What Students with LD Need to Know About Applying to a Four-Year College - Page 2

By law, reasonable accommodations must be provided to students with documented disabilities, including those with LD. But some four-year institutions go beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandate and provide special, comprehensive programs for students with LD.

Consider these questions when researching programs for students with LD:

• Would I benefit from a specialized program for students with LD?
• Are there resources available to all students (e.g., writing center, peer tutoring, academic advising, career advisement) that would be useful to me?
• How different are the services provided through this specialized program from those offered to all students?
• How do current and former students in the program feel about it? How did the program help them?
• Is there an additional fee for the program?
• Do I have the option of transferring out of this program if I feel I no longer require the types and intensity of services it offers?
• What specific documentation of my LD is required? Will documentation need to be updated each year, and if so, at what cost?
• Must I be admitted to the college through a regular admissions process before applying to the LD program? Does the LD program also consider students not accepted through regular admissions?
• How easy is it to personalize the types of help I need when I am in this program?
• What does the office of disabilities services offer? Am I comfortable with the staff there?

Aside from the special programs for individuals with disabilities, ask yourself how you feel about the college itself, the social and logistical factors:

• What are the students like? Do they seem friendly? Are they cliquish? Do they party a lot? Do they study a lot? Is the student body diverse?
• How far from home is it, and how far from home do I want to be?
• How big is the campus? Is it easy to navigate? How long will it take to get from one place to another (e.g., classrooms, dorm, library, cafeteria, gym)?
• What is the typical class size?
• Can I pursue my interest in athletics, music, volunteer service, faith-based services, and/or other activities at this college? Are there teams for which I can try out and clubs in which I can become involved?

These "questions to ask" are also available as a downloadable worksheet. (Make copies of the form and complete it for each college you are considering.)

If at all possible, visit the colleges to which you are applying! While the Internet and books on colleges that offer programs for students with LD are great research tools, remember that policies can change and the information you find may not be current or accurate. Before your visit, schedule an appointment with a representative of the LD program. This will allow you and your parents to see for yourselves how appropriate the program is for you. Try to also meet with a student currently in the LD program. This may provide you with a more realistic and relatable perspective on how effective the program is.

Don’t forget to talk to your high school guidance counselor about the type of program you’re looking for; he or she may be able to help you in your search and recommend some institutions that have reputable LD programs suitable for you. Whether or not you choose to apply to these schools, taking a look at their websites may help you determine what kinds of LD programs, if any, are in line with your individual needs and preferences.

Recommended Resources:

HEATH Resource Center: College Application Process
The College Board’s Score Choice™: SAT Score-Reporting Policy 
The College Board’s Step-by-Step Road Map to College
HEATH Resource Center: Awareness of Postsecondary Options
CollegeSearchDatabase.com