8 Strategies for Selecting an ADHD-Friendly Course Schedule

by Dr. Liz, April 15, 2022

mortarboards tossed in the air

Feeling overwhelmed trying to pick a workable schedule for next semester? You’re not alone! Selecting the right courses for you can be key to a successful semester, but sometimes your choices seem fairly limited. The result? Stress! Here are eight strategies for putting together a great schedule for next semester.

1. Be Prepared!

scrabble letters spelling prepared Plan ahead and start early. Know the exact days and times that you are allowed to register. Give yourself enough time to clear up any holds on your account that might stop you from registering. Make appointments with the Disability Services Office (DSO), your academic adviser, or any other adviser that needs to support or approve your registration choices.

2. Know and Use Your Registration Accommodations

Know what accommodations you are entitled to and take advantage of them. Typical registration accommodations include early/priority registration, course substitutions, and reduced course load.

woman showing OK sign with her fingers
  • Early/Priority Registration
    • If you qualify, and if it is offered by your Disability Services Office (DSO), take advantage of early/priority registration . Registering early increases the chance of getting the classes you want - and need. You will have more options in selecting the days and times you want, the instructors that you want, and the class types and sizes that work best for you.
  • Course Substitutions
    • You may be entitled to substitute a course or two for a course required by your core or major. In college, the most common substitutions are for required math and foreign language courses. You need formal approval to substitute courses, so talk to your DSO to see if you qualify.
  • Reduced Course Load
    • A Reduced Course Load is an accommodation that allows a student to enroll in fewer courses than the full-time requirements for a given semester but still be considered a full-time student. The purpose is to prevent students with ADHD and other learning differences from becoming overwhelmed while they take and pass required courses. Be aware that taking fewer classes each semester means that you will need to take additional courses during the summer or in a fifth year to meet graduation requirements.

3. Talk to your Advisers

man and woman in a meeting In college, YOU are responsible for making sure you are taking all the required courses (core, major, and minor) to graduate. It makes sense to meet with your adviser(s) to get answers to any questions you have about requirements or specific courses, and to double-check that you are on the path to graduate. You may have more than one adviser (major, minor, academic, athletic, honors, etc.) and you may be required to meet with a particular one before you can register. You can also meet with DSO staff to confirm any registration accommodations that are in place.

4. Look at the Big Picture

class schedule sample Consider your schedule as a whole. You are looking for a balanced schedule that won’t become overwhelming. If you have trouble with particular subjects, like math and science, don’t take them in the same semester if you can help it. If you have trouble paying attention in large lecture classes, avoid them if you can. If you can’t, balance them out with smaller classes with more discussions or hands-on work. Spread your courses out over the week. Sure, Fridays off sounds great but not if you have to take three back-to-back difficult courses in one day.

Review the syllabus for each course you are considering, especially the reading, writing, presentation, and exam requirements. Evaluate whether you can get all the work done given the rest of your planned courses. Review how a course will be graded – quizzes, tests, projects, presentations, group work – and choose courses that will let your strengths shine.

5. Research ADHD-friendly professors

professor and student The staff in your DSO can help you choose professors that work well with students with ADHD and other learning differences. You can also ask your peers about their experiences taking courses with certain professors. Most schools do some type of student evaluation of courses at the end of every semester. Those results are probably available in the library or online. Check out the professors or courses you are considering.

6. Get Real about Class Times

sleepy student with books If you are not a morning person, try and avoid early classes. Think about your medication schedule – when is your brain working best? When do your meds wear off? Try and schedule classes for when you can be awake, alert, and focused. Try and avoid courses that meet once a week for several hours in a row unless you know that can work for you. Spread out multiple classes on the same day. Leave space before, after, or in between so you can take a break, get something to eat, or attend faculty office hours. Free time before and/or after a course in which you will use extended exam time can make it easier to schedule your accommodation.

7. Be Wary of Online Courses

Zoom class By now you have probably had lots of experience with online classes! How did they work for you? Some students with ADHD like the flexibility, others hate trying to maintain focus while listening to a lecture on screen. If you are considering online classes, explore whether they will be taught synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous courses mean you have to show up at a certain time for class and watch class “live” on screen with everyone else. Asynchronous courses usually have no (or a limited) schedule and you can watch pre-recorded videos and complete course work at your own pace. Either way you need to be accountable for getting the work done when due.

8. Review and Revise your Schedule

small boy showing thumbs up Finally, Use the drop/add period to fine tune your schedule. Drop a class that's not right for you but only after adding one to take its place! Make sure you don’t fall below the required number of credits per semester. Sometimes you can switch to a different section of a course that works better for you (e.g. different meeting time, different professor, different building or campus) if someone else drops.

And One More Thing . . .

Creating the perfect schedule can be stressful, so try one or more of the strategies above that resonates with you. BONUS TIP: Always register for the full amount of course you are required to take each semester, even if some of them aren’t ideal. If you don’t get what you want or need on the first try, that’s OK. If you don’t sign up for a full schedule, thinking you will do it later, you may get shut out of courses that you need. Put yourself on waitlists if your school allows it. Build a full, workable schedule, and deal with it afterwards with drop/add and/or speaking to professors about letting you in to their closed courses.

Sources:
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (2020, May 21). Students with ADHD Adapt to Online College Courses. Retrieved from Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD): https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/students-with-adhd-adapt-to-online-college-courses/
High School and College: What Are the Differences? (n.d.). Retrieved from University of Washington: https://www.uwb.edu/studentaffairs/drs/parents-and-family/difference-between-k-12-and-postsecondary-educatio
Kimsey, W. (2018, May 9). Why Should I Register Early for Classes? Retrieved from St. Petersburg College: https://blog.spcollege.edu/careers-internships/early-registration/
Laurie Maitland, T. E. (2021, December 13). The College Survival Guide for Students with ADHD. Retrieved from ADDitude Magazine: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-college-survival-guide/
Mansfield Hall. (2022). 4 Common College Accommodations for Students With ADHD and Other Learning Differences. Retrieved from Mansfield Hall: https://mansfieldhall.org/2021/02/19/4-common-college-accommodations-for-students-with-adhd-and-other-learning-differences/
Pabla, J. (n.d.). A College Student’s Survival Guide to ADHD. Retrieved from The Pitt Pulse: http://www.thepittpulse.org/a-college-students-survival-guide-to-adhd-1
Rooney, M. (n.d.). Tips for Going to College With ADHD. Retrieved from Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/article/10-tips-going-college-adhd/
Sandler, M. (2022, April 13). ADHD and College: Survival Guide for Teens on Their Own. Retrieved from ADDitude Magazine: https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/adhd-and-college-survival-guide/
Stiles, K. (n.d.). 11 Tips for Succeeding in College When You Have ADHD. Retrieved from PsychCentral: https://psychcentral.com/adhd/11-tips-for-succeeding-in-college-when-you-have-adhd?c=642333789874#stay-focused
The Chesapeake Center. (n.d.). Success in College with ADHD. Retrieved from The Chesapeake Center: https://chesapeakeadd.com/home/education-and-training/articles/success-in-college-with-adhd/

Images:
Scrabble Tiles: https://dvo.com/newsletter/weekly/2020/10-16-428/cooknart8.html
Woman OK: Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-red-long-sleeve-shirt-8638022/
Adviser: Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-couple-love-people-7979420/
Course Schedule: https://venngage.com/templates/schedules/college-weekly-class-schedule-f1da12a1-9c89-439c-a3d5-3d66a91d6834
Professor and Student: https://collegetidbits.com/4-keys-to-talking-with-your-college-professor/
Sleeping Student: Photo by Monstera from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/tired-black-student-sleeping-on-books-6281902/
Zoom Screen: https://www.bentley.edu/news/new-face-learning
Thumbs Up Boy: https://mltawa.asn.au/2014/06/review-revise-revitalise/

Specific questions and topic suggestions can be emailed to questions@ADHDinCollege.com.


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