"Succeeding in College with Asperger's Syndrome"

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I've been reading this book and while a lot of it doesn't apply to me (needing help identifying "false friends"/friends who are using you, knowing that making noise, etc will annoy your neighbor), it definitely affirms stuff I've already known but hadn't really taken to heart. That being said, every time I search "college" in conjunction with A.S., what usually comes up is that A.S. students should get a student counsellor (that is, a counsellor for students, not a counsellor who IS a student). I'm wondering if this is something that's actually benefited anyone on here? I have good sense and can function well at a superficial level, but have trouble with things it seems like no one can help me with, apart from telling me to either "just do it" or "stop doing it". For example, I have a hard time going to classes...I don't know why. I love my school and I LOVE my classes. My alarm goes off, I get up, get dressed, walk the dog, make breakfast, get ready to go....and then I never leave. There's no reason that I can discern, it's just like something literally blocks me. I've also got iffy personal hygiene, and although I know the solution is to just DO IT (shower, etc) I can't seem to get myself to do it on a consistent basis. I also have a hard time making friends, either because I can't stop saying the wrong thing or I can't bring myself to interact socially on a regular basis, no matter how much I like that person.

So, again, has anyone here been high functioning and had success with having someone to "check in" with? I'd feel stupid going to a counsellor and saying "OK now tell me to start going to class" (especially since I doubt that would work).

I know I need help with college, but I don't know what I need. I don't need extended time on tests or to tape record lectures or the normal college accommodations, but there's got to be something to get me on track because I can't seem to do this. I switched schools because I hated my old school and thought that the reason I wasn't succeeding was because of the school...now I'm in a school I LOVE but doing roughly the same.

Besides the obvious "just go to class" or "join a club" responses, anyone have any advice or experience with these problems?

I never knew about As when I was going to college and assumed my class skipping was due to depression or boredom in classes(I hated all the teachers who would assign a reading and then spend the next day rereading it for the class Thats not teaching.

Knowing about As I think the solution I found(for a problem I didnt know I had)worked pretty well for me.I took night classes as often as I could.I think my class averssion was partly do to the sensory overload of being on campus with thousands of chattering,noisy,moving people.Nights,the campus was quiter and classes seemed more "mature".Also helped with my chronic insomnia.

As far as help that I could have used...it probably would have been an "advocat" who could explain why I was late turning in research papers,(spending to much time in the reading researching part,no access to a typewriter and desire to write a "perfect paper".I was lucky to have understanding teachers who did allow me extenssions..but not all teachers are like that.It would have been nice for them to note grade me doown on my spelling(dyslexic)because I litterally could not "see" that some words were misspelled....it doesnt make the content of my paper less viable.I think it wold have helped to have some one else keep trakc of my goals(which classes I needed for my major/minor)to make sure I was taking the correct classes.I do seem to have some "executive function issues" and was always forgetting what I had taken and what I needed.Actually,it's pretty amazing that I graduated at all and probably wouldn't have if I had not lucked into some very patient teachers that seemed to know something was "wrong" with me but that I was still putting in my best effort and was relatively intellegent.

I have been trying to get myself back to my Technical Writing class. I skipped too many already. I don't have trouble with the class except for the group writing assignments that are done in class.

I like going to my Accounting class, so I don't usually have trouble going to that one. I just get immersed in the way the numbers interact.

I need to see a student councilor, but I am having trouble getting myself to go and talk to one. I really have no idea what classes are needed for the degree and am dreading admitting that I am clueless despite taking classes for many years. Call it pride in my intelligence interfering with admitting the need for help in such a matter that I see as something that should be simple.

I have a lot of trouble going to my classes. In high school I would skip days and even whole weeks. Now I have classes that are too early. And the one class that isn't early is a German class.. uh oh. I just have to force myself to get up and walk to the class. Its hard, some days it doesn't work. Some days my boyfriend has to say "go to class..." even though he is just as bad as I am. (sometimes I wonder if he is AS but then he is much better than I am at socializing. Maybe he has just adapted to it better...) Having someone to push you to go, hold you accountable like that is good. But I don't think a student counsellor would work. A friend, parent, sibling would be much better. Of course it depends on where you live. My parents and siblings couldn't do anything since I am 30 some miles from home...

Anyway, bit of a rant...

feelgoodlost,

I have to a agree with you on the book. I didn't find it very helpful since I can function on my own. So about your questions, I don't know about a student counsellor because I've never tried that but at my college we have counsellors that we can visit for free. I would go to the counsellor and just talk about things like how hard a class was and how I was having trouble with some poeple. The point was I was using her as a sound broad and when I can across a problem with the college, she would find out the info for me. This was very helpful. One question I have for you is do you have your AS documented? If yes, you can get help through a disabilities access center on campus. They deal with this kind of thing and could help you with your problem of getting to class, plus you can use them as "check-in" person, because they deal with that kind of thing. (I'm in Wisconson where they have a great Disabilities access center system.) As for socially, I've had the same problems too. I tried to find groups that would have the same interests as me but that didn't work out so well. However, I have discovered that international students on my campus (not Americans) want to make friends and have some the same social problems as me because they are not from the US. So that might be idea.

I hope that helps you. I know a lot about college since I'm in my sixth (finally!! !) year of college for my undergradute degree. So if you have some more questions, feel free to pm me.

I can relate to what you're saying.

I think the best thing you can do for yourself is try to not depend on anybody but yourself. Sometimes we feel we need someone to lean on, but it's not the solution. If you need to take less classes, take less classes, or try any other accomdation you think might work, but don't become overly dependent on others.