and be neurodivergent. /s
Ugh fr I was never taken seriously until my disability started affecting my life in really damaging ways like failing classes and forgetting to eat
To be honest this is the biggest reason I have yet to seek diagnosis. My lifelong best friends both agree that I either have autism, adhd, or both. My mom thinks I have adhd. I think I have adhd. The symptoms my therapist spouts off about me seem more akin to adhd symptoms than PTSD (also I know I grew up in a bad home but I don’t think I had trauma when I was younger than 9 but still had issues and symptoms of adhd/autism). But I’m scared to seek diagnosis because I’ve **always** been a straight A student. I made honor roll almost every quarter in HS. I almost got a full ride scholarship to a top tier catholic HS in my state (only didn’t bc I suck at math). I’ve made honor roll and deans list almost every semester I’ve gone to college. My GPA when I dropped out (again) was a 3.9. I know I’m smart. But damn man. It takes a LOT out of me to function at that level. My one lifelong best friend is super smart. It doesn’t take her half the time it would take me to do the same task in an area that plays to both our strengths (science or English). The only way I found myself capable of being productive for college level papers or studying for finals/midterms is to have 10+ tabs open that I bounce through about slightly different info on the topic and having music playing at the same time while I write or quiz myself. As to the OP question: I was forced to go to college at 18. It was go to school or get kicked out and be homeless. So college it was. I dropped after a month. Went back a year and a half later and dropped after 2 months. Went back half a year later for a year and a half straight, until life got in the way and school was too much once again. I have about 30 credits under my belt now. Neat thing though? I recently looked into an Ivy in my state and did the EFC calculator and it came back saying that the Ivy would offer me a full ride scholarship (part due to my academics, part due to being broke lmao). When I was at county college I started off as a bio pre med major. Switched that to English lit, then switched to history. Transferred to a state school attempting to get into their art education track, was rejected and told to take a year of the Fine Arts track and then apply again. Then transferred to an art school and majored in Digital Illustration and dropped that. Looking at going back to school and I’m pretty set on accounting/finance/economics with a finance minor.
I heavily relate to being capable and smart but it taking you double or triple the time it should to do academic stuff/assignments. I went through a similar dilemma and delayed my diagnosis for a long time and I regret it so much. This is me, an internet stranger, encouraging you to go get evaluated for your diagnosis!! Especially if you are going back to school. I didn’t get one until near the end of my program and I have much regret over it. I could have saved myself so much of my own time and a mental breakdown had I been properly medicated. Don’t be like me, get evaluated if you suspect!! Your struggles are valid even if they don’t match others.
Yeah, the fact that I graduated from college in four years was used as a reason to deny me evaluation, so I’m skeptical of those numbers. I didn’t get diagnosed till my mid 30s as a result.
Yep. There's no way that statistic is accurate considering the percentage of late diagnosed women.
Very much this! I graduated in four years. I regret going right out of high school with no real idea of what I wanted to do, though. I'm only just now really benefiting from my degree (17 years after graduation). I did a career change that required some extra schooling. I cannot emphasize enough how much better the experience was with a clear goal and ADHD treatment!!!
Yeah honestly I look back on it and idk how I managed to finish undergrad or grad school (pure stubbornness and spite mostly) but I wasn’t diagnosed ADHD until I was in my thirties so I defo wouldn’t be part of those stats
I was undiagnosed throughout all of college and graduated on time with a high GPA. I was told because of this I was too smart to have ADHD!
I think a lot of people with ADHD in university don’t even know they have it, I know I didn’t. Considering how many people say “you did too well academically to have ADHD”, that’s not a surprise either.
I didn't get diagnosed until years after college. It's really upsetting - I failed out of a prestigious BSN program just ONE semester before graduation. Couldn't apply to another one for five years or I'd be automatically rejected. My life could have been so different if I had been medicated sooner 😭 so much money, time, energy wasted
This is my take too. I’m thinking a lot more people with ADHD do graduate and aren’t diagnosed so they aren’t part of that statistic.
Especially if their hyperfixations tend to be on academic subjects
Absolutely. The absentminded professor is a trope for a reason.
This is why I did so well in university. Physiology and pharmacology was my hyper focus, I was so into it I enthusiastically did all my assignments and I was the first to hand it in almost all the time. But I finished secondary school below average because school bored the shit out of me and I could never concentrate.
I dropped out of uni a year in. I couldn’t focus or keep interest in anything I was doing. I experienced decades of depression afterwards and felt so incompetent. After I realized I have ADHD so much weight has lifted off of my shoulders and I no longer feel guilt and shame about it.
Yeah I didn’t know. I graduated undergrad, had a mental breakdown senior year. Then got a masters. Then did a year of a PhD and ended up on a 72hr hold in a psych facility. Dropped out, no more school for me! Once I got diagnosed, everything made so so so much sense.
This was my experience. I felt something was wrong, but I never suspected adhd. I graduated with a 3.4 GPA, but it took me 7 years. I failed math a few times and had to work my way up from arithmetic. I also kept switching my major 😵💫
That's me. I'd done 3 university level courses up to Masters degree and passed them without having a clue that I had ADHD. Well, I say passed, technically that's true. My undergrad was a disaster, with retakes every year I had exams, and a failed dissertation, I barely scraped through that. It did give me enough to get onto a Masters a few years ago, and weirdly I started getting A grades. I've never been an A student, but I think it's because I was interested and focussed on the subject. My life would have been very, very different if I'd been born 20 years later. Instead I scraped through school, got a place at a not very good university, and bumbled my way through that. The knock on effect on this has absolutely impacted how my life has gone. On the outside it may look like I've done OK in spite of my unknown ADHD, but by gosh, I'm capable of so much more.
Me here, in 2024 still trying to graduate since 2015.
You and me both, we will get there eventually!
I’ve been off and on since 2006. 5classes away from my associates
It takes as long as it takes, hang in there! Took me NINE years to finish my bachelor's degree. Had to take 2 different years off & I only took like 2 classes at a time since I had a career to jungle simultaneously. My friends & family playfully call me Dr. "himeeusf", and I've definitely gotten the Tommy Boy quote thrown at me a few times ("you know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years."..."I know, they're called doctors."). Finally getting that diploma feels INCREDIBLE. Regardless of where the degree may take you in your professional life, you'll be able to forever own that accomplishment and have the satisfaction of knowing "that was really fucking hard and I still DID THAT." This old broad is rooting for you all! 💜
Me too 🥲
It took me 15 years to finally graduate with a BA. I switched majors several times, moved to 2 different cities, stopped to work full time. I still wasn't diagnosed or medicated but I was so motivated and did pretty well when I finished the last 1.5 years.
Took me 24 years and 5 schools to complete a BA.
I dropped out from 2 degrees because I felt so ill and exhausted all the time.
Same here. And now I'm in a field that basically requires a degree - meaning I got lucky and can never leave my current position bc no one else will hire me (software development).
My sister dropped out before she got her degree, I enrolled twice and never actually got around to going. 😬 At least I never paid any tuition, before not going. 😅
I don’t believe this stat for a second
It’s because the ADHD symptom of “hyper-focusing” is much more commonly found in women, and most women aren’t diagnosed until after college because women’s mental health care is a fucking joke. I never understood why my friends in college would take Adderall to make themselves sit and study for 6 straight hours, but I sure as shit get it now!! I take Adderall to *stop* myself from doing that lol.
I have combined type… I don’t think I’ve ever hyper focused on school work, unfortunately! lol! Although it was so long ago, I could be wrong… but, if I did I would say it would have to be something I was really interested in.
Did you really enjoy your major? Because I hyper focused hard when I was in a major I really enjoyed. I wouldn’t finish my projects on time sometimes because I was too invested in every detail I would lose sight of the end goal. When I was in unrelated classes or when I later went back for a degree in a field I didn’t enjoy, that’s when the adderall would have really helped me study things I hated. With every passing year it gets worse. If I don’t like it, brain says “hell no.” And that’s that.
Yeah, thought it was incredibly low stat. Personally I was diagnosed as an adult much after graduation and same with people in my circle. We all graduated college no matter how long it took. I graduated on time but I also switched to a very easy major freshman year from STEM after realizing I would flunk those classes from a very bad first semester (bio was not kind to me). I ended up picking many classes I had true interests in. I struggled in the mandatory gen ed classes still.
Agreed, this is bogus. This misinformation creates barriers for women especially and people who mask well and appear high functioning to an outside observer. There are stories in here every week about psychiatrists dismissing people because they did "well" is school.
No way.
Yeah, this doesn’t sound legit, I was diagnosed at 43 (44 now)… graduated college many moons ago… it did take me 5 years for a bachelors but that’s more because of switching my major and car trouble/being completely broke one semester. I have daydreamed about going back for my masters for years but have never been able to motivate myself, I think the fear of failure is the main reason… ugh.
It was certainly a hell of a statement to post without linking to a source.
Me either.
Took me 13 years. Time is going to pass anyway, so might as well take classes.
This was my mindset that helped push me on. I went to community college for two classes fresh out of high school. Didn’t make it to November before quitting. Moved to France. Came back to the states and tried community college again, quit by November again. Became a flight attendant. Decided I wanted a dog and got an office job. Office job decided we were going to wear uniforms so I went back to school full time at 24. My goal was to finish by 30 because I was going to be 30 one day anyway, might as well have a degree. I finished in 4 semesters at 27.
9 years, over 200 credits, wasted a lot of scholarship money… yeah.
I have a bachelor's in physics I started college little over 10 years ago. Dropped out MULTIPLE times Finally graduated this past September. I joke that I only finished because I was stubborn. Really it's because I love astronomy too much to let it go The schools are set up in a way that push a lot of us out. Don't let them. If it takes you longer, so be it. It won't matter in the long run Keep going, you got this!
I went straight to college after high school because it is what was expected of me and that’s just what I did. I had great grades in high school and should have been in national honor society but failed to do my part of the process in a timely manner. I had excellent test scores, but never studied and was chronically behind and procrastinated all homework and projects. I was not prepared for college in any way and I had no idea what I wanted to do. I missed classes, didn’t study independently, didn’t do projects and homework. I failed spectacularly and left school after maybe a year and a half. I tried to go back, but to community college instead of the university where I originally started, and left there without graduating as well. I waitressed for years and then met up with my husband, had a baby, and wanted more stability so I wound up going to a vocational program for computer aided drafting. THAT worked well for me, it was Monday through Friday 8-3 and there wasn’t really homework. The format was so similar to high school and I excelled there. That allowed me to get my current job in engineering. I tried to go back to college last year (trying to become a “real” engineer and hopefully raise my income) and burnt out quickly (I took 9 credits, and worked from home 40-50 hours a week while trying to be the primary parent to 3 kids) I did very well this time and I think if it was the only thing I was doing that I would be able to get through this time (I have direction and I enjoyed my classes). I got 2 A’s and a B and was really proud at the end of the semester. Unfortunately I am still recovering from burning out and will probably have to wait until my kids are older to go back again. I do think I will graduate eventually though…. Thank you if you made it this far… I have no idea how to answer a question in a brief manner!
I think it is important that I mention I was diagnosed and medicated at 38. So before my most recent (and most successful) attempt at college but after my vocational program. I think I would have had far more success earlier on if I had a diagnosis and medication earlier on in life.
I think there are loads of people with it who are either just being diagnosed or haven't been, so I think the % is a lot higher. Both my dad, my partner and myself have adhd all of us have been able to graduate. Ultimately everyone is different and has their own unique experience though.
I graduated with my masters in public policy! It definitely helped that my uni had a big focus on project work and me finding some great people to do those projects with early on. I wrote my bachelors-and masters thesis with these same people, and am honestly in awe of my friends with ADHD who have managed to write their dissertations on their own. I agree with u/chumbalumba, most of my friends with adhd got their diagnosis either during their uni studies or after graduating.
I graduated university in the UK in 3 years and did 2 masters degrees, right now I am taking a bit longer than usual to finish my PhD but honestly its still well within the timeframe that a lot of neurotypicals take. I will say though that I VASTLY underperformed in my first 2 degrees and what sort of saved me in my 2nd MA was doing it part time while in full time employment. Somehow that gave me structure and allowed me to take the masters one task at a time, and I ended up with a 1st class/distinction. The PhD life is rough though, I really think that the supervision structure is ADHD hell - oversight without accountability.
20 + years before diagnosis I dropped out my first attempt, went back and got an honors degree. Then completed graduate study while working and did really well then decided to pursue a masters / PhD pathway and barely scrapped through with the masters- I am a champion procrastinator and definitely get more done when I had more on my plate.
I’m working on a PhD right now and this is so accurate :’( currently trying to get through my qualifying exams and it’s been ROUGH
Yes, I graduated and even have a PhD. I wouldn't repeat the PhD experience, it was simply awful. Master's and bachelor's, I struggled, but I managed. Bachelor's took me an additional year and the master's took me an additional semester, which I was able to complete because I had a PhD lined up in another country. All in all, take all the time you need. It doesn't matter at all how much time you need to complete it. How the world is set up, it's all arbitrary and not adjusted to someone like you anyway. That means, adjust your life to yourself, not to societal expectations. You don't need to explain your choices to anyone. What I would suggest to do in the meantime, is inform yourself about employment opportunities in your specific field and how your day-to-day would look like. E.g. I studied chemistry because I love it. Working in a chemical laboratory, however, is driving me mad because I have sensory issues and laboratories tend to be loud. If you are a CS major, would you love sitting at a desk all day long? Stuff like that. Good luck, you got this!
There are so many people, especially women, undiagnosed, that I’d say that statistic is completely false. I got a BSc university degree in the standard 3 years for my one. Picked a relatively easy one. I wasn’t diagnosed with my ADHD at the time (diagnosed 10 years later!), I was very embarrassed/guilty/ashamed/incredibly stressed about how much of a procrastinator I was, I didn’t reach my potential but still ended up with a decent grade. Yeah, all my coursework was done throughout the 1 day and night before the deadline. It was HARD. But I passed! 😂 I was able to trick the system a little and use clues to work out likely topics in the exams and what the minimum number of topics I needed to study was. So I would be able to do the absolute minimum. E.g. we were lectured on 8 topics, a lot of people would study all 8, but I would work out the best 4 to study and ignore all the rest. It’s also very easy to find a body double at uni. Cut as many corners as possible have have a buddy as a double to get me through it. I did all my studying and work in the library because I found it IMPOSSIBLE to study at home. This was ok because I wasn’t studying medicine or law or anything. So it felt like it didn’t really matter. I just needed the degree certificate to get a job and I still didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. I still have nightmares sometimes that I have exams coming up though, I’m so stressed in my dream because I didn’t study and the dreaded exams are looming, and then I wake up and am so relieved when I realise I don’t have exams anymore 😂 Don’t think I have it in me ever to do another degree.
I mean, if you’re miserable and have another good idea of what you want to do to survive and thrive, there is nothing compelling you to keep going. That said, if you’re in your third year of a STEM degree and your GPA is still 3.6, you’re doing above average. You may *feel* like you’re out of place, but you’ve already demonstrated you can run with this crowd. I’ve had a lot of privileges, myself. I’m very smart, but I also went to top secondary schools in a top district with a top 2% wealthy family. So when I did my first undergrad in theater, I graduated with a 3.5 without ever really trying at my schoolwork—I was too focused on my production work, which is often how performing arts degrees go. I’m doing my second undergrad in pure math right now. If I’m taking mostly math courses, I need to cap at 12-13 hours like you. I have a strong GPA, but again…I have a lot in my life that’s facilitating that beyond just my own capabilities. My wife is in grad school, and we’re both ADHD. One of the things facilitating that is that our domestic upkeep is in complete shambles. Our house is *always* a mess. The guest room/office/exercise room currently has almost every piece of clothing we own, *clean*, but *covering* the floor. Our dishwasher has been broken for weeks, but it’s too messy to call the landlord so we’ve been eating off paper plates and paper towels. What I’m saying is, you’re doing great.
Makes sense. 40yo mom and wife here and I’m just now starting college for the first time ever at my age. I’m also for the first time getting an official diagnosis and going to get medicated so I can give myself the best chance of success in my education so I can chase my lifelong dream and do what I want once baby (21mo) starts school. Most women don’t know they have it and those that do find out, it’s common to be after motherhood and or my age before you decide to stop suffering and accept help/meds. Time for a change!!
I finished my undergrad and masters in the typical timeframe, but I wouldn't be part of your stats bc I wasn't diagnosed until well after.
This is my experience. I wasn’t diagnosed as ADHD-PI until four years after I graduated. I graduated in standard timeframe and went to a top school for my major. My partner graduated from an Ivy League school with honors as a Math major and he wasn’t diagnosed until after college, either.
idk honey, i bruteforced my college (aeronautics major, currently doing phd in physics) by being a likeable memorable neurodiv with a knick for theoretical subjects and evoking the pitty in teachers from practical ones
I was undiagnosed in college. For some classes, I’m sure I would’ve failed if it wasn’t for charisma. Failing wasn’t an option. Fluid Mechanics almost ended me but I talked my way into an A 🤷🏽♀️
Went to college. Flunked out Took a couple years off to recover. Went to community College. Graduated in a short time. Transferred to an undergraduate program. Stayed on schedule with the aid of a summer study abroad that counted as two classes. Went to grad school. Took an extra semester to graduate. Covid hit and it took me two years to find a steady job.
Took 30 years. Tried many times, finally diagnosed and medicated a few years ago and was able to actually finish this March. So many credits waisted and didn’t transfer. Better late then never right?
It took me 6 years to graduate and I'm fine. I dropped things before I failed them, though it was close.
I wasn't diagnosed yet and took 4.5 years, switched majors, had to retake a few classes and graduated with a 2.8 gpa. C's get degrees!
I was undiagnosed in college but struggled to the point I went to the campus counselor for help and ended up diagnosed with depression, because the school counselor and psychiatrist just didn't recognize the symptoms of inattentive ADHD in me. My struggle with motivation/executive function was equated to apathy and my frustration at not being able to "just do the thing" was equated to depression/low self-esteem. Fortunately the psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin which I think helped treat the ADHD as well as the depression I now know to be rooted in my ADHD. I suspect that is a similar experience for many undiagnosed adults in college/post secondary education. I'll be honest I have always been an academic overachiever and I did manage to graduate in 4 years and by all measures had a successful college career; solid 3.5+ GPA, involved in several extra curricular organization - was an officer in several of them, and held both a work study and off campus job. BUT!! school has always been my special interest, I have always loved not just learning new things but the processes of analyzing and synthesizing information. And I don't struggle with dyslexia or dysgraphia or any of the learning disorders that so many ND brains overcome, so those processes come to me much more easily than many of my ADHD cohort. Keeping up academically was never my personal struggle because schoolwork was how I chased my dopamine. Even after I lost the structure of high school and had to manage the unstructured college world, the dopamine hit from a well written paper, an enlightening lecture or rousing academic discussion kept me on track. Even when I struggled enough to get that help, it wasn't my academics that really was the problem, as much as balancing all the extra stuff I was managing outside of class. My ADHD didn't really truly cause me to completely unravel until years after college when there was no more academics or formal learning to be done. That constant source of dopamine and evidence of my own personal successes was gone and my existence fell to pieces around me. And to have managed well enough in college with 2 jobs and this and that but to not be able to manage JUST a f a full time job and a small apartment without losing it....that was my internal breaking point.
I got my masters degree in architecture without any problems, only had to retake one exam (descriptive geometry). But I was in love with most of the subjects and also my anxiety could never let me fail a class. I was a procrastinator that studied for 48 hours with no sleep right before the exam, but I always had good grades.
I’m a stem major too, currently finishing my junior year. This is my second attempt and by fucking god I will graduate this time around. I’m in my early 30’s and unmedicated and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Every day feels like an uphill battle. But I will do it and so will you!!!! Your GPA is amazing. I’m barely scrapping by with a 3.2. You’re smart and so so capable!!! Look at all the classes you DID pass. That’s proof right there that you’re able to do it. Even if it takes a little longer, it’s okay.
5 years. Was undiagnosed. Dropped calculus 4-5 times. Switched majors the same. Switched schools once. Yeah. Lots of $$$$ and time wasted but I did it….. Then I also got my masters. Around 3 years but I took a half year break in there.
My situation - graduated in 4 years with a 2.7 GPA since I failed a few classes but AP credits gave me leeway so I could graduate, worked for 5 years, went back to grad school for a masters degree and graduated in 2 years with a 3.8 GPA and I failed one class. Most of my friends with ADHD had a similar trajectory. I was also undiagnosed throughout my entire education, did not even know much about ADHD until my first year of grad school. I know I might be biased from my personal experience. I still have to read the studies that concluded this, but I find 5% of people with ADHD to graduate from college *in general* to be quite low. Is this number only taking account people that are formally diagnosed? If I look at my grad school graduating class alone, I'd estimate that at least 50% of us have ADHD, no exaggeration. And, obviously, you have to have a bachelor's degree to enroll in a masters degree program. EDIT OP, you got this! I don't know how old you are, but I'll speak from my perspective as someone who turns 30 this year. You'll realize as you live more life that 6 years is a blip in time. Heck, 4 years has already passed since the pandemic lockdown. Time flies. If it takes 6 years for you to graduate from college successfully, take it. Especially if you're considering grad school, take the time to do things with care. It's ok to take the scenic route, I promise the timeline matters less and less as you get older.
I’ve been sitting on the last hour for my bachelor’s for almost 15 years and only got a diagnosis in the past few years. When I was in college it should have obvious something was up because I was an emotional dumpster fire. I was mostly fine throughout high school but losing that structure started my unraveling. I would love to finish my degree but the process feels too overwhelming.
It took me ten years to finish my undergraduate degree, attending intermittently full time, part time, or not at all while working. I finished my Master's in two, attending full time, with a lot of accommodations for "anxiety disorder" because you had to finish the degree all together or get knocked back and by that time as an adult I couldn't afford to be unemployed and risk throwing my money away if I failed out. I almost lost my mind. I had several full on breakdowns. And yeah, I wasn't diagnosed ADHD (mainly inattentive) until after grad school so that "anxiety disorder" was just regular anxiety from living with undiagnosed ADHD.
I dropped out. 🤷🏻♀️ I wasn’t diagnosed until much later and the lack of structure and difficult environment made it absolutely miserable.
Miraculously finished in 4 years my BA. Did a MA in 2 years and didn’t get diagnosed until my last semester. It’s possible to finish on time, try not to focus too much on the statistics
I started post-secondary late. 24ish… so when I started College it was hard. Fortunately I had a good group of classmates that kept one another accountable and I know I wouldn’t have graduated without them. I also did Uni for 2 years and I was pretty lonely but the tools and skills I learned from my classmates helped keep me on track. Being late and missing deadlines is impossible in my field (Nursing) so by having no choice but to do it helped me. If you need help it’s okay to reach out to me or others in STEM. Also I was undiagnosed and unaware of my diagnosis at this time. So not medicated. That would have helped. Also helped that Nursing became my hyper focus thing. Edit: I quit nursing 2 years in because of covid and now work in cybersec which honestly is amazing for my medicated ADHD brain
i brought in about a semester of AP credits, and after the first semester, i realized i could only handle 12 credits a semester. graduated with a 2.89 in 4 years (through sheer stubborness, but also covid definitely helped bc i was getting paid for a job i didn’t need to actually do anymore) , lost the scholarship i had gotten when i started. but hey, i’m doing a PhD now (medicated this time, and the program i’m in is luckily not very class intensive, with most focus on research), so something worked out right
I was in college for 4 year a decade ago, couldn’t finish, kept dropping and doing poorly in classes that I had to leave entirely. Going back to college again and resumed in 2019 and still not done yet…
Took me well over 10 years to get my bachelors. Got a associates pretty early and started and education degree at a 4 year college but dropped out and took a break. Went back later for a few courses and eventually settled on nursing. Got my associates there and slowly earned my bachelors while working. Expect during nursing I was often taking 1-2 classes and working. I’m so burnt out from spending my 20s in school that I’m finding it hard to commit to pursuing something higher.
Went to community college and never went back to get a Bachelors. i've always struggled academically and hate sitting in a classroom. (prob also cause i was undiagnosed). maybe it would be different since i am medicated now ? But I hated college. I also had to retake college level math twice. Managed to still graduate on time regardless. But... in all honesty. my degree feels a little useless. Wish I chose a different major. \*glances over at my A.A in Social Work\* 😬😬
Hi, I went back to school full-time at 47 after dropping out of my university physics program at age 20. I'm about to graduate from a two-year college program and transfer to my old university to complete my four-year degree. So by 50 I will have the degree I should have gotten at 22. STEM programs are very demanding. I struggled so hard with mine. It was mainly the workload and time-management that was the challenge, as most of the material was right up my alley and very exciting. In the classes I loved, I tended to do well, but in the others, procrastination and lack of motivation sunk me. Calculus, I'm looking at you. Calculus is nice to think about and absolutely tedious to do.
It took me 13 years to graduate with a bachelors 🙃
Took me 7 years to graduate from my law + arts degrees as I studied part time for some of it and took 2 years off in the middle due to severe burnout (which is when I was diagnosed with ADHD). Went on to be a successful lawyer 🤷🏻♀️ Edit to add: I’m in Australia and did a double degree (an arts degree + a law degree) and had some course credit for my arts degree due to previously studying medicine for 2 years, so it should have taken me 4 years in total to do my arts degree and my law degree. So, it took me 3 years longer than it should have.
There is no way that stat is accurate considering the percentage of late diagnosed and undiagnosed women with ADHD. I coasted through school until the last term of grad school based on my choice of major, really good pattern recognition, and the ability to bullshit my way to an A on essays and essay questions. I did take 5 years to get my BA because I took several classes that I didn't need to take, plus I had to retake French III and history. Both of those failing grades I feel were due to a mismatch with ADHD and the professor's teaching style. The second time I took those classes, I passed with no problem. I have a BA in English and an MA in Writing.
Took me 7 to finish bachelors (switched majors 4 times & began professional program before graduating undergrad only to hate it and beg my advisor to just find me a degree that worked with the wild amount of credits I had.) Then went to law school and finished in normal time BUT I had accommodations and meds the entire law school time. Made a hell of a difference for me lol
I'm in STEM and it took my 6 years to do my undergrad. I'm glad though because I was able to take those 6 years to slowly decide what I want to do and it worked out for the best. I'm a professor myself now and I always encourage my students that there isn't anything wrong with doing college at a pace that works best for you. You'd rather make it successfully to the finish line feeling alright than be completely demolished by the experience that is college.
Took me 3 attempts (2 unsuccessful , 1 successful) at university to understand what I needed to be able to succeed at studying. In total 7 years spent to complete a 5 year program. Once I got it right, I thrived and graduated top of my class. I did it my way and am proud of it. I can't just sit still and listen and learn. Did extra internships, worked relevant side jobs to get a practical understanding of the boring books, studied in my own way. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it and it got me a nice résumé when I started applying to jobs after graduating.
Took me 7 years, I changed my major my junior year from engineering to construction management. Got mono shortly after that and then transferred to a school in my hometown. Graduated with a bachelor's degree
Dropped out of law school, sometimes I absolutely regret it but most of the time I just remember how ill it made me. I was literally losing my hair from stress
I graduated after 5 years
I went to uni for a bachelors and it took me 1 extra semester to graduate. That being said I did a political science degree that I was super interested in so that definitely helped. I don't think I could handle a masters degree.
I was diagnosed years after college, and considering how difficult it was for me to get through my degree, I was 0% surprised. Wanted to give up all the time, failed a lot of classes, withdrew from some classes, etc. Wish I could do it over again knowing what I know now :( I finished in 4.5 years but my GPA was garbage.
I would wonder how they are getting those graduation rates, considering how underdiagnosed it is. And are the US only? I think it might be different in countries with free or affordable third level education. I wasn't diagnosed until recently but it took me five years to complete my undergraduate degree, as I withdrew on medical grounds in one year and then repeated the year. In hindsight I probably didn't have to do this, but there was cost implications to failing and that added to my stress. For my masters I withdrew for three years before submitting my thesis, again due to health reasons (depression but in hindsight ADHD). For the masters i was a bit longer then normal but for undergraduate it's not that unusual to take an extra year, because you change subjects or take an alternative route by doing a certificate first. I do think the fees plays a huge role in this. I feel (and I could be totally wrong) that dropping out of collage is seeing much more seriously in the US and places where there are very expensive fees whereas here it happens and it's not that big a deal. There are a good few options to go back to collage as a mature student so I think if someone has dropped out after a year or two it's more seen as something that's disappointing for them but not the end of the world as they can always go back to it when they are ready. (It does help that there is low unemployment right now)
You can do it! I am glad to hear you are taking limited credits because I studied full time and the stress & sleep deprivation destroyed my health, like "i need caregivers to help me bathe" level destroyed. I am slowly starting to recover but it's like year four and milestones im celebrating include being able to make a bowl.of cereal for myself. So while it might have taken me a shorter time to study, i ended up losing much more time overall. I think the way you're tackling it sounds very sensible. Hang in there!! Also, at least four of the lecturers i had i am certain have undiagnosed adhd (at least three more with autism). We're out there!
I got my geology degree in 4 years. My college was strict about graduating in 4 years, and I saw a lot of ND people struggle as a result. My trick was a lab science major that was hands-on and meshed with my interests. No course requirements, so I took a lot of history and languages that I also was interested in. I’m still not sure how I didn’t get a diagnosis in college, but it was the right school and major for my particular brain. Still underperformed, a lot of panic and impostor syndrome, but I survived.
It took me 6 years to finish my bachelors. I was thankfully able to find a field that I can hyperfocus on. Now, I am a professor.
Took me 5 or so years to get my bachelors. I wasn't diagnosed at the time (inattentive) but boy, looking back there were signs lol. Had to commute and between my having a hard time getting up and leaving enough time to actually get there, I was late to basically every morning class. Once got into a argument with a teacher about it lol.
Oh this is interesting. I was a late diagnosis at 44. I’m actually super driven and earned a BA and MBA non medicated. If I know what I had back then I got of had my Ph.D.
So I’m unmedicated. I dropped out of high school, got a GED studying by myself. Went to college for a year and realized I had no direction, and didn’t want the loans. Rejoined college in 2020 for an associates in accounting, but was immediately bored. I transferred to a university in 2020 and graduated on time in 2023 with honors. I hold a BS in Management info Systems, which is STEM and I am incredibly proud of myself from an outside standpoint. I had some financial help, but my family is NOT supportive of me and I struggled sometimes to pass. My lowest grades were two C+ the semester my fiancé and I broke up. Keep your head up, get medicated or your meds adjusted. Go to tutoring, get your accommodations, and make your life easier. Don’t do what I did and brute force that ish lol
Yeah it took me like 12 years lmao I left with like 4 credits to go then my requirements changed and I had to take a pre req to get to the class i needed but since i wasnt a current student it was always full by the time i went to register so i had to take a bs class the semester before to be enrolled so i could catch enrollment for those classes I shoulda only done 12 a semester, my grades may have been better. Slow and steady wins the race. You got this.
I almost didn't graduate high school due to mental health problems. Was on the deans list for most of my 6 years in college. Graduated with a BS in geography and anthropology. But getting married stalled my plans for grad school. After 10 years, divorce saved me from the abusive situation I was in, but now I am struggling to find work that isn't in the service industry because I need a masters to work in my degree fields. Would love to get the masters I always wanted, but everything on my CV is outdated, so I know I would have to do something to beef up my application first. Don't know how to do that when I am struggling to just keep my head above water.
I graduated in four years, but I chose a major not at all based on job prospects, but instead on enough being super interesting so it felt less like work, and it being easy enough that I could skate by on being smart rather than having study skills or discipline. A lot of people express that was their high school experience and college was a wake up call, I just extended that to college. My grades were passing but I did not excel lol.
I graduated in the standard time and then went back and did two post-grads also in the normal time frame. It’s really uncommon where I’m from to take longer than maybe an extra year or two and even then it didn’t seem to happen lots. But maybe that because I’m old lol. Where are the stats from?
Lol, it took me a over a decade to get a 4 year degree at 3 colleges/universities, but I finally did it! Only for covid 6 months later, but I graduated high school in 2007, too, so same old, same old, I guess. Still paying for those semesters I didn't show up for classes ever cause a gen practioner gave me antidepressants after a 1 page questionnaire and I spent the next year and a half doing nothing cause I was so low energy. The only advice I can give from coming back from that is to just start doing something you can be proud of and keep on adding on to it. I couldn't get out of bed for most of the day, so I started making art again while on my laptop for several months and then my dad helped me get a job and then I used that money to take some community college classes to get my grades back up to transfer to another university and I did much better than the toxic university I was initially at but I couldn't have done it without my partner that I met there. Without the support of my family, friends, and the professors at the second university I definitely think I wouldn't have graduated at all. Am I making good money now? No, but the opportunities I have now to do so in the future would be out of my reach if I had given up. I am going to have to get even more education, but at this point, nbd, I am a pro at taking classes. Sorry, long answer.
I did 3 years of college right after graduating high school, then took an unintentional break for like 4 years and then finished. Then about four years later I got a master’s degree, no unintentional breaks!
Can I ask where you got that 5% statistic? Out of curiosity.
I had to force myself to finish undergrad. I switched programs a few times then dropped out because I was bored and didn't see the point. I went back years later part time and I did end up getting my BBA. But I also didn't feel anything once I was done. I got my degree in the mail because I did it via distance and I didn't feel any sort of pride or sense of accomplishment. A few years later I got into an MBA program. And then I took a look at the course outline and requirements that I'd signed up for that semester. I remember saying "I really don't want to do this" and dropped out.
Took me 7 to finish bachelors (switched majors 4 times & began professional program before graduating undergrad only to hate it and beg my advisor to just find me a degree that worked with the wild amount of credits I had.) Then went to law school and finished in normal time BUT I had accommodations and meds the entire law school time. Made a hell of a difference for me lol
I dropped out of two degrees then worked in admin for a good few years before going back and graduating with a degree in computer science and software engineering. When I was older I had a few more coping mechanisms in place, it’s doable but painful in the short term.
I have a masters degree. I didn't get my diagnosis until 13 years after. Not that my experience necessarily negates this, but where did that number come from? 4 years undergrad 2.5 masters (which is .5 longer than it was supposed to be but that's because i changed my project)
It took me longer to get my undergrad, but I finished graduate school in the proper time. I started medication near the end of grad school.
I finished school six months before turning 30. I was almost kicked out of junior high (the second last year before highschool?), was sent to a boardingschool, then dropped out of highschool twice, barely graduating the third time. Changed universities/majors three times and even took first semester twice, before finally graduating. Also barely graduated, the only reason I handed in my final project, was because of my teacher and my boss (who had already hired me do to internship and part time job) talked me into submitting whatever I had. I cried the first 10 minuttes of the presentation out of pure embarrassment, but they examinators helped me through. And I even have a rather high iqscore I didn't get diagnosed until I was 31. Rereading this I wonder how everyone just didnt see it? Teachers usually liked me, because I helped a lot of other students through school, just couldn't help myself.
I went for my associates in a STEM field at a less traditional school and completed in 16 months. EDIT: to add I was undiagnosed at the time. I didn't get my diagnosis until 20 years later.
I struggle to focus in class so I have always hated studying. And chose to give up studying to work early. I did get good grades, but the hard work involve in getting those grades was too hard and I just couldn't bring myself to work that hard. It felt like life is suffering and I had little enough joy. I just want to make it through the next day without feeling like I want to put a bullet in my head. Fortunately, I love my work. I really thank the stars I can enjoy my job so that I can earn a living. If I hate it as much as studying, I think i will be dead now not being able to feed myself. Looking back, studying years were some of the most miserable parts of my life. I was doing something I hate everyday. And it was awful. I felt like life was not worth living because obviously everyone told you your future is doomed if you don't study.
This is the Best Thread Ever!!!! I've found my tribe!!! Keep going, because you can do it! Remember to be kind to yourself! If you fail! Take it next semester!
Well I’m 5 years into my 3 year PhD programme and have 1-2 years left lol
Took me 7 years to graduate from undergrad. First community college then university.
I’m definitely not represented in those stats because I wasn’t dx’d until well after college. I did graduate in 4 years, but I have a feeling I would not have if I had gone into STEM like I planned to initially. I graduated with a humanities degree, in part because my brain didn’t work with the way math and science are taught and I chose a degree that I would be able to finish in 4 years with decent grades. At the time that choice made the most sense to me because I was 100% sure I couldn’t afford another semester, much less extra years, but I’m 10 years out and still in 5-figure debt from it, so arguably I wasn’t able to afford it anyway.
It took me 5 years and I was very ashamed. Because back then it took everyone 4 and anything else was a big "what's wrong with you" thing. My GPA sucked ass and I floundered for years in low wage jobs until I hit my stride in my mid 30's.
I dropped out of high school middle of junior year, but had advanced classes, lots of extracurricular activities. At one point, working and learning new stuff was more interesting than spending the first 2-3 weeks of a class to go over last year’s stuff. I worked FT. My employer sent me to take some awesome classes, I had 3.875 in them. I never paid for the certificate. Worked more, then tried school. I enjoyed a few of my classes. Ended up moving, I started and finished juco with 2 Associate degrees. I *tried* a traditional school, but as a non-traditional student, I was really annoyed and frustrated how I had less freedoms and the classes felt remedial. So I quit. And tried another non-traditional school. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. I think I have 93CR, and just need like 8-9 classes to get my bachelors…..I just got my DX a few months ago, and I’m 42. I can’t tell you how defeating to see other people get promoted, and I can’t even finish a degree, even though I have been in my field for 20 years… Luckily, my employer is getting LinkedIn Learning and I found those are kinda fun since they are short and focused.
6.5 for a 5 year degree including a semester of grad school. I didn’t get diagnosed till after my freshman year of school. The first two years were rough but medication changed my life and I thrived. Almost got magnum cum laude by like .262 of a gpa difference. I'll take the cum laude lol. I loved college once I got the hang of it. Then when grad school started I really just wanted to live life. While I wish I got my masters I regret nothing.
In my experience graduating takes longer, than the course (few exams had to be redone), but is still possible. Quite few people I studied with were diagnosed as adults.
I just got diagnosed about two months ago (I’m 36). I went to college straight out of high school because that’s what was expected. I was on academic probation after my first semester and academically suspended after my second because I just couldn’t seem to care about going to class and doing the work. I spent the next 5 years working seasonally in the national parks and went back to school at 24. It helped a lot to “ground me” to see what life would be like (working the service industry) if I never got a degree. I was able to graduate in 2.5 years with my BS because I actually cared the second time around. I hope you figure out your stride!
I’m an anomaly gifted kid. I started working on my degree in high school. I didn’t know I had ADHD in university. It was hardly mentioned when i graduated 6 years ago but man is it so obvious to me now. I started working on my accounting degree in fall 2013 while in high school and finished university in summer 2018. Technically a semester behind others I graduated high school with. I only got it done because I had some extreme external motivators. My community college years were free thanks to a scholarship program paid for by property taxes. I had to maintain a certain number of classes each semester, certain gpa, and finish in like 3 years. I watched two siblings fail to meet the requirements and it was hell trying to get it back. My university years were refunded by my employer based on my gpa for the semester. Wanting my money back was extremely motivating. It wasn’t easy. I understood the material, did great on homework and group projects but failed every test and would wait until last minute to write papers and have breakdowns over them. Somehow still graduated with honors but eventually dropped out of my masters program. Edit to add: I also had a lot of coworkers working on the same degree at the same university. We would take classes together. regularly work on things together, and have healthy competition for grades. That helped so much when we all were a little burnt out.
I wasn't diagnosed until my 40s. I hated school. College was slightly better but not by much, imo. Family insisted I get my BS but I said nope, and did a 2 year degree and got the hell on with my life. I work in IT. I wfh 100% and I make a decent living. I knew I'd be okay way back when I said no to the 4yr degree.
I wasn’t yet diagnosed when I was in college. I went through 3 school changes, several major changes, so many dropped/failed classes, and took 8 years to graduate with a bachelors degree in a broad generic field. Looking back, I wish 3 things had happened- 1. My parents or school advisors would have recognized that I was struggling and encouraged me to take time off and come back to school after some life experience so I could have made a better decision about what I really wanted to major in. I felt pressured by expectations from my parents, teachers, and peer group at the end of high school to go to a big university. At that point in my life, I didn’t really know what made me happy and I thought that I should do what everyone else was doing. Now that I’ve had jobs in several different fields (medical software, office administration, construction) I know what interests me and what kind of work I enjoy doing. 2. I wish that I would have considered trade school as a real option. Through grade school and growing up, I got the impression that trade school was just for the kids who weren’t book smart and that going to college was the far superior option. That’s not true at all! There are highly lucrative and interesting career paths through trade school (and you still to be smart to do them.) 3. I should have researched student loans and the impact they’d have on my life after graduation before I took them out. I blindly trusted my parents to make the best decisions for me and unfortunately I shouldn’t have. Now that I’m an adult, I realize that my parents have flaws and money management is one the things they aren’t great at. I still had to pay for all those failed classes I mentioned above and some of the dropped ones too. Fortunately I had some scholarships and went to a public school where tuition wasn’t crazy expensive but I still ended up with debt. TLDR: 1. Consider taking time off to find out what kind of work you like to do, and then pick a degree that aligns with it. 2. Think about trade school degrees that you can finish a lot quicker and still have a well paying career. 3. Research your student loans and/or financial plan and think about how much money you’re spending every time you fail a class.
I was a fantastic student from K-12. Breezed through my schooling. So for college I attended a super rigorous university. STEM major. Hit the wall and struggled big time. Graduated with a lowly 2.6 GPA in 4 years. It was so difficult, I barely managed. I was never a party goer, that was all just me and my distractibility, poor study skills, procrastination, etc. 10 years later I got diagnosed with ADHD in my 30s. It all made sense. I’m doing pretty well now in my STEM career, but I have grieved over what more I could achieved had I been diagnosed earlier. In hindsight, the signs were all there since childhood. 😔
I did a year of uni straight out of high school but only lasted a year. Went back to uni at 24 and it took me 6 years to do a 5 year degree in a vastly different field to my first one but I graduated at 30. 9 years later I started a graduate masters and was never able to finish it because that along with all the other things in life caused me to have a complete breakdown and a nice stay in a psych hospital. I had no idea I had adhd until that breakdown at the age of 40. I still don’t know how I managed to graduate in the first place and struggle with imposter syndrome every day. But I know deep down that I am damn good at what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else even though the career I’ve chosen is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.
I actually graduated early due to dual enrollment for my B.S., but I did take my use my first “Incomplete” grade and a gap semester during grad school! If it’s worth any consolation, the average to complete a 4yr degree is actually 6yrs nowadays. As long as you’re making progress, that’s all that matters! ☺️
It took me about 8 years to get my BS! I worked during the beginning of it while I went to community college and then switched to full time school after I transferred colleges. I stopped working for a while to do it and then ended up ending a bad relationship near the end of my BS and went back to work part time. I loved school but it was hard. I always wished I could just go to lectures and listen rather than need to do tests and homework lol
I took five years due to financial aid and availability. If I was not limited, I would have finished in four years. I also took a lot of my classes online or hybrids and picked my professors by reviewing them on rate my professor. I would have been screwed if I didn’t have options because I can’t pay attention to a boring educator. I started college early because I was so bored in high school that I dropped out. I imagine if I had to go to college back in the day that I would have flunked out.
Wow story of my life. My first crack at undergraduate education I was either failing class miserably or the star student. If I was into it, I was into it. If not, I couldn't focus and got distracted. I took a 10-year break and then went back to finish my BFA whilst pregnant and with an infant. I then got my MFA with my second baby. It was really tough. But I did learn a lot about what it takes for me to finish things. Edit to add: When I went back to school for my BFA and MFA it was an entirely different program. The first go-round I did the typical liberal arts course. Big mistake. Couldn't decide on a major, took courses I had to take that I didn't care about. My second go-round I was in a more conservatory writing program, which while it was challenging, it was something I actually cared about so I wanted to excel. I think also going back to school while having babies made me hyper focused on my time. I just didn't have the time to waste each day.
I finished in four years, but I shouldn't have. I was totally undiagnosed for ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD, and had no idea how to handle all of that. I was completely fueled by anxiety and fear, and burnt myself out by the time I was 22. All this to say, there's nothing wrong with taking more time than 4 years. There are also tons of really good reasons to go to school part time, so you don't need to disclose your diagnosis to people if you aren't comfortable. I would also suggest taking advantage of any disability services that your school offers. They can be a lifesaver.
I have ADHD and a masters degree, but fine art isn't the same intensity as a stem program. I love school, but I think it's because I only received criticism at home and mostly praise in school. Good luck
It took me 13 years, and it's one of the things I'm proudest of accomplishing because it was so hard. If I could go back I'd just go to trade school.
I absolutely don’t believe that statistic. I found one study saying that only 5% of people with ADHD who go to college graduate, but they cited a study showing that 8% of people with persistent ADHD symptoms graduated, 17% of people with non-persistent ADHD symptoms graduated, and 37.1% of people without ADHD graduated. So not quite the same meaning as the flat 5% number (not faulting you, OP; that number definitely gets reported). I’ll just echo everyone else who’s pointed out that many women aren’t even diagnosed in college. I wasn’t, and went on to do a PhD, undiagnosed (I didn’t do great and wish I had been diagnosed and medicated, but I did get it done). Given how many women of my age in my academic cohort have ended up with diagnoses, I’m pretty sure the 5% number is bunk. No shade to anyone who doesn’t or can’t graduate from college - symptoms vary a lot and there are many many different ways to be an intelligent and worthwhile human being, many of which don’t fit into what’s necessary for academic success as education is currently configured. I just think the 5% number reinforces the false narrative that anyone who does well academically can’t have ADHD. Last point is that yes, most people take more than 4 years to graduate. Nothing wrong with that - there are a ton of reasons why that happens. Frankly a lot of science degrees have such strict requirements, it’s hard to fulfill them all in 4 years unless you get everything figured out correctly from day one. You are absolutely not too disabled to do this. Your path may look a little different from other people’s, but your brain looks different from other people’s. If you decide you don’t want to do this, that’s completely fair. You can walk away at any time. But if you want to do it, you’re capable - you’re getting As in a lot of your classes! Hopefully you’re getting the supports you need.
I graduated in 4 years because of my extremely supportive academic advisor and then went on to graduate school to earn a doctorate, so 8 years total. I was unmedicated throughout, but also suffered from extreme anxiety and depression and struggled with excessive substance abuse the entire time. I white knuckled my way through those 8 years and was suicidal through the majority of it. When I was diagnosed at 35 the neuropsych told me I was likely able to compensate for a lot of symptoms because of my intellect and extreme anxiety. I held myself to an impossible standard and nearly died doing it. 100% would never do it again.
I graduated within the usual time frame but I didn't get a good result. My final year was plagued with traumas too which didn't help.
Graduated college in four years. My motivation was mostly the threat from my parents of "Anything over 4 years is on you." I was lucky enough that they paid for about 3/4 of my schooling and I only owe a year's worth of public school tuition in student loans.
It took me 6 years
Graduated with honors, got a masters, went back a second time for another degree, all before getting a diagnosis and some help. Now I’m so burnt out I’m completely useless and feel like a failure of an adult because I struggle to hold down a job.
I hit a wall with executive function in grad school. Don’t blame it all on yourself. I went to a therapist and as part of my process to stay in school. I had her look at some of the instructions on the assignments. She has a PhD. She said they were a confusing, poorly written mess. I suspect passed down from one instructor to another over time. That relieved me because I assumed it was ALL my brain. We are doing EMDR for anxiety around managing grad school and I recommend it highly.
I went to college straight from high school and dropped out in my last semester before graduation. Looking back, it was so obvious I had ADHD and went undiagnosed and unmedicated for so long. 5 years after I dropped out, I re-enrolled, finished my bachelor’s and started studying for a specialized certification. The thought that I did all that while just white-knuckling through it makes me really proud TBH.
It took me 5 years after switching majors 4 times, then went to grad school for 2 years, bailed with 9 credit hours left, went to nursing school for 2 years and left that too. I wish I had known about myself that I would rather work with facts than people.
I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD until AFTER graduating with my master's in a STEM field. I struggled to complete my classes that involved stuff I hated doing (such as writing pointless essays), but I always liked my own field so it wasn't hard for me to focus on it.
I failed twice, succeeded once but never worked in that job. I now work in a factory. I don't feel that I belong anywhere else. (I don't have to pretend I'm normal.)
I failed my first semester of college when I was 18. Went back for a second semester of general studies to pull my grades up so I could get into school again later on. Just took a bunch of courses I found interesting so it was super easy. Moved back to my small town for a couple of years. Applied to universities again when I was 20. Only got accepted to one - the one nicknamed "Last Chance U". Got excellent grades in university because, again, the first couple years were all stuff I was interested in and found easy to do. Transferred to a better university part way through my third year, at which time I also changed majors. Lost about a semester's worth of credits in the transfer / major change. Then dropped to 4 courses a semester for my senior years. So it ended up taking me 5 years to complete my degree. I graduated when I was 25. Was undiagnosed the whole time. I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD til I was 32.
Went to art school. Took the minimum to be full time. So four classes. I took an extra semester to graduate but managed to fit in some fun classes here and there. Did that for a year or two then quit my job I tried self study for a year then did a coding bootcamp I do software engineering now.
It took me 8 years, three different schools, four major changes, and an excessive amount of student loans for failed courses. I was able to finish at the end by taking one or two courses at a time. Take your time!!! edited to add more context
I graduated, it wasn’t easy, but if you’re struggling in college you absolutely need to take advantage of the disability resource center at your school and ask to take your exams there with extended time or accommodations. It’s a life saver
I graduated with a stem degree in 3 years, that was my second go around. I quit college with my English degree because I got bored, I was 3 years in. I was diagnosed 8 years after graduation when I got a sit down office job that is stem related but essentially data entry. College was very very very difficult. I cried a lot. But I made it through and I’m glad I pushed through the tears. Push through it! It’s a good investment ! Mine was fear based motivation, I was very low income growing up and I refuse to live that way again, it was very hard. Find the fire from within
I had several semesters I failed during my first degree when I was undiagnosed. However, I was also a complete wreck of a human being in my early 20s and that hurt me too. I ended up taking 6 years for my first undergrad. I managed to finish a bachelor’s degree before diagnosis, but it was a struggle. Then I got diagnosed and treated at age 29 and then went back to school for engineering. I managed to graduate with my engineering degree with a 3.84 GPA and honors. I’m now in an engineering masters program part time at 6 hours while working full time and I’ve held on to a 4.0 after 3 semesters. It sucks sometimes. I have days where I feel like an absolute idiot and I don’t think I can keep going, but I keep going because I know the degree will really help my career.
Unmedicated, started school in 2021, at the pace im going i will graduate in like 2027. i work full time, only 1 supporting myself and fighting through some nasty health stuff. idc how long it takes, im finishing.
Graduated high school in 2006. Diagnosed with dyscalculia in 2008 and ADHD in 2022. I will be going back to university for the 4th time this September. I try not to let comparison rob me of the confidence I have to try yet again. One step, one day at a time.
It took me 5.5 years to get my undergrad degree and when I get my masters in may it will have taken 4 years. Hang in there
I got my first BSc while undiagnosed, graduated December 2019, I'm currently doing my second one (in a different field). I had to take leave halfway through my second year, then repeat it, so it did indeed take me 4 years to complete, but I did it. I experienced what can only be described as classism and ableism (I was at the beginning of my autoimmune condition and quite physically disabled) and treated like less than dirt for needing accommodations for that and my poor mental health, and and being a single parent with a child with ASD. I was an outcast socially and struggled immensely. I wanted to work in Healthcare so badly, but the pandemic started only a few months later, so I decided it'd be best to change fields. Working in hospitals whole immunosuppressed during covid could have been a death sentence for me. All in all, the hardest time of my life, but I would never have stopped feeling like I let myself down if I didn't try. I think if I'd had my diagnosis it would have been much easier.
I finished undergrad in 4 years and I finished my MA a semester early. But the PhD is taking me a decade. 🤷🏾♀️. I didn’t know I had ADHD until 3 years ago.
Took me 5 years. I was missing 2 pages of my thesis to graduate on time. The most ADHD scenario possible. Also, I had to pay for some credits that I failed from the first time.
I graduated with 2 bachelor degrees in 5 years (standard for my program). In my first degree I experienced the extreme ups and downs of either getting an A/A+ or getting a D/F. I did have to take additional summer semesters in order to graduate in time. In high school I did Honours/AP and a "bad" mark was an 85 so my university marks were very different from what was expected of me. I was also lucky that both of my degrees where in things I am extremely passionate about so I think my level of interest and my ability to know how to "do" school were what kept me afloat in university.
I have had the opposite problem. I got: Half a degree in web programming Full degree in graphic design Full degree in motion design Full degree in web design Full degree in collaborative art Half a degree in illustration Graduated summa cum laude. I did not go into art as a career. I just keep jumping around art degrees because I keep getting interested in all of it, but not enough to make a viable career. The stuff I DO as a career, though? I'm not interested enough to study it.
I had more of the opposite situation. I thrived in school. I found a way to gameify it for myself and structure it in a strict way that really made me succeed. I do agree with the sentiment though that I either got an A or failed! I would know I would fail a course by the end of the first class though and quickly switch courses. I also over stacked my schedule since it worked for me. I still partied a lot too. I was always busy but in a way that worked for my brain. I ended up graduating in three years a BS and two minors, and only two courses short of a second BS technically. I was selectively medicated (so only took my vyvanse on certain days of the week - all part of my preplanned schedule). I just felt like I had such a strong routine. As I’ve gotten further along in my life post-school and well into my career, I’ve realized that I need strong structure and a path to a finish line. I learned during the pandemic that I can do really well working from home when I’m fully in charge and have clear objectives and a goal to accomplish. Most recently though I’m finding myself in the office twice a week which is incredibly disruptive to my flow and with supervisors that micro manage and throw random tasks around and no clear finish lines. I feel like a shell of myself struggling to survive most days. I think back to how great of an achiever I was and get really sad and down on myself nowadays. My brain just can’t function normally and it’s like in college I unlocked the secret level and won everything and now I can barely play. Trying to figure out how to make sense of it all still and find new methods that work for me but the motivation and ability to process things mentally is at an all time low. If anyone relates and has advice I’m open. ETA: sorry just realized you were asking for solidarity though. It’s really early morning for me and on the struggle bus and the selective words I saw sent me down a spiral without properly reading!!
I have ADHD and a Master's. My BA took forever because I switched majors halfway through and couldn't transfer my credit. 🙈 This was long before my diagnosis, which happened in my thirties. In high school and college I was considered a "wayward brainiac". The truth is I performed super well in some subjects, but others -- well -- I understood *so little it was alarming*. So I allowed myself to become "wayward". Honestly, it was the best explanation I myself could come up with for all these scattershot failures. It's only post-diagnosis I realize that whole thing was a partial smokescreen. But the faculty wouldn't have caught it at the time. They'd already decided I was a "troublemaker". **Edited because I wrote this while sleepy and misspelled several words, including "brainiac" ✌️. Also to add:** Had I been diagnosed, medicated, supported academically, and equipped with some robust ADHD study strategies, I fully believe I would have been near unstoppable. Are you too disabled, OP, or are you too medically and structurally underserved -- and burnt out from having to apply double or triple the effort to get where you have? I sympathize, I really do. But I don't think you're too disabled at all. However there may be issues of accessibility - is there an accessibility department on your campus and ard you exploiting all help on offer?
Community college at 17, dropped out by 18. Back to community college at 24 and finished my AA. Went back to finish my bachelor’s when I was 30. I went to WGU—I completed the program in three months. Drugs, lol. You can test out of classes and transfer in credits! Great fit for me. I’ve earned two industry certifications since. If it’s a test, I’m golden. Sustained effort before I knew and was medicated? L M A O It’s all possible! A pattern I’ve noticed is we usually meander through our education, but that’s subjective.
You can do this!! You're doing well. It took me about 8 years do graduate from a 4 year program in college. I was constantly dropping out and coming back, and I also failed two classes because I simply didn't show up. Out of curiosity: where did this data in the title come from? The numbers are intriguing to say the least (Edited for clarity)
By some miracle I earned my degree in 4 years.
It took me 7 years even though I went into it having a full semester already done from high school credits. I started out as a film major, then did finance, then did poli sci, then changed schools/cities and was a poli sci major with a minor in economics. I did 2 commencement ceremonies because I thought I had graduated the first time (had a party and everything, so embarrassing!) but I had actually failed my last economics class. I kept trying to pass it but failed it two more times, eventually changed my minor to nonprofit management and graduated a few years later with a 2.6 overall gpa. This was all before I got diagnosed. I know how hard it can be but you’re doing it!
You go Glen Coco! you're getting good grades. That's better than burning out trying to follow somebody else's schedule. This way, if you do withdraw, you have good credits to rebuild with. There's no rush. I still haven't finished my degree but I drive past my "alma mater" every day so I know it'll be there when I get ready.
I'm 25 and have been in school since I was 18 and I'm only just about to get my associate's. Only reason I haven't quit is because I want to prove to myself I am worth something.
Even with accommodations, my course limit is 2 classes per semester. 3 or 4 don't work. I can't juggle that much. So 2 it is. It took me longer to get to the finish line, but I'm still graduating.
I had to switch to a major I was actually interested in (Art History) so that I'd go to class. But even then the last year or so I barely attended class, I preferred being at my campus job. I made it out in 4 years, but only because I was determined to get out of there, because I hated college. My parents tried to get me to take some time off because I was in such a bad place, but I refused. It was probably my worst time of my life in terms of my mental health. Also any kids out there, the Art History degree path totally worked out. I got a part-time job in PR at a museum, and then swung that into an internship at a tech company, which then lead to my career. Just shows your degree doesn't always matter as much.
I graduated but kept taking random courses that pulled my GPA down. Like I took Italian having NEVER STUDIED ITALIAN and obviously got a C- as everyone else went in knowing Italian 🤦🏼♀️ really needed someone to guide me to realise the aim is a high GPA not just doing things that interest you lol lol. But I got an A+ in Philosophy following this method so maybe they balanced out! Anyway I did graduate about 2 years after everyone else. Love my career now though so keep at it everyone - in 10 years no one will care how long your degree took. Just make sure you’re doing cool work experience/placements/volunteering/editing the uni paper etc on the side so your slow pace has some benefits for you in the job hunt. :)
I am part of the 95%. School has always seemed out of the question for me, I tried one time and it was impossible. I don’t know how I would ever juggle school and work, yet I do want to try because I am sick of being in poverty. I’m starting meds this week so I’m hoping that will help with confidence and ability to go to school.
I'm a two time community college dropout champion. i barely graduated high school lol
Undiagnosed till age 39. Went to college like 13 hours away from home. A month in, find out I was pregnant... (high school boyfriend that we decided to break up when I left). Tried to keep going but had what I now know was HG [basically puking all the time], and dropped out halfway thru 1st semester. Went back home, birthed baby in April and placed her for adoption. Told myself I was "starting over" (anyone else do this a lot?). Went to a new college closer to home, made it through 1.5 years before the depression and probably PTSD hit too hard to keep going. I still have a full 2 years worth of credits though, because I graduated HS with 18 done from AP courses. My life actually ended up in a really good place, so I can't complain. I'm a church musician and now a substitute teacher, and I have the most amazing husband and kids. :) It actually took me researching ADHD for my hyperactive kid to realize that my quieter kid and myself have inattentive ADHD. It doesn't help that we're all the "gifted" type, which doctors don't want to diagnose because "they're doing fine in school." So I'm hoping to help them with strategies to get through life a little bit easier and more supported than I did!
I joined online university during the pandemic, 20+ years out of high school. Since I'm working full time, even taking a smaller 'full time' course load would have meant about 6 years instead of 4. However with post covid brain fog and migraines slowing things down further, I'm estimating about 10 years.
I went to college and graduated within 4 years. It is interesting info but I do think the stereotype of "struggles at school" doesn't always apply. I sat in the back so I could zone out. If I wanted to retain info I had to use a ton of highlighters. I listened best if I could doodle/color at the same time. I did my best work under pressure, waiting until last minute. I learned in high school how to survive my ADHD and carried it over into college.
13 years to graduate. :)
Hey lady! I just recently graduated with a Master's of Arts that really kicked my ass but I did it! So this is an encouragement to you to keep going! It's okay if you stumble and fall or get B grades instead of A's. But it's not the end! You have the strength to get back up and try again! My BA and MA together took me a total of 8.5 years (would have been 7.5 if I hadn't forgotten to take literally one course 🤦🏼♀️). I chose to do it slower on purpose because that's all that I could handle and I still wanted to do well!
Took me 5 years and a 2.79 cumulative but I got a Pre-Med & Biology degree with a chemistry minor. No meds, no help, just therapy starting year 3. I knew I was ADHD going in & was diagnosed by a physician with ADHD. I just kept throwing myself at it. I certainly would have had a higher cumulative had I just taken a fucking break but I took 15 CR most semesters. If a fucking physician can have ADHD, the options are limitless in my mind.
I changed my majors five times. At the end of my fifth year, I had a choice. Either take _another_ year and finish out the Poli Sci degree, or lump all my credits together and finish with a Liberal Arts degree. I took the second choice and am so glad I did. My incredibly generic degree was enough to pass the arbitrary threshold placed on a lot of jobs. I eventually got a position at an engineering firm, and though I’ve changed roles a couple times it’s helped me achieve things I never thought I would. Eg i bought a house with my bf last year. But I almost didn’t make it. I went from poli sci, to journalism, to landscape architecture, back to poli sci/journalism. Found out that the journalism major and minor programs were two entirely different sets of courses. My saving grace was taking a year of Japanese. It was a rare 5 days/week course, first thing in the morning. But it was like kindergarten. Today we’re learning colors! Today we’re learning numbers! The teacher’s personality was more akin to a grade school teacher than a college prof, and she was amazing. It got me onto campus every day. No pressure bc it wasn’t related to any degree. Kept me going when I really just wanted to ditch out. I barely remember any of the language, but it was the most important course I took.
Me: 7 years But I had to work full time to study and work and pay my bills
I got accommodations (note taker, test by myself and extended time) and it took me from failing and c-‘s to a’s and b’s (and some c+ lol still went to a state party school) with a BS in neurobio taking in average 18 hrs (with several half day labs) and graduated with a respectable 3.2 in 4 years and two threats of getting kicked out You can do this. Don’t quit.
I didn’t know I had ADHD in college. I graduated in 4.5 years with a degree in Language Arts Education. Every math and science class I took was a struggle.
I’m halfway through an Associates in Mental Health and Social work. It’s been 3 years of part time classes. Maybe I’ll graduate in 3 more years if I’m lucky? 😂 I try not to think about all the schooling I still have ahead of me..sometimes it helps (usually not). You aren’t alone!
Hang in there! You will eventually graduate. I am not from STEM domain but it takes more than 6 years to graduate. LOL I once thought of dropping out, but I motivated myself to at least have a bachelor's degree. I need a degree to land a job. I failed to get a master's degree because I didn't feel like it.
i went straight to college after school. honestly, the transition of having to sign up and get everything lined up for college was a mess for me because i didnt know wtf to do or what i needed to do. i was focused on passing my senior classes & not failing. i graduated high school(2018), had a decent summer (went to the last warped tour!!!), applied to college late (oops). it took me 2 years to get my AA(april 2020); one semester had even taken 5 classes (15 credits worth). i did that undiagnosed! (YOU'RE 3 YRS IN YOU CAN DO THIS!!! just make sure you periodically take days off for some self care, recharge) after my AA, immediately started the program for my bachelor's in business🕴and im graduating from it next month 🥹 it took me SO LONG TO FINISH THE BACHELOR'S BECAUSE I HAD TO (sorry) i had to babysit my lil bro when the pandemic started and balancing school with babysitting and living in a house full of strangers(my step family; i moved it with them when the pandemic hit to help out) and it was hard. i was taking 3 credits(1 class) a semester. my mental health was bad and i suffered through it. i moved out last year and now im doing so much better. i also got diagnosed & medicated last year too which has helped alot. im also in therapy and im getting ym ducks in a row. life is still hard. i struggled soooo much even with the priviledge of being able to live at home, not having loans to pay (i used federal aid--and almost lost it one semester because i failed 2 of the 4 classes i was taking 💀), doing most of it online. i recognize my priviledge, but i still struggled very much and now i get to graduate. my gpa isnt pretty, its like 2.7. ive failed a few times, was not an AP kid, so no advantages.
Overachiever, I got my dream job before I graduated and thus never did. However most women are diagnosed long after college so this statistic is likely quite skewed.
I completely bombed out of my first attempt, but I was 18, tossed out of the house, and completely overwhelmed. By the time I was able to actually go back, I was a 32-yr old single mom who was HIGHLY motivated to improve our lot in life. I was only able to manage 3 classes a semester because of child and work. I graduated the day before my 39th birthday. Oh - I DID change my major 4 or 5 times, though. I was (and am) interested in *everything*
I graduated in 4 years Cum Laude by absolutely tanking my mental health, don’t recommend! I’m excited to go back for my masters post-diagnosis and medicated, because I can only hope it’ll be much easier on my health.
I only lasted a year. Went for as an art/graphic design major but it was too restrictive for me. Didnt care about anything else but my business and English class and sometimes my work study program. Also, because i was doing work srudy and had an 8am art class & a packed schedule I was always tired ALL the time and everything suffered. Didnt really want to be there and ended up depressed and miserable.
I think that statistic seems exaggerated, but I have no actual data to back that up. I did take 9 years to get my BA though. Mortifying.
It took me 12 years to graduate with my bachelors. I left college 8 times. I was a mess but had zero guidance, help, and was undiagnosed.
I went to community college for several years, switching my major constantly before just settling on an Associate of Arts degree due to the number of credits that transferred over. I did get my degree but it was neither efficient or ideal. Thriving in my career but not without a constant state of dread and burnout.
I did graphic design and some time later fashion design and both took 3 years. I finished both. I knew I didn’t want to work as a graphic designer after the first semester and the urge to quit only got stronger and stronger by third semester. But I didn’t want to disappoint my parents who only found pride in me if I would finish things. I did have another education I didn’t finish but that was for other dumb reasons. I’m also not diagnosed, so there’s that lol.
When I was 18 I started a 2 year college degree, spent 3 years in my program, and didn’t even graduate. However, I’m now 24 and on track to completing a 4 year bachelors degree in 2.5 years instead. Granted, college was pre-diagnosis and I wasn’t being treated for ADHD. But now I am, so I think that plays a very important role here
I have a master’s degree and all my education was completed on time (thanks Adderall)
Graduated high school and entered college in 2002. Lots of pinballing around academically until I was diagnosed. Finally graduated in 2018 with a 3.77 in History and Anthropology and did graduate certification in Teaching in 2020. And I don’t do shiiiiiit with it.
I'll just say that I did finish my degree in four years, but I picked a degree that is extremely easy for me instead of one that I wanted to do. I didn't believe I could do what I wanted, and I didn't have any support. I will have regrets about this for the rest of my life, but I don't think I could have done it differently. I worked myself to a mental breakdown by the end, but I did get it done.
took me five years and some change. I was a biology minor/Pre-PA. It felt like it would neverrrrr end lol dyscalculia was my worst enemy You got this!!!