The Autism College Connection

Want to know a secret? Getting into college isn’t hard. In fact, with declining numbers of college applications, it is getting easier to get into most colleges. (The elite colleges are actually getting tougher to get into, but that’s another story.)

Acceptance is easy. The real problem is staying in college. College is a long journey that requires a full backpack of skills; not all students have acquired all the necessary resources by the age of 18. 

Most students need six years to graduate from college. Nearly 40 percent of students drop out before completing their degree. 

The numbers are even scarier when we focus on students with disabilities. Only half of students with disabilities graduate from a four-year college in six years. 

Before parents can become comfortable with exploring all the options after college, they need to know if their children are ready for college yet. Students need both academic and soft skills to thrive in college. Both are difficult to access without the right tools.

School report cards are not great indicators of college readiness. Too many students in special education classes are given easy A’s and are on the honor roll. This situation misleads both students and parents into believing that students are ready for college-level work. 

So, how do parents know whether their children are academically ready for college? 

Parents can form a clearer picture of their children’s abilities through objective assessments, including the state standardized tests or outside evaluations. 

They can talk with a transition and college specialist, who will ask questions like: Can little Jessica complete her algebra class without modifications? Can Ben write a five-paragraph essay about a novel? Can Julie do a research paper on Rome and use at least four sources? Can they sit quietly, listen, and take notes during a three-hour lecture?

Remember, there are no IEPs in college. College professors will not alter the content of their classes for any student. Even community colleges have entrance exams. 

In addition to academic proficiency, students need executive function skills to complete their work independently. They need the social-emotional skills to sustain work momentum and get along with a roommate. They’ll need to effectively communicate with professors regularly. 

If parents are unsure about their students’ soft skills, they should talk with a transition and college specialist for help. 

More students are opting to take a year or two after high school to bolster their weaknesses and mature before attending college. More programs are opening up to give students some structure during their Gap Year. I’m a big fan of Outward Bound. 

Unsure of your child’s readiness? Make an appointment with us. We can connect you with a Learning Specialist and other evaluators. Together, we can review the results and consider options, including Gap Year adventures.

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