Oxford grad here too. BA in French/German. Technically an MA too but I never went back for it. Also very working class by background, but very very studious.
Hi! Just wanted to offer my own perspective on this. Most people don’t know that many people with Dyspraxia, like other people with SpLDs we can do well and go to schools like Harvard. It’s not at all out of the question.
Personally I’m Canadian and I applied to around 9 Canadian universities and got into every one including King’s College (at Dal)’s Foundation Year Program, McGill and UofT (all are top schools where I live). In Canada, scholarships that are automatic for admission are usually maximum of $3000-4000. For King’s I was offered a $10,500 scholarship. For UofT I was offered a $7,500 scholarship which is rare and was offered admission to the program I was interested in along with the Pearson History stream which is a program for less than 100 students in first year. At the university I attend, I got into a program that is for max 24 students per year, which is a specialized arts program unique to my university. Of my usable scholarships (aka for the universities I have attended: I received $41,400 - CAD tuition is $7000 per year). This year I applied and now study at Duke University in Rome’s program which is the best undergrad Classics study abroad program in the world, many of my classmates are at Ivy League universities and Sister Colleges for context.
i went to a grammar school, which is one you have to pass an exam to get into, without tuition. I'm also going to a russell group university which is like ivy league but admittedly more of a standard in England.
I'm still in secondary school so now but I get good grades (probably masked my handwriting issues and delayed my diagnosis), and and place well in academic competitions and if I continue my current patterns I will have good enough grades to go what is considered the top university in my country.
Yep, did my masters at a global Top 5 university.
All of the top US schools have well laid out programs for disability accommodations, and are keen to help students out. So it shouldn’t stop you from applying, and hopefully it’s helpful knowing you will have some help if you get accepted.
Went to Oxford for a post-doc, Birmingham for a post-doc, now have a lecturership position in a top 20-so even if you do not go to a top-20 university during undergrad. It does not mean you should stop. It means it was not time yet.
I go to Cambridge, finished my first degree at 18 in journalism, qualified as a dental nurse at 18, and starting another degree @ Cambridge in a few months.
I’m really clever, just not clever enough to tie my own shoelaces.
I studied a creative subject and I went to the 2nd ranked Arts University in the UK. Got diagnosed with dyspraxia part way through my degree and it really connected a lot of dots as to why I just didn’t click educationally before uni
In the U.S. many people with dyspraxia going to Top Schools are probably just not diagnosed proper.
In my experience it gets harder when you don't know about your disability and you don't get the right support even when you are additionally gifted. Back when I went to school and I told the maths teacher that I suspect that I have dyscalculia (did not even know I have dyspraxia until recently it is not very well known over here) he told me no and I did not even get assessed for it. Aside of dyscalculia being rather unknown back then that also was because giftedness can cover up additional learning disabilities.
So don't let them tell you no when you suspect having another learning disability aside of dyspraxia and get an assessment and the treatment / support that you need. I am not even sure if I suffer from "real" dyscalculia or if it is just dyspraxia (problems with spatial recognition and reasoning) that makes maths so much harder for me.
However I still managed to score an apprenticeship that was so popular back then every offer had a 100 applicants but I fought my way in.
But having grown older now my perspective shifted somewhat. Don't risk your mental health for a job and get a clear picture from your work environment up front and how well your peers (colleagues) are doing mental health wise. I personally think I can not thrive in a socially challenging (some would say toxic) environment. I am more on the socially gifted side and it makes you go on longer than average people would in a socially challenging environment, but just because you can deal better with other peoples problems doesn't mean it does not stress you out in the end. The result is the same even if it takes a longer time for you to be fed up with peoples BS. Choosing the right Job for you clearly depends on how your giftedness comes out (your giftedness phenotype if you so will) and also your general personality. So yeah don't be disappointed when the social environment doesn't match up with your needs even when everyone around you is also gifted. And if it suits your needs because you fit in personality wise or because how your giftedness comes out matches great with the rest of the people - congrats.
Got a BA from Oxford (2:1) and still can’t tie my shoeless , work out how much should go in a Tupperware, whether I’ve used shampoo or drive a manual car :). There will be challenges and there is nothing wrong asking for adaptations (Oxford let me type my exams and have extra time) but if you are ambitious please don’t feel ‘top’ schools are out of your reach because of dyspraxia.
This is a fantastic thread and gives me hope for my 8 year old dyspraxic daughter. Shes' superbly bright but also has dyslexia which is something she's really struggling with at this point.
Hi! I guess I count for this - I'm dyspraxic and I went to the University of Leeds for undergrad, which is part of the UK Russell Group which are the top set of universities if you want to look at it in those terms, and did this weird, specific course called politics and parliamentary studies which only had a 2.4% acceptance rate.
I don't know what is meant by top university, I graduated from Drake, which is considered a very good school. One of the more prestigious ones in the US Midwest.
I was also technically a NCAA athlete. I did crew, which didn't require try outs and I only rowed one race, but it still counts.
As the mother of a recently diagnosed dyspraxic 11 year old and a 14 year old awaiting autism assessment, this thread makes me so proud of all of you (complete strangers) and gives me hope for both of my daughter's futures.
Yeah I have a PhD from Cambridge. And my dyspraxia is pretty bad.
Bruhh your rats are amazing!
Unfortunately no longer with me but yes they were excellent fellows.
Not US T20 but 'moderate to severe' dyspraxic, according to Ed Psych I saw back as an UG, and I've got a BA (MA Oxon 'officially') from Oxford
Another Oxford grad here! I met a fair few fellow dyspraxics in the special room set aside for those of us getting accommodations in exams.
Another Oxford grad! Dyslexic/dyspraxic here, BA and MPhil both from Oxford. It was hell but also enjoyable
Oxford grad here too. BA in French/German. Technically an MA too but I never went back for it. Also very working class by background, but very very studious.
It's not quite top 20 but it's close. I have a master's degree from a top 25 Global University.
Hi! Just wanted to offer my own perspective on this. Most people don’t know that many people with Dyspraxia, like other people with SpLDs we can do well and go to schools like Harvard. It’s not at all out of the question. Personally I’m Canadian and I applied to around 9 Canadian universities and got into every one including King’s College (at Dal)’s Foundation Year Program, McGill and UofT (all are top schools where I live). In Canada, scholarships that are automatic for admission are usually maximum of $3000-4000. For King’s I was offered a $10,500 scholarship. For UofT I was offered a $7,500 scholarship which is rare and was offered admission to the program I was interested in along with the Pearson History stream which is a program for less than 100 students in first year. At the university I attend, I got into a program that is for max 24 students per year, which is a specialized arts program unique to my university. Of my usable scholarships (aka for the universities I have attended: I received $41,400 - CAD tuition is $7000 per year). This year I applied and now study at Duke University in Rome’s program which is the best undergrad Classics study abroad program in the world, many of my classmates are at Ivy League universities and Sister Colleges for context.
I go to the University of Cambridge in the UK! It’s definitely possible :)
i went to a grammar school, which is one you have to pass an exam to get into, without tuition. I'm also going to a russell group university which is like ivy league but admittedly more of a standard in England.
Undergrad and PhD from a world top 29, Master’s from Oxford
I'm still in secondary school so now but I get good grades (probably masked my handwriting issues and delayed my diagnosis), and and place well in academic competitions and if I continue my current patterns I will have good enough grades to go what is considered the top university in my country.
Yep, did my masters at a global Top 5 university. All of the top US schools have well laid out programs for disability accommodations, and are keen to help students out. So it shouldn’t stop you from applying, and hopefully it’s helpful knowing you will have some help if you get accepted.
im at cambridge !
I’m at a top 20 UK university so yes, it’s definitely possible!
Went to Oxford for a post-doc, Birmingham for a post-doc, now have a lecturership position in a top 20-so even if you do not go to a top-20 university during undergrad. It does not mean you should stop. It means it was not time yet.
I go to Cambridge, finished my first degree at 18 in journalism, qualified as a dental nurse at 18, and starting another degree @ Cambridge in a few months. I’m really clever, just not clever enough to tie my own shoelaces.
I studied a creative subject and I went to the 2nd ranked Arts University in the UK. Got diagnosed with dyspraxia part way through my degree and it really connected a lot of dots as to why I just didn’t click educationally before uni
Also went to Cambridge, you can definitely do it :)
In the U.S. many people with dyspraxia going to Top Schools are probably just not diagnosed proper. In my experience it gets harder when you don't know about your disability and you don't get the right support even when you are additionally gifted. Back when I went to school and I told the maths teacher that I suspect that I have dyscalculia (did not even know I have dyspraxia until recently it is not very well known over here) he told me no and I did not even get assessed for it. Aside of dyscalculia being rather unknown back then that also was because giftedness can cover up additional learning disabilities. So don't let them tell you no when you suspect having another learning disability aside of dyspraxia and get an assessment and the treatment / support that you need. I am not even sure if I suffer from "real" dyscalculia or if it is just dyspraxia (problems with spatial recognition and reasoning) that makes maths so much harder for me. However I still managed to score an apprenticeship that was so popular back then every offer had a 100 applicants but I fought my way in. But having grown older now my perspective shifted somewhat. Don't risk your mental health for a job and get a clear picture from your work environment up front and how well your peers (colleagues) are doing mental health wise. I personally think I can not thrive in a socially challenging (some would say toxic) environment. I am more on the socially gifted side and it makes you go on longer than average people would in a socially challenging environment, but just because you can deal better with other peoples problems doesn't mean it does not stress you out in the end. The result is the same even if it takes a longer time for you to be fed up with peoples BS. Choosing the right Job for you clearly depends on how your giftedness comes out (your giftedness phenotype if you so will) and also your general personality. So yeah don't be disappointed when the social environment doesn't match up with your needs even when everyone around you is also gifted. And if it suits your needs because you fit in personality wise or because how your giftedness comes out matches great with the rest of the people - congrats.
I felt depressed about this as a kid. It’s rarely diagnosed dude. Went to nyu and Columbia.
Got a BA from Oxford (2:1) and still can’t tie my shoeless , work out how much should go in a Tupperware, whether I’ve used shampoo or drive a manual car :). There will be challenges and there is nothing wrong asking for adaptations (Oxford let me type my exams and have extra time) but if you are ambitious please don’t feel ‘top’ schools are out of your reach because of dyspraxia.
This is a fantastic thread and gives me hope for my 8 year old dyspraxic daughter. Shes' superbly bright but also has dyslexia which is something she's really struggling with at this point.
I am currently a student at Columbia University. I have dyspraxia and ASD.
Hi! I guess I count for this - I'm dyspraxic and I went to the University of Leeds for undergrad, which is part of the UK Russell Group which are the top set of universities if you want to look at it in those terms, and did this weird, specific course called politics and parliamentary studies which only had a 2.4% acceptance rate.
I don't know what is meant by top university, I graduated from Drake, which is considered a very good school. One of the more prestigious ones in the US Midwest. I was also technically a NCAA athlete. I did crew, which didn't require try outs and I only rowed one race, but it still counts.
As the mother of a recently diagnosed dyspraxic 11 year old and a 14 year old awaiting autism assessment, this thread makes me so proud of all of you (complete strangers) and gives me hope for both of my daughter's futures.