Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Struggling with college
Tue, 12/06/2016 - 01:45Topic: Young Adults
Hey y'all, I was diagnosed when I was 9 after I had a few large seizures that couldn't be explained. Before I was diagnosed I was a straight A student and then literally immediately after I was hardly a C student. Turns out it was part of epilepsy and I struggled through High School and now no matter how long I study or how hard I try I am failing college. It sounds silly to say but it's frustrating and upsetting. And although I haven't had an actual seizure in many years I can't be taken off of my medication because there is still small seizure activity that goes on in my face. I want to go to school and pass my classes, I just feel like my epilepsy is pulling me back. Also, in High School the drilled it into our heads that we needed to go to college and that we couldn't get good paying jobs without college, so if I were to decide not to go anymore I wouldn't even know where to start.
Comments
I got into MIT. My grades
Submitted by tbracewell@alum.mit.edu on Sun, 2017-05-07 - 12:01
I got into MIT. My grades started to sink partly because temporal lobe epilepsy got worse, probably due to stress affecting seizure type and seizure rate. I lost the ability to read the exam questions sometimes, for example, or do arithmetic, probably due to stress. This is not good at a place like MIT. I graduated in 4 years the hard way. I registered for a full set of courses each term and inevitably had to drop one by the end of the term. I got through in 4 years by taking courses year round. Recently the school publicly stated that there is no need to cram your undergraduate program into 4 years. Looking back I wish I'd had enough sense to slow down from the start, and not try to carry a full load through each term. The idea of going to the dean to ask about doing this simply didn't come to me.SUGGESTION: See if the dean will let you take one less course each term. I wish I had done that. It seems to me this approach could work for you no matter which college you're in.Some of my symptoms started at age 13 but were very minor (deja vu) until I was in college. Years later, advanced MRI showed that I was born with a deformed hippocampus. I have a lousy memory, especially long-term, and can't memorize stuff very well when I read it or hear it.
I am in your same situation,
Submitted by Princess3244 on Thu, 2016-12-29 - 19:28
I am in your same situation, my meds and the impact seizures have had on my brain affect my memory and concentration. Do the best you can, if that's taking one class a semester and focusing on that one class then so be it! You don't need to follow anyone else's guideline on how fast they get their degree! Also, if you haven't yet, speak to disability services, they can be a lot of help!