Scholarships for people with ADHD?

[livinglifeincircles]

EDITED/UPDATED:

Are there scholarships for people that had undiagnosed ADHD while they were in school or college that are now looking to go back to school? I would love to re-take some of the college courses that I didn't do so well in to help me move beyond where I am now in my career.

I skirted by in college - a combination of masking, pulling quite a few all-nighters, work that only showed half of the ideas/thoughts/images that were in my head but couldn't make it onto paper at all - or on time, etc., and I hate that I wasn't able to take full advantage of my college education.

I am now almost 10 years into being diagnosed, treated with medication, CBT, and A LOT of self-reflection - and forgiveness. I "get" myself much more. I have a better idea of how I learn, how to get things done and what excites me.

Are there any financial resources for people like me? Is there no rich billionaire with ADHD that went through the same thing that now wants to help others like him/her? 😆🙏

[BlessedLady]

If you already have a degree. I am not sure exactly what you are asking..

There are no scholarships like the one you are you talking about. But there are countless other ways to pay for college. There are Pell Grant's and other assistance for those that meet the financial requirements.

You can also continue your education and work at the same time. That is much easier to do now days with online education.

[livinglifeincircles in reply to BlessedLady]

Hi BlessedLady! Yes, I already do have my degree...so you are right, I guess it's just online courses...

[STEM_Dad]

Not much in the way of scholarships for people with ADHD.

A quick search yielded that there are very few scholarships for students who have ADHD. Either they are awarded to students graduating from high school, or the recipient must have at least one learning disability in addition to ADHD, or the student must be enrolled at a specific college.

Even Microsoft has a scholarship for students with disabilities who are pursuing a degree in a technology related field, and it's written broadly enough that ADHD might be considered...but it's only available to students who are graduating from high school. (I work in Information Technology, and want to go back to school to finish my degree, but I'm 48...not 18.)

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Come to think of it, I've rarely seen scholarships for adults returning to college.

And before anyone recommends the Pell Grant, I should say that I already received the maximum allowed for an undergrad student, and maxed out my Federal student loans, as well.

I got my ADHD diagnosis 8 years after I ran out of financial aid, and had to leave school with my degree unfinished.

[livinglifeincircles in reply to STEM_Dad]

Yes, I did a quick search and came up with nothing as well. Seems a shame there isn’t help for both kids with ADHD and late-diagnosed adults with ADHD. If I ever win the lottery, mark my words, I’ll make sure we have our own opportunities for scholarships!

[STEM_Dad]

Altogether, I've gone through:

5 schools,

5 majors,

About 9 years of undergraduate school, spread out over 22 years

...yet not one advisor or academic counselor thought there was anything wrong with me. I was left to muddle through on my own, for the most part, because I didn't have a childhood diagnosis of ADHD or any learning disability.

[STEM_Dad]

If you want to retake courses, but already have a degree, you can check for the courses on education platforms like Udemy, edx, and Coursera.

Some courses might be available for free, if you're not seeking credit for the course.

If you do want the credit, you might be able to work towards a certificate. Costs for the courses will vary.

Alternatively, if you are okay learning on your own, then try searching for materials for the courses that you want to cover again (syllabi, lecture slides, etc), and study on your own. (Abe Lincoln became a practicing lawyer after reading through a book on Law on his own time. I'm not saying that studying this way makes you a qualified professional, but gaining the knowledge gets you most of the way there.)

[livinglifeincircles]

Thank you for the recommendations. I tend to get overwhelmed by so many choices over every little decision that I don't even start projects or to look into things (analysis paralysis) but I will check out Udemy and the others you recommended. I know of an incredible chef that never went to culinary school, but opened his own tiny restaurant that never advertised its opening yet is mostly full every night of the week. He bought the same culinary "bible" used at culinary schools and taught himself any techniques that he didn't already know and honed his natural talents with it so it definitely can work in some industries!

[STEM_Dad in reply to livinglifeincircles]

I'm in a new job (started in December) which I really like, but I also want to continue my education.

My job provides me with a LinkedIn Learning license, so I can train on that platform when I have time. It's similar to Udemy.

However, I know that I want to get IT certification in the tools and software that I am experienced in and getting more experience in, and to do so, I know that I'll have to pay for the certification examinations. That's something I'm planning to budget for. Each exam costs $125+, and it takes 2-3 exams for each certificate.

I also want to finish a bachelor's degree (not required for my current job, but as a life goal), and maybe later on more advanced degrees. (I've got a few in mind that I want to consider.)

But, I'm divorced, and a quarter of my income goes to pay child support. That makes it a lot harder to budget for all this. That's why I really hope to find some way to get scholarships.

[livinglifeincircles]

I am happy for you that you have a clear goal and plan - and congrats on the job!