ADD Disqualification?

taymcg12

taymcg12

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Apr 21, 2015
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I was diagnosed with mild attention deficit disorder as a child and given a prescription for Adderall. After a few years my doctor told me that I no longer showed signs of needing adderall, but that if I felt that I needed it, I still qualified for a prescription. My parents and I decided that it would be best to just keep taking the meds just in case. Now I am a high school junior who is just starting the app process to USNA and West Point and have just stopped taking the meds this week because I found out that they can be a disqualifier. If I stop taking them now, in the Spring of my junior year, is that long enough to not be a disqualifier on the DODMERB? And does it matter if I take the Adderall on certain occasions such as SATs ?Also, if I have contacts with a prescription of -5.25 in one eye and -5.75 in the other eye, will this be a problem as well? Thanks in advance!
 
Yes, that's a pretty big problem. You need to be off meds for 12 months, and show sufficient academic success while off meds in order for the condition to be waived. I'm afraid you've got an uphill battle on your hands.

Although it's probably a moot point, as far as vision is concerned, as long as you're less than -8.00 diopters with no astigmatism, and correctable to:

1) 20/40 one eye and 20/70 other eye Or
2) 20/30 one eye and 20/100 other eye Or
3) 20/20 one eye and 20/400 other eye...

...then you should be ok. As always, I'd advise going through the process to see what happens. You don't know 100% for sure until you try.
 
Thanks for the imformative answer. So what can be done to correct this and/or fight this. Navy is my dream school so I will do everything I can and will not stop until I have exhausted everything.
 
The rules are pretty cut and dry on ADD, 1 year off meds. Since you won't meet this until this time next year it might be a struggle. You will be issued a DQ. With the timing of this and being issued a DQ, then a remedial until you get to the year and everything that goes along with that next year could be a long shot simply because of timing. Recommend you apply and see what happens. Get a strong Plan B in place and be ready to succeed there. Definitely could be a stronger candidate the following year showing you are off the drugs succeeding at a university with Plebe like schedule. Worse case scenario you go to a university for a year and reapply.
 
Alright, sounds good, thanks guys. If anyone else has any suggestions please don't hesitate to post them!
 
Also, as far as a plan B, if I do not get accepted I was thinking about spending a year at the Graystone Prep Academy since they have about 90% of students recieving an appointment at one of the academies.
 
If you're not given a waiver (there's no guarantee you'll receive one, even if the time off meds condition is met) after a year at Greystone, then what will you do? Are those credits transferable to a 4-year university, or would you be starting from scratch? If it were me, and I understand it isn't, I'd be more inclined to attend the strongest undergraduate institution possible that will prepare me for an appointment/ROTC if the waiver is received, or for a non-military career/grad school if it isn't. Best of luck to you!
 
It would concern me that you stopped taking a medication without first talking to your doctor. Secondly, you cannot use the Adderall for "special occasions" like the SAT because it shows that you still need it.

Stealth_81
 
Like I have already said, I dont need the medication, but I still have a prescription, so we figured I might as well take them. You do not need to have ADD for Adderall to work. It will help anyone, with or without conditions, concentrate better
 
And I would be attending Graystone for a year to show that I can still have academic success without adderall, which will in turn cause add to no longer be a disqualification. And thanks for the good luck!
 
Not sure you are seeing the taymcg12. Regardless of needing it or not, you are taking it. That is all DoDMERB cares about. From your posts it appears you have been on this stuff a long time and your body may take some time adjusting to concentrating without medication. Maybe it won't. Only you will know. If you see a difference in grades, it could impact. If you have in fact been on this for a long time, you probably need to talk your doctor as precaution to be aware for side effects. Regardless of all that, DoDMERB has its rules and you may be out of luck this year. When looking at Prep schools such as Greystone, you need to ask how many free agents receive appointments? Those who are sponsored AOG, Foundation, Falcon students have golden tickets the next year. The rates for free agents are nothing near 90%. There are tons of threads on here of attending Prep vs a University for a year. There are pros and cons to each. The biggest con is if you don't get in, you possibly have a lost year of school. Going to university and having a plebe like schedule that you succeed in is just a beneficial to readmissions if not more and puts in on a path of success to graduate and seek commissioning options. Take a look at the reapplying sticky for guidance on academics for readmission.
 
My doctor has already informed me that I can stop taking it whenever I like. I also don't take it on weekends and anytime I do not have school. I also frequently do no take it for school. And I will definetly look into that. Thanks!
 
Jcc123 said:
If you're not given a waiver (there's no guarantee you'll receive one, even if the time off meds condition is met) after a year at Greystone, then what will you do? Are those credits transferable to a 4-year university, or would you be starting from scratch? If it were me, and I understand it isn't, I'd be more inclined to attend the strongest undergraduate institution possible that will prepare me for an appointment/ROTC if the waiver is received, or for a non-military career/grad school if it isn't. Best of luck to you!
Click to expand...
Greystone Prep is part of a 4-year university.
 
Yes, Graystone is part of Schreider University, but it is not like that. It is sort of in the same way you are part of whatever community college you get dual enrollment credit from in high school. The prep school is only one year, and they require you to apply to all 5 service academies. It is basically built for students to transfer to a service academy
 
taymcg12 said:
You do not need to have ADD for Adderall to work. It will help anyone, with or without conditions, concentrate better
Click to expand...

Oh......so you just use it like any other recreational drug. Got it.

Stealth_81
 
taymcg12 said:
Yes, Graystone is part of Schreider University, but it is not like that. It is sort of in the same way you are part of whatever community college you get dual enrollment credit from in high school. The prep school is only one year, and they require you to apply to all 5 service academies. It is basically built for students to transfer to a service academy
Click to expand...
Not trying to split hairs here, but....I was responding to the concerns of "Are those credits transferable to a 4-year university, or would you be starting from scratch?"
Greystone is a program of approx 40 students at Schreiner Univ, a traditional 4-yr college campus. Greystone students are assigned to the same dorm building for easy oversight. All Greystone participants are enrolled as full time students in Schreiner Univ, providing you the opportunity to continue the additional 3 yrs to complete a degree there. The 36 credits you are expected to complete would be available for transfer to another university. Not affiliated with the program, just passing on what I'm reading on Schreiner and Greystone websites and information from speaking to Schreiner admissions.
Between the info and updates on their website and facebook, you figure out how many received appointments.
 
You'll be DQ'd and will need a waiver.
I can't speak for USNA, but West Point will look to see if you are academically successful off meds. Your grades will need to continue to be good off meds. You will need to score well on the ACT/SAT, off meds. You can not be in an IEP or have had any special accommodations at school and on the SAT/ACT.
The point is to prove that you can succeed without the medication.
 
I believe the "rule" for ADD or ADHD for USNA is being off meds for at least a year and doing well academically. You also must be able to function without special considerations, such as extra time, sitting in the front, etc. I would check with USNA Admissions.

You will almost certainly need to retake the SAT/ACT when off meds. Not sure how long you need to be off them for the new scores to "count." You probably should also check with the USNA Admissions about this. Finally, you should ask when the 12 months starts -- is it when you say you stopped taking meds or the date when your prescription runs out (and isn't renewed)? That could make a difference.

Prep schools are best for those who need add'l academic prep, better study skills, more intense teaching, etc. If you are doing well academically, you're probably better off at a four-year college/university.
 
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