Academic dismissal; ASD diagnosis shortly after

[m00gie]

I spent 3 semesters thinking I was depressed and nothing else. I was perfectly understanding material and coursework but had a really hard time completing things and communicating with professors, my advisor, and classmates - among many, many other issues. My biggest mistake was not finding help for my depression sooner - I was admitted to the hospital at the end of my 3rd semester when I finally realized that I couldn't help myself or manage my stress, and my school career was perhaps over. I was on medication for almost a year and I haven't felt depressed since I went off medication a few months ago. During the period I went to therapy, I was also diagnosed with Asperger's and everything in my life made sense - some of it hilarious and some of it disheartening.

The required period away from university is almost over and I'm thinking of petitioning for reinstatement. If I were allowed back in, it would be for the Spring 2018 semester, so I think having a few more months to prepare may be enough. Now that I know why I'm having trouble in school (and every other area in life), I feel I can take the proper actions and seek the right help to be more functional. The problem is I'm worried that even if I have the proper documentation of extenuating circumstances and write a killer reinstatement letter, the board of whoever might not want to take a chance on me because of all the accommodations I'll perhaps need just to overcome this and get my GPA back up.

I'm considering omitting the ASD diagnosis paperwork and only showing the documentation of depressive disorder and seeking disability resources anyway if I'm readmitted. What do you guys think?

As far as the rest of the process, I'm going to take a few CLEP exams to demonstrate academic ability bc I can't afford community college or anything else besides CLEP, really. Lol. And I'm switching my major from Botany to another main interest: history. So going from STEM to the humanities will help, I think.

Thanks in advance

 

[The Midge]

Welcome Moogie!

I don't know about the USA but an education institution should be able to understand the needs of someone on the spectrum. Good luck!

 

[Streetwise]

welcome m00gie
students from the USA who are members on this forum talk about being accommodated for autism.
some said the Colleges are good others said they're useless

 

[NinaB]

Hi mOOgie, welcome. I am afraid that i cannot help you with your question because the educational systems of our countries are different. Sorry But i am in a somewhat similar situation, can i send you a private message?

 

[Rasendra]

I had documentation of ADD diagnosis that I looked into accommodations but they were useless. This was earlier in my various diagnosis before I came across ASD so I am not sure what sort would be for it. Doesn't hurt to at least ask though, at the very least it will be useless and you don't have to use them.

I struggled also at college. Withdrew second semester of my first try, did some mental healing at various psychologist and psychiatrists my father sent me to. It did help with the depression but since I didn't get to ASD yet and they stuck with ADD only it was only temporary. I did well for a year but then it declined and I ended up withdrawing and giving up on college as finances were gone. Hopefully you have better luck than me! Sorry I don't have better advice or help.

 

[Ambi]

I spent 3 semesters thinking I was depressed and nothing else. I was perfectly understanding material and coursework but had a really hard time completing things and communicating with professors, my advisor, and classmates - among many, many other issues. My biggest mistake was not finding help for my depression sooner - I was admitted to the hospital at the end of my 3rd semester when I finally realized that I couldn't help myself or manage my stress, and my school career was perhaps over. I was on medication for almost a year and I haven't felt depressed since I went off medication a few months ago. During the period I went to therapy, I was also diagnosed with Asperger's and everything in my life made sense - some of it hilarious and some of it disheartening.

The required period away from university is almost over and I'm thinking of petitioning for reinstatement. If I were allowed back in, it would be for the Spring 2018 semester, so I think having a few more months to prepare may be enough. Now that I know why I'm having trouble in school (and every other area in life), I feel I can take the proper actions and seek the right help to be more functional. The problem is I'm worried that even if I have the proper documentation of extenuating circumstances and write a killer reinstatement letter, the board of whoever might not want to take a chance on me because of all the accommodations I'll perhaps need just to overcome this and get my GPA back up.

I'm considering omitting the ASD diagnosis paperwork and only showing the documentation of depressive disorder and seeking disability resources anyway if I'm readmitted. What do you guys think?

As far as the rest of the process, I'm going to take a few CLEP exams to demonstrate academic ability bc I can't afford community college or anything else besides CLEP, really. Lol. And I'm switching my major from Botany to another main interest: history. So going from STEM to the humanities will help, I think.

Thanks in advance

Personally, I think you'd have far better luck getting needed resources/accommodations with the ASD diagnosis - but I'd advise you to think out both options very carefully. I am self-diagnosed and realized this is the reason I have burned out everywhere and failed at so many jobs and schools. The last place I finally just left when I crashed and burned and really came to feel I have ASD - but I never sought the formal diagnosis, never tried to re-enter the program as I just decide that level of stress wouldn't be good for me (plus I also had developed an autoimmune disorder). But if you feel up to it I really hope you find the best way to get back in - you deserve another chance for sure! And in the US anyway, universities want our money. I think many will give another chance, especially for medical reasons.