How could any of you handle college?

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I tried to go. I didn't even last one semester.

In a way I feel like I was set up for failure. They let me take classes that I don't think I really had the prerequisites for or was ready for. I hadn't been in normal classes in a normal school since sixth grade and quit at 16 and got my ged. I don't even really know how to write papers for school. I did very little of that in school and was very anxious about it.

I got my A.A. in liberal arts by going to a community college. I drove there, went to classes for a few hours, worked in the campus library, and then I drove home. I found it easier than high school because there were fewer stupid rules and the professors didn't care if I took notes of not, or if I forgot my text book. You actually had to understand the subject matter, and you didn't get extra points for being "organized."

I also have an A.S. in aerospace maintenance technology by virtue of being in the Air Force, and I'm working on a third A.S. in emergency services.

To answer your question, I managed it by not going to a huge university and living in the dorm. Of course, I dropped out of high school in the 11th grade, and I'll probably never get a bachelor's because I can't handle working full-time AND going to school. It over-taxes my already crappy executive function.

Good luck.

Simple Answer - I had excellent accommodations.

I dropped out twice but managed to go back and finish. It took me 6 years. I didn't struggle with the material; I struggled with working up enough courage to actually go to class.

I LOVE university! I am a Masters student....but I can't keep a job as a cashier.

The difference? There is plenty!

At university (particularly now that I am at a Master's level...an undergrad is a bit more broad by design), I get to be steeped in my special interest. I work alone (partially due to accommodations, if there is a group project--haven't had any of those come up in Masters yet), and I get STRUCTURE day in and day out. When I talk it is about my interest. When I write it is about my interest. I DO have time management issues, which makes me procrastinate a great deal, but I have superior writing and research skills that allow me to research and write an entire paper less than 12 hours before its due, and the professors have no idea (I graduated from my undergrad a semester early with first-class honours doing this for EVERY assignment I had). It also tends to be quite a quiet and low-key environment that I can focus on myself and my interests. I love academia, and it is really the only realm I CAN excel in. It is where I belong.

Why can't I do something seemingly more simple such as being a cashier? Well, there is endless small talk; despite the repetitiveness of the work itself, it is actually quite unpredictable; there is more pressure for being "part of the team"; the environment is sensory overloading; there is constant pressure to interact with people; and so on.

I had my first job 12 years when I was 16. Since then, I've had about 60 jobs. I cannot keep a job no matter how hard I try due to miscommunication, meltdowns, lack of a real schedule/routine, and other things that overwhelm me beyond my breaking point. If it weren't for university, I would have absolutely nothing to live for right now, and I wholeheartedly believe I would still be cooped up in my childhood room at my parents' house. This IS the way I can get out into the world, and I love it.

Edit: I will add that I was blessed to have had a regular education. I did struggle with a few things, and perhaps if I had my diagnosis at an early age, they would have put me in special education. Having a regular education set me up for success in university at least to some extent.

I will also add that university is NOT like school in many ways, IMO. I was a high-school drop-out and NEVER wanted to go back. I was picked on relentlessly, and the social pressures were simply too much to handle. High-school was what I found difficult. Once I finally did get my high-school diploma (four years later, in an adult education setting), even then I was nervous about university. It took another almost three years for me to get the nerve to try it. BIIIIIIG difference, if you can handle the university workload. The social pressures are gone. At least they are for me (might not be so for those more mild than I am). Basically NO ONE has ever picked on me at university, making me feel more comfortable there, and giving the setting a much different feel than high school. There is no vocal pressure from everyone to conform to them, which helps a lot. If that hadn't changed from my high school experiences, I probably wouldn't have lasted as long as I did.

I did eventually get a degree at age 28, after trying four different higher education establishments and six different degree subjects, and failing/dropping out of all of them. It actually made it harder that I had been very academically bright at school, because I didn't feel like I could explain to anyone that university was such a struggle for me - I didn't think they would believe me. I thought my parents would think I was being lazy and get angry with me. But the lack of structure, the "discussion" type of small classes (I was very anxious about speaking in front of others) and the need to be able to plan projects was a disastrous combination for me.

Every time I started over with a new subject I was determined that it was going to be different, but it wasn't - at least I now know that that was because I had undiagnosed AS (and I suspect ADD as well). I eventually went to study the subject I felt most passionately about despite being discouraged from that area and was able to finish the degree, though it took me four years instead of three and I didn't get the grade I was capable of in terms of skill.

I really wish I had known what the problem was at the start, because I think I wouldn't have wasted nearly as much time if I had had the right kind of support from the beginning. If you know, get whatever support you need, and make the best use of it you can.

We're all different. My problem is making it out of college. I started when I was 16*, and, at 33, am still there. Yes, I graduated - several times. What I can't do is keep a job for more than 2 months. At this point I'm a part-time student because it's cheaper than paying my student loans.

That said, college itself isn't all a walk in the park for me either. I struggle with time management especially and have been known to melt down at the prospect of a group project. It's better than the alternative, though, and the rewards (grown-up equivalent of gold stars and smiley faces) keep me going, because deep down I'm still just an 8 year old girl who wants to hear the teacher say she's smart.

*I dropped out of high school to escape the bullying and got my GED after two years of community college.

On-line University
SKIP DEALING WITH HUMANS!! !! !!

I am only recently diagnosed, and when I went to Uni, I struggled BIG TIME. Somehow I still got my degree, due to sheer stubborness and need to have one.
I have a lot of executive functioning issues. I had trouble listening to anything they said in lectures, I had trouble doing my assignments, doing the readings. I never socialised at all. I was completely disorganised. It wasn't that the work was particularly too hard, it was all the other stuff! I wish someone had taken me seriously and helped me out, but I got none of that, and so battled through, bit by bit. I had to do it part time. It was extremely hard for me, I hated it.
I basically got through by cramming at the last minute for exams (sometimes learning stuff for the first time on the way to the exam), and I would often start assignments at 4am the day they were due!

I think it can be important to have a degree if you are on the spectrum, as generally-speaking, we can do worse in job interviews, therefore it really helps to have qualifications behind us at least. Though these days, just having "a degree" doesn't get you very far either

I'm in my first year of college right now, and I really like it so far. I go to a huge school, so it isn't cliquey or full of drama like high school is. College is very taxing academically though. Test weeks are always the most difficult, and can cause me a lot of stress, although I haven't luckily had any nervous breakdowns. I survive though the rigor of college by always having good stress relievers. Running, drawing, and violent video games are my favorite stress relievers, but this varies from person to person.I don't have the greatest advice about college because I'm still very new to it, but managing time and stress are the most important aspects of getting through it.

I have a BFa in Art (drawing spec) from my local university.

As for how, well... it's sort of a series of circumstances that somehow played out well enough for me to do okay.

1. I found a small affordable apartment near campus
2. I was able to get enough money from student loans to do this because I insisted my parents sign a document stating that I was fully independent. Without that document, student loans will limit your funding based on the incomes of your parents. My parents are not fiscally responsible. I could not live with either of them. This was my only choice.
2. My grades were good enough for entry into only one faculty: fine art
3. This worked out as I generally liked drawing and was reasonably good at it, although not good enough to get into the fancy art college in this city (applied twice, denied twice). So university fine art faculty it was.
4. First year was difficult. My grades were terrible.
5. Second year and subsequent years the course material became more specific. I could draw well. When I put the time into it, I improved quickly.
6. My grades were mostly A's in art studio courses and C's in everything else. It was enough.

In 2007 I finished my program successfully. I tried working as an illustrator professionally. I realized I HATED almost every aspect of that job. In a couple years I realized that I had no love for drawing. Utter contempt for the people involved in the pro industry. It was terrible. I couldn't do it. I quit.

But. I have that degree. A bachelor's degree in anything is good enough for a lot of jobs. The part-time job I took for extra money, parking officer at the local university, continues to be my sole income. I like that job. I will continue to stay there. It doesn't pay well but it is enough. Enough to be independent.

I am not happy. I haven't been happy since I was a child. I exist one day at a time. Take my meds, go to therapy, do my sh***y job, eat, sleep, repeat. It's all I can do. I'm sorry, this wasn't intended to be a diatribe about my mental state.