You have set a tall order for yourself to balance. If you're concerned about your parents' reaction, you really need to talk to someone with the financial aid office, and whatever office handles academic probation. Make sure they know you're now being treated, but it's likely you weren't treated soon enough to be of much help to your finals grades.

Many colleges have some form of tutoring available, or some form of study skills. If you've sort of floated through high school until this point, you may really learn some skills that will help you. They'll also help you prioritize what you'll be able to balance, and what will have to go until you can get it all under control.

After you've talked to the folks on campus, you should be able to take a deep breath and talk to your parents and show them the steps you've taken to do better next year.

Good luck, and let us know how you do.

Thank you so much for the help. A little update...I have not gone forward with cheering next year, it's about that time to be done anyways. I will take you up on your advice about speaking with financial aid and getting a few questions answered before the final blow of the parents.

More updates soon.

Hi. I just came across your posting, and realize you might get even more response if you copy/paste it into a couple of groups where more parents of older students will see it. Please join the College and Beyond Group at community.greatschools.net/groups/11551, and also the College/Young Adults Group at www.millermom.proboards107.com, which is a forum specifically geared towards issues of college students with ADHD and/or LDs. (My son is a freshman who had a less-than-stellar first semester, too. I understand!)
From a very practical standpoint, now that you've got a formal diagnosis, have you talked to your college's Disabilities Services Department? They may be able to "go to bat" on your behalf, perhaps even arranging for you to retake classes (where a new grade can replace an old) or maybe doing a late withdrawl (so a failing grade doesn't appear on your transcript or affects your GPA.)

It is a good thing that you are being treated for your illness.

I believe everyone is smart, but good grades are mostly for people who put in more hours studying than watching TV, socializing, or doing any other thing outside their classroom, or profession, or trade.

It will be alright! Start putting in at least two hours studying everyday and get help form your classmates and professors.

Best wishes.

Your school record this year may need to be made clear to your parents if your financial aid or return to school requires a higher GPA than yours currently is. Knowing that is important but better to take that question to your financial aid counselors at your school.
Even if your financial aid would not be in jeopardy, are you sure you're at the right school for you? Certainly to remain, you'd want to reevaluate your approach to school. Another approach entirely might be to withdraw, go home and study for a year at your local community college where you can develop your study skills. The cost of community college would be much less and you could live at home and get your academic feet on the ground. At the end of the year, it's very likely you could be readmitted to your larger university and return with good study skills in hand.
Your parents have already dealt with your brothers' experiences - their old hands at understanding how hard college is. You may think it's unthinkable to them that you too could have trouble at college but your parents deserve more credit than that. It would be remarkable if they haven't a clue that this year has been hard for you and you're not the first good high school student to have had trouble in their freshman year of college.
And that your year hasn't been successful doesn't mean your parents aren't successful parents. The sign of successful parents is how they respond to their children's troubles - for everybody has troubles. Children who go through life without any troubles doesn't mean they have successful parents or have been successfully parented - it just mean they have better luck. It's rare good luck that lets anybody go through life with some rain falling into it.
And for you too - it's not how you respond in the good times that makes you successful - it's how you respond to trouble that makes you successful. You have some trouble here - how will you respond to it?
First - find out if your financial aid is now in jeopardy for if it is - that answers a big question for you. I'd say even if it's not - go home and enroll at your local community college before you incur more debt. You need to get your feet wet in a college that will let you develop the study skills your high school didn't give you.
Your story is NOT an uncommon one - there are many high schools including my own that let us breeze through and let us think we were good students and our records let us be admitted to good colleges. I struggled at my college so your story is familiar to me because it was my story too.
Good luck. I hope you'll let us know how it goes.

1seremen, thank you for the advice. When it comes to studying I just don't know where too start. I then become frustrated and just give up. Do you have any advice on studying, unfortunately I wouldn't say my high school did a very good job in helping me learn how to truly study for something.

UPDATE

I recently talked to my mom about my classes this semester, she was extremely understanding. She wants me to go ahead with seeking to receive help in our disabilities program at my college.

Thank you to all who have given me some rather great advice. This has helped me more than you know.

Genuine,

Check back with us from time to time and let us know how you're doing. Glad to hear that everything is working out, and that mom is understanding!

I agree with TeacherParent and I am happy your mother plays her role very well.

Most behaviors are learned. Yes, learning something takes time! Most great things do not come easily as well as "a real" good grade. How do go about studying without someone reminding you. I think you need to think of something you have done right in your life.

For me, I do not enjoy waiting on the traffic light, but I do it always. I do not like waking up at 5.45 am to exercise, but I look beyond a moment of convenience and exercise at least five days a week for my good health.

What do you think of the benefit of getting a good education. May be to get a good paying job to help yourself, parents, and your community. Remember as always learning lasts a lifetime, but college is not forever.

These work for many students: Study the materials before each class. Review the materials after classroom. Try not to miss the last class before a test. Take note of anything a professor put on the chalkboard. Ask for studying guide before any test. Read and study your textbook and other references for each class. Say NO to many things including some of your friends. Try to be a participant in the classroom. Get a study partner. Make a school or local library your second home. Visit your professor's office for help.Take only the classes you can manage effectively. Read materials outside your classwork and challenge yourself to read one book and one magazine monthly. Last, consider working in a place you have a freedom to study during lunch or smoking time, but with low pay.


Community college sounds good to me because you are likely to learn all what the high school did not offer you including study skills.

Good luck.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!

Okay, so I did not do as well as I would have liked at the end of this semester. But you all will be happy to know that even with failing two classes (terrible I know) I have still managed to raise my GPA up!! Me and my mom have a plan for next semester and I am doing a grade replacement for the failed classes. I am feeling a lot better and am anxious for next year to start and for me to feel more confident. It made me feel better to receive a B in one of my classes because now I know that I AM capable of making better grades!! Also financial aid is still good, I called today (with the added help of my mom, such a great support :) ) and I still have 2 chances before it is lost. Which I will not take advantage of those!

I thought you all would be interested in hearing how everything is going. Thank you for the support, you do not know how much help you have been!

A good news! I think with this experience, you're likely to be a better person, a good student, and a great citizen.

I am very happy for you and your mother.

I am GENUINELY thrilled to hear you've gotten better news, gradewise, than first expected, and that you have a plan which should help you continue to improve. Having your mom's support and encouragement has to be very uplifting, but don't hesitate to go to the people in the Disabilities Services Department at your school for additional accommodations and advice! You're resilient, and I believe you'll emerge a stronger person for all you've been through! Best always!

Take lots of notes in class, and then memorize them when you get home...that always helps me.

I just join, so I am not sure how long ago you posted your request. I happen to work at a 2 yr college and have seen your situation happen to many others. My first advice is that you need to get your priorities in order (family, school, and then the extras). The second is to go to your college and talk with the person who is the disability coordinator (every college has one-usually located in the student success centers). See what kind of accommodations they might be able to offer since you now have a diagnosis. The next thing is to talk with your adviser about "Freshman forgiveness." Most college have something to help beginning freshman who have trouble adjusting to the requirements of college studies and life. Hope this is helpful.

tbrannum, welcome! If you look at the top of the post, next to the person's picture/screen name, is the date that the post was made. In this case, genuine wrote her question on May 6, 2009.
It's also helpful to read the comments that have previously been made....On May 11, genuine said that she WAS going to seek help from the Disabilities program at her school...
Hopefully, next semester will have a more positive outcome!

In response to your question regarding how to study, note cards always helped me. I have ADD as well which was not diagnosed until well after I finished college, so I understand how difficult it can be to focus. Read through your course material, textbook chapters, and notes, and pick out details that seem important and put them on notecards. It made a huge difference for me. I would use them to quiz myself right before the test which left everything fresh in my mind.

UPDATE-------

Everything is FINALLY looking up. I have registered with our Disabilities program and am receiving a multitude of accommodations. My medicine has helped TREMENDOUSLY in class, it's amazing to see the differences in how your brain works with and without medicine. I have my priorities on a mental list that I think about at all times...lets just say that my life in general is heading in the appropriate direction.

Thank you all for the support! I thought you would all appreciate knowing how well I am doing after a very stressful first year.

Thank you again :)

Genuine, I am "genuinely" thrilled to hear that this year is already looking up for you! I hope you'll also update everyone in the College/Young Adults Group at www.millermom.proboards107.com ~ there are several newer members who could benefit from the encouraging words and experiences you've shared!