r/adhd_college

I'm currently going into my second year and im desperatly in need of tips. I have adhd, im unmedicated and I struggled with it all through highschool. Its really hard for me to find someone that'll prescride meds at this moment, as the waitlist is long and I have to be in the same state which is hard as I am an out of state student. Being medicated isn't really an option right now. Last year I honestly did horrible and its been making me scared/unmotivated for the coming years. I tend to be a really bad procrastinator and forgetful when it comes to assignments. I also tend to be impulsive when my friends ask me to do something, its like my brain buzzez at the thought of hangingout with them and I forget about everything else I have to do. I tried using google calendar last year and that honestly did not help me. last year I had a lot of family health issues and cat health issues that I had to worry about and I didnt have the best college roommate. I'm hoping that now all of that is over with my mental will be a lot better which hopefully will help. I'm wondering if there are any apps that helped you or any life style changes that helped. I'll honestly try anything as I desperately want to do well this year and get back on track for graduating.

I really don't know why. I'm entering my thrid year of university and a good chunk of me getting poor grades is due to me just staring at something during exams. Even if its a course I'm extremely prepared for, I end up getting bad grades. Either I stare at something or I doodle. Or i stare at the paper and doodle. Every single paper I have is filled with doodles. And then time slips away and i end up rushing through the paper. It really sucks when I have to take courses that are exam heavy (basically 90% of the courses I have to take for my degree). It just feels embarrassing saying this out loud especially when I answer a lot during tutorials/questions. In fact a lot of the times I am the one explaing the concepts to my group if someone's stuck. And then I end uo with the lowest grades. And before someone says to try accommodations, I will mention that I'm in a bit of a tricky position. I am not officially diagnosed and Im not allowed to get one either ( I have gone to a therapist in my uni and they basically agreed about having adhd.) So I cant get accommodations without an official diagnosis. I don't know how to explain this to my parents. They're the typical conservative old fashioned, strict people (also extremely religious) and I just feel really stupid and stuck.

For context, I'm an undergraduate student who's suffering from extreme amounts of chronic pain and I have two weeks to finish all the overdue work I have. I'm also extremely depressed to the point of being diagnosed with prolonged grieving disorder due to the death of my mother last year. I also have pretty severe OCD, especially when it comes to perfectionism. This all kind of combines with my ADHD to make getting anything done practically impossible.

I am horrifically ashamed of coming to the point of using chatgpt. I just. I can't do it anymore. For months I have been unable to think of clear sentences and ways to connect my ideas. I get stuck on things that used to be easy like applying broad research to my point, or seeing extra words in sentences. I don't know how to ask for help on this stuff because everything I read on the subjects don't make sense to me, and I'm afraid I'll be seen as an idiot. I'm far enough in my degree that I shouldn't be having these issues. Every time I sit in front of the computer and try to get to work, I just can't think of anything to say. I have outlined built out for my assignments. The points I want to make. The research I should be including. But it's never good enough. My thesis is too long, or too vague. I'm not talking about the quote enough, or I'm talking about it too much. My research doesn't actually make sense.

Largely, I have only used chatgpt like a free version of grammarly pro, and only in the last week. I know all the reasons I shouldn't use it. I've told others those exact reasons. The water consumption. The cheating. The ethics of using something created by Sam Altman.

I don't use any sentences it says about my work in the finished product. I write an introduction, I explain the criteria and I ask for feedback. I think about that feedback, and integrate my own version of it if I think it is correct. If I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll ask if it sounds awkward and think about how to change it. This has been the only way to fix my workflow problem.

Before I would spend days in front of my computer, unable to get anything done. I should be able to get anything done. I'm notably less depressed. I'm in less pain. I have some motivation. But I just can't. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Hi everyone! I’m 24 and currently working as a paraprofessional. I’m going back to school to eventually get my special education degree, and I’m trying to get into a paraprofessional to professional program.
The problem is that my GPA from when I was previously in college isn’t high enough for the program, so I enrolled at my community college as a visiting student to take classes and hopefully prove that I can do well academically.
I really want to get this right this time. When I was in college before, I struggled a lot with focus, motivation, procrastination, and actually getting assignments done. Now I’m working full-time as a para while taking online classes, so I’m honestly pretty nervous about staying on top of everything.

So my questions are

How do you actually make yourself do the work? What helps you get started when you have absolutely no motivation?
How do you stay on top of online classes? I’m worried about losing track of assignments and deadlines without physically having to go to class.
I already have a laptop — would an iPad actually be useful for college, or is it unnecessary?
How do you balance working and going to school without completely burning yourself out?
Are there any systems, apps, routines, accommodations, or ADHD-specific strategies that genuinely made a difference for you?

I’m starting nursing this fall and I’m terrified that my high school habits are going to follow me.

I was a chronic procrastinator in high school. I’d leave month-long projects until the day before, constantly skip class, and regularly hand assignments in late. And that was with only 3–4 classes at a time.

Now I’m taking 15 credits a semester with notoriously difficult courses, and the stakes are MUCH higher. I genuinely want to change, but I’m scared that wanting to change won’t be enough and I’ll end up doing so badly that I’m put on academic probation or worse.

Has anyone here been really bad at procrastinating in high school but actually managed to overcome it in university? What actually did it for you, besides “I just stopped procrastinating”? Did something specific force/change your habits?

I am a 16 Female with Unmedicated ADHD struggling for SATs.

I just couldn't focus at all. I have to self study mostly cuz there aren't many courses available here. Also Medications are not available here too.

Most of the time I got distracted or feel like what I'm learning is unnecessary things or stuff like that. I tried listening to music while I studying but it just doesn't work for me especially white music/Frequencies/Lo-Fi/Calm Music those itches my brain 🥲 idk how to even explain but when I listen to those kind of music, I become uneasy and waiting the music to have some Beat Drops like Noise Music.

Now I'm a big fan of Noise Music but when I study, it is not really helpful because it just so loud I couldn't focus in my study or sometime my ears kinda hurts 🥹

Idk is there anyone like me but, I'm really struggling PLS HELP ME 🥹🕊️

I feel like I’ve been stuck on the exact same sheet of paper for months and just can’t move forward. I get anxious and once I get past the fifty-page mark or so, it feels like I’ve been swimming in the water in the exact same spot for days on end. And now, because of this feeling, I can’t keep studying because it seems like I’m getting nowhere. How do you guys handle it? Are there any tricks to keep going? I don’t even know how to organize myself, seeing as I never stick to the schedules I make anyway.

I need advice on picking a major and career path. When I graduated high school, I was so scared of going to college. I felt so burnt out and had no motivation or interest to pursue anything. My family told me I’d probably fail anyway, so I gave up on the idea of it for a while.

I’ve always wanted to pursue higher education, so I made the decision to go back to school at 22. Now that I’m in school though, I feel uncertain about my major. I originally was majoring in hr, but then switched to marketing. Now I’m worried it will be a pointless degree since the field is becoming over saturated and will be a waste of money.

Does anyone have advice on what career paths would be good for someone with adhd? Deciding something has been so hard for me. I feel like I have no real interest or skills in anything, and when I do I eventually loose interest.

need to figure out a system to stay on top of things in college because in high school i would procrastinate horrible on assignments, miss deadlines, routinely pull all-nighters, etc. My main problem with school is procrastination and bad time management (bad time blindness/will feel zero sense of urgency to do something until 12am on the day it's due), and on top of that smaller tasks (setting up appointments, sending emails) are literally impossible for me to keep track of because I forget to do them. I've tried writing things down in a physical planner, apps, notes, etc. but will completely forget to check said apps/straight up lose the planner. Unless something is literally in my face I will forget to do it (I've literally had to cover my phone with sticky notes with tasks written down on them because out of sight out of mind. any (free) apps/tips? I want to run literally everything from one app that I can access from multiple devices that will also give me reminders/be in my face about stuff to do. I also have an iPad if that makes any difference

Im in a pretty sticky spot at the moment. I desperately need to somehow force myself to study for two very large very important tests coming up next week. I was diagnosed years ago with ADHD or ADD Combined type or whatever it is called today, and I am currently struggling with both getting myself to sit still and do something I abhore doing, and getting myself to focus on doing it and not something else when I am sitting still.

This is a complicated situation so Im gonna break it down the best I can in semi-bullet points:

1. These two tests are multi choice with questions pulled, at random, from two different sources of a few hundred questions each. One test is 100 questions, the other is 60 questions, and both these tests source from two distinct pools of questions, both of which are a few hundred questions, so together it totals over a thousand.

2. I have 3 retakes for each test, all being the day after. These tests unfortunately do stack ontop of each other when doing retakes as they are both next week, and all retakes are to be done in the same week. So if i need to retake test 1, it could also be on the day Im taking test 2 for the first time for example.

3. I am and have always been unmedicated. Ive been able to skate by in life just fine on sheer intuition with these kinds of things, never really studied anything a day in my life. Suddenly Im 25 and am confronting a situation that none of the tools in my "Get my brain to behave" toolbox can fix.

4. For reference, I am studying to be an aviation maintenance technician (plane mechanic) so while a good chunk of these questions I can common-sense my way through as Ive been in this program for 2 years, theres plenty here that I just dont know.

5. This is the kicker, my minimum for passing for these tests is a 90%. I need to be damn near perfect in my answers or im just gonna fail.

6. Studying for this is pretty simple atleast, we use one app for each test. These apps are on my phone, and contain all questions from both pools of questions for both tests. The only way Ive ever seen people study for these tests is just by sitting there and taking practice tests on the app repeatedly until they can consistently get the desired grade. Ive done this once before successfully as well with the same kind of test on a different topic. But Im sure you can imagine that this form of studying is like teetering on apocolyptic for me as this kind of reptitive monotony and staring at a screen is just about the worst thing you could torture me with.

7. On previous attempts at this, with no studying, I can squeak out a 50-60%. So Im not starting from scratch, I just need to make up about 40% through studying.

Before you say its flat impossible, Ive done this successfully once before through sheer grit and determination, with actually worse deadlines. But for some reason this time it iust really feels impossible, and a combination of that and the general "inability" to do these kinds of things is trying to convince to give up and just go again next semester, but jesus going next semester for this would be pretty disastrous.

Im in desperate need of tools, tips, ideas, anything that can maybe help me just sit still and do what needs doing. Please, internet, I need your help.

For context I am 21 (M) and heading into my junior year of mechanical engineering at UCF. I was diagnosed last year with ADHD, Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. I moved in with my ex girlfriend last august after dating her for 8 months.

This year we broke up and as such i had to move out in the middle of mid terms. In this process i lost my job and forced myself to couch surf to get away from her and to heal. I managed to ace my midterms and found a new place but i was simultaneously dealing with really bad depression and suicidal ideation (i have a therapist so dont worry). I got a new job and a new place and was on a gradual incline until my grandpa died in the middle of finals. I managed to get As in 4 classes and a B+ in solid mechanics (Dynamics and Intro to EE got washed hehe).

Heading into the summer i had a 3.917 GPA and really really bad depression. I was working 40 hours a week at papa johns, getting home at 3am each day as the summer semester started. I was taking thermodynamics with Marino Nader. Google him— hes a trip. Needless to say, i had to prioritize myself. I gave up on school and decided to heal. By this, i put in just enough effort to pass.

I got a job offer on shift at papa johns from a physics lab. i quit my pizza job and became a physicist. This was the beginning of my climb back to better mental health. As i was working through classes and in the lab i felt empty. I had to redefine my entire life. My life used to consist of worrying if my girlfriend is mad and if my grandpa is going to die. I didnt know how to exist without that stress. I still dont.

My GPA dropped to a 3.6~something. I am taking Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, and 3 other mechanical engineering courses this fall. I want to get into NASA Pathways but i think i fumbled courtesy of my GPA. I have to perform good this semester.

Ive been trying to wake up at 7 and sleep at 11. Making good meals. Having a consistent work schedule (i make my own hours). I just dont know how. This is hard.

TL; DR: Im coming out of a depressive episode and recovering from recent trauma. I have 5 classes in this Fall semester and 20 hours per week in a physics lab. I need to better my brain. Any tips?

so (Sigh*) I studied really really really hard okay ? and I could swear I could retain all the information . my mocks and tests were all good too and my score were really really well okay but then ( tries not to burst out crying ) I stepped into the final exam hall and it was all okay . I had studied and I had done everything in my power and I was really confident . I got a C even though my predicted grade was an A . Is this because of my ADHD ? I really don't know what went wrong . I had been studying with an ADHD friendly way and did everything right and it was showing in my mocks . Like I used to get a 50 /60 now it's a 27 and it's all because of concentration . What can I do ? Pleas help

Hey guys! I’m new here 👋
How did you guys get out of academic burnout?
I used to be a really hardworking student. Losing even half a mark used to make me cry, and now I can lose 15 marks and just feel numb. 😭 I’m just like… “oh well.”
I only have 10 days left before the semester starts, and I really want to get myself back on track before the new semester.
For anyone who’s been through something similar, what actually helped you get your motivation back and start caring about studying again? I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

im entering into my third year of university (science degree) and my first two years of study were not good to say the least. I had a really difficult time trying to study and adjust. (HS was a breeze for me) No matter how much I tried i only ​ended up studying the day before for my exams. This summer break i went to my university's counselor and had a long chat and basically came to the conclusion that there is a hugh probability that I have adhd. Now I come from a South Asian family and my parents are extremely strict regarding studies and stuff and they don't believe in the whole mental health shebang. I tried talking to them about this and they didn't really believe me (basically said I'm not trying hard enough, I'm lying etc etc). I can't also go to an actual psychiatrist to get a diagnosis or medication because they wont allow it. (also entirely dependent on my family for finance. Cant get a job). My parents want me to go into a masters and PhD. As im entering my third year in cant really afford to get bad grades anymore because it'll affect grad school. Anyone in a similar situation have any tips/advice on how to study, get good grades and not burn out? I tried all the usual stuff- active recall, anki flashcards, pomodoro, mindmaps, and none of them stuck or worked out for me. I try really hard in the start but mid way through I just sort of lose motivation. I've just lost so much time and my motivation is at an all time low. The pressure of a test used to force me into studying but now the extra pressure does nothing but give me a migraine and then i have no choice but to sleep. I went to the doctor once for it and i was just told to drink more water and be less stressed. But this is kind of a vicious cycle because there are days where I just literally forget to drink or eat anything for a long while. I tried alarms, reminders and a lot of those fancy tracking apps but they just never stick.

So plsss I'll appreciate any help. I just cant do this anymore 😭.

I’m approaching the mark of 24 hours to deadline. I need to write 5000 words of prose, make two presentations and one whole art project with 15 artworks required. If I fail to do so, I fail to progress into second year. I can’t imagine myself repeating the year, so I don’t know what I’ll do if I fail. All of my family members are successful academics, and here I am.

I am a disappointment to my family. I can’t even concentrate right now, scrolling instead. There is no way to ask for an extension, because this is the resubmission already.

The worst part it’s all my fault

Hi! Uni student with exams in a week.

I've been able to properly get up in the morning (thanks to the alarmy app) and often even actually properly start studying for the day.

However, as soon as I take a break, I cannotttt restart anymore. I'll be like studying 1.5 hour in the morning, procrastine my restart, and then 1.5 after 10pm because I'm mad I barely did anything during the day. I don't expect hours on end of course, but this way I will fail majestically (and I cannot this month).

I don't plan (tried many ways, never worked out, I just study for the amount of time my concentration works. Often about 1 hour, sometimes less sometimes more.

When I take a break, I always say to myself till when, but when that moment comes, it never works out to actually start! I have an extension which blocks non-study related sites duiding the day, but I work around it and watch series, surf randomly etc., just all kinds of things.

I constantly tell myself to just fking start at those times, but I never win against my brain.

It's causing me serious trouble right now.

So, anyone got ideas for someone who can study quite long on end, but then doesn't manage to restart, unless sometomes in the late evening (and gets frustrated because of all this)?

Thank you!

As the title suggests, I cant look at my material without feeling like drowning. When I wake up in the morning to a day where I know I must study my heart just sinks and the whole day turns into a stretched anxiety loop. This has been happening for about 2 years now. Somehow I managed to do 10 out of 16 exams over the 2 years and now I have 20 something days to prepare for the remaining 6. Im a fast learner, Ive always been bright and achieved honors before. It feels like a switch flipped. I have no faith in my ability to do the work and so much fear surrounding the whole thing. Ive tried everything from making schedules to “just do it for 5 minutes”, moving eating drinking water breath work quitting trying again. Non has been successful so far.

I need advice. I have opted for professional support before but “just do it/ the right setting/ calm down” are not really good advice. I have 15 days before 3 of my exams. I know I can manage the material. I just need to manage the anxiety and fear responses.

I feel like I've lost myself and I don't know how to move forward.

I'm 25 years old and still studying psychology. This has been my dream for years, but I honestly don't know if I can keep doing this anymore.

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I also struggle with severe fear of failure. Looking back, so many things finally make sense, but at the same time I feel like I'm years behind everyone else.

The biggest problem is that I can't seem to study on my own. At my previous university, I had friends who studied with me. We would sit in the same room, each doing our own work, take breaks together, and ask each other how far we'd gotten. That was enough to keep me going.

Now I'm at a different university, and I'm completely alone. I have no friends here, no study partner, and no one to keep me accountable. My boyfriend works a lot, and I feel guilty constantly talking to him about the same struggles every year.

My family thinks I'm doing well, but I'm not. They continue to support my education financially, and I feel like I'm letting them down. The guilt is crushing me.

I keep comparing myself to people my age. Most of my friends have already graduated, started working, or are getting married, while I'm still stuck in the same cycle of procrastination, anxiety, and self-hatred.

The worst part is that I feel like I always need someone else to function. If someone is sitting next to me studying, I can work for hours. If I'm alone, I can spend the entire day doing nothing even though I desperately want to study. Is this something other people with ADHD experience?

Lately I've started thinking that maybe I'm just not made for university anymore. Part of me wants to quit, take a break, and finally breathe. Another part of me can't let go because becoming a psychologist has been my dream for so long.

I feel completely exhausted and honestly worthless. I don't recognize myself anymore. I used to believe I could do this, but now I feel like I've forgotten how to study.

Has anyone else experienced something similar with ADHD, fear of failure, or burnout? How did you break out of this cycle? I'd really appreciate hearing from people who understand.

I hope someone can relate, because right now I feel incredibly alone.