College and Arthritis.
Last updated Thursday, December 30, 2004
Selecting a collegePreparing for college If college is in your future, you'll need to think about many things in selecting which one to attend.
First, you'll need to prepare for college. Preparation for college
begins in high school. One of the steps is to prepare for admissions
tests, such as the SAT and the American College Testing Program's ACT
Assessment test.
SAT and ACT scores are important because they are used by many
college admissions officers, together with other factors, to measure
academic achievement and how well a person is likely to do in college.
The SAT is a multiple-choice test made up of verbal and mathematical
sections. The ACT measures your skills in four major areas: English,
mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
You may apply to take either test with special accommodations
(arrangements) if you have a physical disability and an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) on file at your high school.
More information is available from:
- Educational Testing Service
- ACT
- Law Services, Test Administration, 661 Penn Street, Box 2000-T,
Newtown, PA 18940-0995 for information about accommodations for taking
the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
General selection issues In deciding on a college, you'll want to weigh a number of issues.
Program
If you are interested in a particular field of study, you'll want a
college with a strong and respected program in that specific area. If
you're still undecided, you may prefer a college that is strong across
the board so you can try out a number of possible concentrations.
Before you select a school with a strong graduate program for
undergraduate study, make sure its graduate admission policies are not
biased against its own undergrads.
Distance
You'll probably think about how near to your parents you'd like to
be. If you have not had much experience in taking care of yourself or
managing your own finances or living independently, you may wish to be
near home. Or you may seize the opportunity to strike out on your own.
Atmosphere
You'll need to think about the college's unique atmosphere: whether
it is large or small, urban or rural, competitive or low-key, diverse
in its student body and extracurricular activities or homogeneous. Special issues for students with arthritis As a person with arthritis, you should take other factors into
account when making your decision. You may have a disability or have
difficulty in moving about or get tired
easily. These factors could affect your choice of college, since some
schools are more accessible to people with disabilities than others. It
is usually better to choose a school that already offers many services
than to have to ask for many specific accommodations.
Most schools have an Office of Disabled Student Services (or an
office with a similar title), and this should be one of your first
contacts at colleges you are considering. At schools that place a
strong emphasis on being accessible to students with disabilities,
these offices may be able to help you in many ways. They can help you
get:
- academic support, such as special notetaking, testing, or classroom accommodations
- physical support, such as accessible parking, transportation, housing, or personal assistance
- adapted recreation and athletics
- career or vocational support
- information about helpful community resources
Experts strongly recommend that you visit the campus of the school
you plan to attend to make sure it is as accessible as advertised.
Physical factors in selecting a college
Enrollment: A large university may have more services in place for
students with disabilities; a small one may be more flexible and
personal.
Size and geography: A very large campus, or one that is very hilly, may be hard to negotiate.
Transportation:
Are the public transportation system and the college bus service
accessible to people with disabilities? If you drive, is convenient
accessible parking available?
Medical facilities: Is the campus near a major medical center where
you can receive specialized arthritis care, if needed? It is a good
idea to send copies of your medical records to a doctor or hospital
near the college you finally select.
Climate: How will the climate of the area affect your arthritis?
Building accessibility: Do the buildings you will use most often
have ramps, elevators, and wide hallways? How much distance is there
between classrooms?
Bathrooms: Are there accessible bathrooms in your dorm and academic buildings?
Extracurricular activities: Are athletic facilities, student
programs, sororities and fraternities, and recreational opportunities
accessible and open to people with disabilities?
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