·
Talk
to your professors in advance
Talking to your
professors about being on the autism spectrum disorder can go a long way
towards establishing a good relationship, which will help you in spades in the
future. Professors typically respect those who point this out in advance, primarily
due to the initiative you’re showing, and this will help when the time comes to
get help from them too (Rudy). If you take anything
away from this post, it’s that talking to your professors is important.
·
Know
where the disability support service is on campus
There will be times
where you will require additional help. At the University of Wyoming, I’ve
arranged to be in a private room and get double time on tests, exams, and
quizzes, and that was all through University Disability Support Services, the
disability program at my school. Sometimes it’s things like this that can
really make or break you when it comes to tests and grades, and just getting
that extra help will go a long way to ensuring some form of success down the
line.
·
If
possible, request a single room if you intend to live in a dorm; or at least
inform the administration about your condition
Though some might
appreciate having a roommate, as I had one for one year, it’s not for everyone,
and if you want that extra space and time to yourself, getting a single room
should be an absolute priority. Even if you can’t get a single room to
yourself, just the act of telling the administration about your condition will
do wonders for your mental health. In the event a single room isn’t available,
other accommodations can be made. Just because a room isn’t available
immediately doesn’t mean one won’t come up eventually.
·
Know
your limitations
For those coming out of
high school who did well academically, it can be a shock to the system when you
see how hard the classes are. High school doesn’t prepare you all that well for
college, so be prepared for the shock. I sure wasn’t. Set realistic goals for
yourself as you enter college. It might be hard to grasp, again, it was for me,
but sometimes just passing a hard class can be a goal, rather than acing it.
Knowing your limitations will go a long way towards establish the correct
mindset in the future.
·
Most
importantly, do your best!
It might seem
incredibly trivial, and not to mention cliché, but doing your best is what
counts. Professors, from my experience, have little sympathy for those who
aren’t even trying. However, they are extremely sympathetic to those who are
showing that they’re attempting their best, but are still struggling anyways.
Remember how I said that it’s important that you establish a relationship with
your professor early? This is where doing your best comes in, as professors
will just be that more sympathetic. Plus, college requires that you put your
best foot forward, so go ahead and do it!
College
is a stressful experience for the first few days, but the things that you
choose to do now, and in the days that will follow will greatly change the
trajectory of the path you take through college. Taking the steps above won’t
necessarily prevent you from struggling, but it’ll make getting through the
struggles that much easier, and at the end of the two or four years of study,
you’ll have a degree to look upon thanks to your efforts.
Sources
Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Autism Speaks.
Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/
Rudy, L. J. (2019,
May 22). 13 tips for autistic students entering mainstream college. Retrieved
February 20, 2020, from
https://www.verywellhealth.com/going-through-college-with-asperger-syndrome-260485
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