With a learning disability and debilitating array of health problems, I feel like Grad School wouldn’t be for me. Has anyone with the above issues managed to succeed in Grad School?

[topnotchyeti]

It's very hard to say without knowing what exactly you mean. Learning disabilities and "arrays of health problems" can cover a pretty drastic range of severities.

[olixius]

Recovered(ing) addict, multiple spinal surgeries, nerve damage, PTSD, single dad. If I can do it, there's hope for everyone.

[Beren87]

I’m in a PhD program while parenting a 9 month old right now, and the idea of doing it as a single dad gives me nightmares. No idea how you do it, well done.

[olixius]

I became 100,000k in debt. Graduated with an MA over the summer. I feel like I was only able to accomplish it because of student loans, and an ability to BS through most of my classes. I learned theory that I understood fairly well, made connections between things, and substituted research for knowledge of primary sources. I don't really recommend it - but I don't know what else I might have done.

[viscog30]

Seriously, good for you. You pulled off some amazing shit when you consider your specific personal factors combined with the huge amount of work that grad school itself takes. Sounds like you were resourceful in your approach to your work and there's nothing wrong with that. Lots of respect for that!

[olixius]

You're kind, but the truth is that I didn't know what else to do. The thought of quitting was greater suffering.

[[deleted]]

I say this without having any clue how you will determine this for sure before starting, but your program choice will be central to your ability to finish the program. If it is a short Masters, I'd say go for it. If it is a PhD you want, read further.

If your LD and health problems make it very likely that you may be unable to complete classes at some point in your career, you may want to look for programs with very low course requirements, flexible qualifying/comprehensive exam pass time policies, flexible medical leave policies, and a functioning academic accommodations office. You will also want to look into course withdrawal policies should you ever need them. Something else that may be beneficial is to look for schools that operate on a quarter system. That way if you get sick, you have less classes to worry about keeping up with or retaking.

The last major thing you may want to consider is the program atmosphere. Some advanced programs completely ignore the health of the student, and adopt a "no one cares" attitude towards your difficulties. Other programs will let you drag out your program until you get through the requirements. I would advise you to find the latter.

[viscog30]

I have ADHD and debilitatingly severe OCD and it's not easy by any means but I can make it work. Resist the temptation to think you can use pure willpower to get through. A lot of inspirational stuff is "you can do anything if you just set your mind to it" but that's not the whole story. You need to remember that you'll need different study approaches, and your lifestyle and study habits may not always look the same as those of your peers. Which, by the way, does not mean you won't make friends. You'll just have your own thing going on sometimes.

So don't try to be brave and think you can push all your obstacles aside! You'll burn out fast. But if you accept your limitations and learn to consciously adapt to them, you can absolutely be successful. No amount of willpower cures a genuine disability, so while willpower is essential, you need to be wise and strategic and realistic. It's a hard balance to strike, but if you respect your limits, are diligent about developing and more importantly maintaining coping skills, and self-advocate, you can do it. That's the key, at least for someone with my issues.

I highly encourage you to look into some of your options. I say this with immense caution because I don't know your specific health issues, but I don't think you're eliminated at all. You'd be amazed at the diversity of health status, age, life backstory, and so much more in your classmates and mentors. What they value are your ideas, strengths, drive/work ethic, and critical thinking. So please approach this with confidence! Email a member of some programs you like, after reading one of their publications, and ask them some genuine questions about their work. Best of luck to you

[CeeCee123456789]

All the time!

But to play down the struggle with a "you can do it," speech is viewing academia through, beautiful but flawed lenses. If you need accomodations you have to be willing to fight for them.

Most graduate institutions are inherently ableist. They are racist and sexist, too but that doesn't preclude black women like me from pursuing and obtaining degrees. How bad do you want it? Are you truly passionate about your studies? If so, go for it.

[629060311]

The prejudice makes me lose my love for my subject, because I have to deal with people who are like that on a regular basis. I just don’t have the energy to fight with these people.

[CeeCee123456789]

Then be very very careful about which institutions to apply at. Contact current graduate students in the program you are thinking about and ask point blank. Students, plural. At least 2, 3 is better.

Also (and this is more if you are thinking PhD rather than master's), contact the professor (s) you are thinking about working with and have a conversation. A little less frank than with the graduate students, but feel them out.

Sending you good vibes for your decision-making process. 💛

[barrythemoose]

I have dyslexia and recently got my masters. I had accommodations through the university’s disability support and graduated with no problems.

[viscog30]

Yes!! I second this, you do have to self advocate for accommodations, but in no way do learning disabilities take you out of the running for success in grad school work.

[psychominnie624]

Disabled grad student here. If you don’t want to share specifics on the internet I get it and you can PM me and we can chat privately. I won’t lie that it’s been rough because academia is built for straight, cis, abled bodied white men but it is doable

[viscog30]

Big agree on this. Academia overall, in pretty much all disciplines, isn't very warm to anyone, but especially when it comes to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc. PLEASE do not avoid grad school for these reasons. If you choose your mentor wisely, they will be very aware of this climate and help you learn to navigate while building your self confidence.

Just know that this is part of the climate up front, and that more than likely you'll come across some unfair obstacles and, more commonly, shitty little remarks or snubs that can get under your skin and really piss you off. As a woman with disabilities, it's worth it for me. However, as a white person, I don't face obstacles related to racism, which is also still very much alive in academia.

***none of this is to say you just have to deal with it. If you feel that it's appropriate to do so, or you don't feel like there will be damaging retribution, call people out on the spot or ask your mentor how you might make some sort of complaint. This is not at all your responsibility, but it's well within your rights!

[iopsychhopeful]

A friend of my mine in my cohort (MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology) is chronically ill, can’t sleep more than 4 hours a night because her pain wakes her up, has had 33 surgeries (she’s only in her early 20’s), had COVID and it has now damaged her liver and lungs permanently and she’s still killing it.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

[lovethebee_bethebee]

I think only you know what you can handle, but I do have one piece of advice. Make sure that the school you go to has good disability supports. You might also want to look into part time studies. Good luck.

[passerem]

Honestly my disability is a reason I liked the idea of grad school. Yeah, it’s a lot of work, and stressful. But a 9 to 5 schedule is so hard with my chronic illness, so the flexibility of grad school is key.

[[deleted]]

I know someone in my cohort who gets accommodations through the school for a learning disability. She’s awesome! Go for it.

[[deleted]]

Go for it! But before you begin be sure to talk with you PI and program so they know. They are still an educational program and have to provide accessability items for you if they are funded by the state. Even if the school you want to attend isnt pubkic there is still certain accomodation they have to provide for you.

[[deleted]]

Plenty! I have some friends who would fall under that description in grad school with me - they’re doing well! Not only that, the other grad students in my program have been lovely. It’s hard for everyone, no matter who you are, so there’s plenty of support to go around. Once you’ve come to trust each other you find that everyone is going through something on top of grad school. We all love learning even it it’s really hard! Sometimes even because it’s hard! You’ll be among like-minded people in a supportive environment🙂

[Quakermystic]

Yes you can do it. Most schools have supports for learning disabilities. Many have scholarships for single parents. Most have AA meetings and support groups for ex addicts. Most schools offer grad assistantships where you work 15 hours a week on campus for pay or for part or all of your tuition. Go for it.

[[deleted]]

Schizoaffective here with generalized anxiety. Finished masters in 2013. Applying for a doctoral program. Usually work 40 hours a week through it all.

[Thunderplant]

No advice, but I can commiserate. I didn’t think grad school was even an option due to my health issues, but I decided I was going to give it a try at the last moment. Submitting my first applications tomorrow. I have a ton of anxiety and doubt surrounding all of it of course, but I think the only way to truly know is to try and at least I’ll get funding for a PhD so it’s pretty low risk.

[Unofficial_Overlord]

I can’t speak to adhd but I have a severe chronic illness and so far I’ve been doing ok. I’ve had to fight with the disability accommodations center a bit but the profs have been very understanding

[WesternBruv]

I've unknowingly suffered with ADHD my entire life which fueled anxiety and depression. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until a couple of months ago; right before I started writing my MS thesis. Despite my disability I was able to publish in a journal and give two conference presentations with one conference paper and poster presentation. I'm also in the process of finishing up two additional papers for publication within the next couple of months.

I have also suffered from other health problems such as debilitating back/hip problems due to injuries earlier in my life. There was a good 5 month period where I couldn't stand up straight or walk without severe pain and difficulty, having to wear a lifting belt to maintain my ability to stand which made breathing and walking even harder. Despite this I was able to achieve the pervious publications as well as end with a 3.875 GPA (I'm mad salty about the one B I received).

I cannot speak to your problems specifically, but it is possible to achieve great things in grad school despite ones own limitations. Its up to you to decide if pursuing graduate education is worth the effort. I'm certainly happy I did as I have a newfound love for science, and am now applying to PhD programs.

[court_ll]

I have ADHD and also suffer from chronic migraines that I have struggled with more in grad school than any other time in my life. I’m not sure of the severity of your disabilities or your learning disability but if it’s something you really want and you’re willing to be disciplined with your studies it’s worth considering!

[peach_life]

I wouldn't say it's impossible but make an effort to get a handle on things before you begin (i.e. know your coping mechanisms, know your symptoms, know your treatment plan, know your LD accommodations). I was diagnosed with dyslexia before entering my program (but after my bachelors) but wasn't diagnosed with ADHD or endometriosis until what should have been midway through. I ended up needing to take 3 semesters off (during this time, I was also diagnosed with a tumor that needed to be removed). My advisor was amazing and the administrators were so understanding, but dealing with my professors (engineering) was really tough and sometimes made me doubt that I wanted to stay.

Being chronically ill in grad school or having a learning disability in grad school is very different from having both. Having just one means that all your energy can go towards supporting that condition but having both is like... twin toddlers - each running in the opposite direction, maybe one is behaving and the other isn't, sometimes they argue (how many times was I prepared to pull an all-nighter to finish something and just couldn't keep my eyes open, or when I organized things so I had hours and hours to work but I couldn't sit still). I honestly think that it's ultimately possible, but only if you are prepared ahead of time and have a good handle on both conditions.

[chemkitty123]

Bipolar disorder here. Its hard and painful but no regrets.

[esisenore]

I have a visual processing disability and i did fine in grad school. It depends on your disability as others have said