College with ADHD: What No One Tells You
What I wish I’d known as a first-gen, full-time, neurodivergent student at an elite university.
TL;DR Summary:
If you’ve got ADHD and feel out of place in college — whether you’re first-gen, are neurodivergent in other ways, or just figuring it out as you go — this post breaks down how the collegiate system actually works, how to advocate for yourself, and how to use real executive function strategies to thrive in school without burning out. It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about building a way through that works for you.
I didn’t go to college the traditional way.
My now-husband and I met in high school in Illinois. We spent five years dating long-distance while I was stationed in San Diego, serving in the military. Eventually, I had to choose: go home to be near my family, or move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to be with him while he earned his PhD. I chose him. We got married before I finished undergrad, and I don’t regret that decision for a second.
But let’s be clear: we were still broke, which wasn’t a new thing for us.
We were both first-generation college students from low-income families.
Both of my parents dropped out of high school and got their GEDs. I’m their only child, and always knew I had to go to college to make them proud. We didn’t have money, so I literally had to risk my life by joining the military to pay for my education.
So when I landed at the University of Michigan — one of the most elite public university in the world — it was a culture shock. The school itself was prestigious. The student body? Mostly white-collar. Fancy tech gadgets. Luxury loft apartments. Family vacations. Spring break in Europe. Trust funds and outrageous allowances. Meanwhile, I had trauma, a GI Bill, and a survival mindset.
I had accommodations for PTSD — though I didn’t know I had ADHD at the time.
Turns out, those accommodations helped both. Time and a half on tests in a quiet room with scratch paper gave me space and time to think. Skipping the language requirement protected my GPA. And the fact that I had an individualized education plan (IEP) throughout elementary and high school gave me. a good idea of what accommodations I needed. But I was still out of my element in ways I didn’t fully understand.
Because here’s the twist: as hard as the military was, it felt more familiar.
I grew up around blue-collar people — people who cussed too much, relied on grit and strength, and didn’t have multiple financial backup plans to fall back on if life didn’t pan out. The military suited my roots. I understood those politics, navigated them well. There was a shared kinship in hardship. We weren’t the smartest, maybe — but we were brave. We earned each other’s trust by surviving hard things together.
But college?
College was a white-collar world. A world of cleverness over toughness.
I was smart — but a little too rough around the edges and unapproachable. I didn’t know how to network. I didn’t know how college worked. I didn’t understand how internships could be useful, or how people seemed to glide through the whole system with unshakable confidence. So I distanced myself. I assumed they wouldn’t get it — and maybe some of them wouldn’t.
But I missed out on something major.
Those students? Many came from families where understanding the white-collar world was taught from a young age.
Where the norms of high socioeconomic systems were dinner table talk, perhaps along with short discussions about corporate strategy from executive/C-suite parents bringing their work home with them.
And while I knew how to navigate in blue-collar systems — something that served me well in the military — I had no map for the social dynamics of this buttoned-up professional world I was trying to enter.
And that cost me.
Because understanding white-collar dynamics — especially in corporate spaces after college — might have helped me prevent burnout later on.
I carried that lesson with me into grad school. This time, I made the effort to network, collaborate, and learn from the people around me — even if we came from different worlds. And honestly? It made all the difference. Those skills didn’t just help me get through grad school — they helped me navigate the corporate world that came after it, where I even worked with a few of my classmates out in the wild.
The point is, if you’re neurodivergent, you probably relate to the feeling of being an outsider — but also someone with so many interests and no desire to be boxed in. Sometimes, you need delusional confidence to step into spaces that were never built for you. I’ve lived that. Still do.
This post isn’t just about getting through college with ADHD or accommodations.
It’s about learning how to show up fully in unfamiliar territory.
It’s about building executive function strategies that work for your brain — and owning your story, no matter how different it looks from everyone else’s.
So let’s get into it.
Understanding College When You Didn’t Grow Up Around It
If you didn’t grow up hearing about college GPAs, office hours, or internships at the dinner table — you’re not alone.
For a lot of us with ADHD, especially if you come from a blue-collar background, stepping into college feels like dropping into the middle of a game no one explained the rules to. Everyone else seems to just “know” how to do this. But if you’re figuring it out from scratch? That doesn’t make you behind. It makes you brave as hell.
Here’s what to know:
What’s the Point of College, Really?
Despite what they told you in high school, college isn’t about becoming a walking encyclopedia. It’s about proving you can think critically.
Yes, there’s memorization. But most college exams aren’t just regurgitation — they’re structured to test whether you can:
- Solve complex problems
- Make connections between ideas
- Apply what you learned to new situations
That’s why it feels so mentally exhausting. You’re not just “learning stuff.” You’re learning how to process and interpret a firehose of information. And when you’ve got ADHD? That’s a high-effort task every single day.
What Does a Full Course Load Actually Look Like?
If you’re enrolled full-time undergrad, you’ll typically take four to five classes per semester. Each class usually has 1-3 lectures per week (these are the big, professor-led sessions), and 1-3 discussions or labs per week (smaller groups led the teacher assistants, or TAs, to help you break down information learned in lectures).
That means you’re attending 8–24 class sessions weekly, not including homework, reading, midterms and finals, group projects, study sessions, office hours/tutoring, etc.
So if you’re thinking, “Why am I always so tired?” — this is why. It’s a full-time job and then some. Especially when your brain is managing ADHD on top of everything else.
How to Navigate It Without Feeling Like an Outsider
You might feel out of place at first. You might think you’re the only one who doesn’t get how office hours work or what a TA even is. You’re not.
Here are a few things to normalize:
- It’s okay to ask questions. That’s literally why professors and TAs are there.
- It’s okay to advocate for yourself. If something feels off — ask for clarity, resources, & support.
- You don’t have to relate to your classmates to collaborate with them. Study groups, shared notes, even venting sessions — they’re all part of surviving school together.
- Imposter syndrome is common. Especially for first-gen, neurodivergent, or non-traditional students. It’s not a sign you don’t belong — it’s a sign you do, and you’re growing.
When You Might Need Accommodations
If you’re:
- Taking way longer than others to complete tests or assignments
- Struggling with focus to the point where lectures feel like static
- Emotionally shutting down or freezing when deadlines pile up
- Feeling like your brain is working against you
…you might qualify for academic accommodations.
Accommodations can include:
- Extra time on exams
- Quiet testing spaces
- Flexibility with deadlines
- Recorded lectures or note-taking support
And you don’t need a diagnosis or medical file to start the conversation. Go to your school’s disability services office. They’ll walk you through what’s possible and how to advocate for what you need.
Accommodations aren’t a crutch — they’re friction reducers. They help level the playing field so you can focus on learning, not just surviving. Here’s a list of common student accommodations to help you prepare for these conversations.
Executive Function Strategies That Help
College can be exciting — and a total mess if your executive function is struggling. You’ve got freedom, flexible schedules, solo projects, and way too many tabs open (literally and mentally). If you’re not careful, your semester can spiral fast.
Now that you know what you’re up against, here’s how to actually get through it. These strategies are designed to reduce friction, help you get started, and support consistency — without demanding perfection.
1. Focus on 1–2 Subjects a Day
Take 10 minutes at the start of each week to skim your syllabi and map out what’s due soon. Then jot down 1–2 subjects to focus on each day and how long you’ll spend on each. Use a planner or Google Calendar to keep it visible. This helps reduce mental fatigue, task switching, and decision paralysis.
2. Use “First Step Only” Thinking When Stuck
If a task feels huge (writing a paper, study for a big exam), scale it down:
- Just open the doc.
- Just reread your last notes.
- Just rewrite the prompt on a fresh sheet.
Momentum matters more than motivation.
3. Make Your Study Methods ADHD-Friendly
You’re not in high school anymore, so don’t use all the same methods. Here’s what actually helps in college:
- Teach concepts to a friend or out loud to yourself
- Turn notes into diagrams, flash cards, or memes
- Don’t use highlighters if you find yourself highlighting everything on the page anyway (it’s a time suck and gets distracting/confusing)
- Use the pomodoro method and rewards: 25 min study, 5 min break (yes, snacks count)
- Move while reviewing notes — walk, stretch, bounce
Creative repetition helps your brain retain info — even the boring stuff.
4. Fuel Your Brain First
No shame: snacks of any kind are survival because they will help you focus and keep your dopamine levels up. Keep a few options in your bag and dorm: protein bars, trail mixes, instant coffee, tea, instant noodles, fruit and peanut butter, hummus and carrots, etc.
5. Block Out Distractions Before You Start
Pre-commit to a focused session by setting the scene for success before your brain tries to talk you out of it:
- Use browser blockers like Freedom or Cold Turkey.
- Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or in another room.
- Study with a go-to playlist that won’t hijack your attention (instrumental or lo-fi are clutch options).
6. Externalize Everything
Your brain alone can’t hold things like your entire calendar and due dates. Get key info out of your head and into your space. The less you have to juggle mentally, the more energy you have for actual work.
- Print your syllabi & check off finished assignments.
- Write important deadlines on sticky notes, a whiteboard, or in Google Calendar.
- Keep a visual reminder of what’s urgent that week.
- At the top of your document, write the main goal of the assignment. It keeps you grounded and helps prevent accidental hyperfocus on unrelated tangents.
7. Ask for Help (Early and Often)
Professors and TAs want to help you — but they can’t read your mind.
- Visit office hours (even just once — it builds rapport).
- Email your TA if you’re confused before you fall behind.
- Join a study group or form one yourself.
You’re not supposed to do college alone. Collaboration is part of the process.
🚨 Quick Reset Tips for When You’re Spiraling in College with ADHD:
- Change locations. A new setting = new energy.
- Take a cold shower or wash your face.
- Go for a walk — 10 minutes is enough.
- Text a friend just to say “Today’s hard.”
- Revisit your “why” — why you’re here, why this matters.
You’re Not Behind — You’re Building Differently
If you’ve read this far, you probably already know: college isn’t just about classes. It’s about unlearning survival mode, learning how your brain works, and figuring out who you want to be — while balancing deadlines, overwhelm, and the pressure to have it all figured out.
But here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t need to be perfect to be successful. You don’t need to keep up with everyone else’s path. You just need to build something that works for you — even if it looks different than what you imagined.
Whether you’re coming from a blue-collar background, navigating undiagnosed ADHD, or simply trying to succeed in an elite school using strategies different than your peers — you belong here. And you’re doing better than you think.
College is hard. ADHD makes it harder. But you’re not weak for struggling — you’re strong for staying. For trying. For adapting.
And that delusional confidence you sometimes need just to keep going? Hold onto it. It’s not a flaw. It’s fuel.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve a Life That Works for You
If you’re someone like me — someone who didn’t grow up around elite institutions, who had to work twice as hard just to be in the room — I hope this helped you feel seen.
I also hope these tools help you build your own system. One that isn’t about grinding through perfectionism or pretending you’ve got it all together. One that’s about doing the best you can with the brain you got — and knowing that’s more than enough.
The truth is, executive function strategies won’t solve everything — but they can help you feel less lost. They can help you protect your energy, reclaim your time, and remind you that you’re not broken — the system just wasn’t built for you.
And once college is over? The challenges don’t magically disappear.
If you’re about to graduate or already feeling the weight of hustle culture creeping in, don’t miss this post on ADHD corporate burnout. It’s the sequel to this one.
It’s a raw look at what happens when you enter the workforce without support, without rest, and without systems that actually work for your brain. If you want a glimpse of what to watch out for — and how to protect your peace early — start there.
You deserve to thrive. Not just in college, but in life.
