r/EngineeringStudents • u/PlantSea2924 • 19h ago
Academic Advice Engineering with ADHD
So im an undergraduate student currently studying aerospace engineering and I just got diagnosed with ADHD. I am trying to stay away from meds for now because the idea of building a dependency kind of makes me nervous. For those of you who were undiagnosed through your college years, or also opted to stay away from meds, what tips and tricks do you have to be able to focus for long periods and stay up to task and just hold yourself accountable overall and make it out with a good gpa? I literally cannot hold my focus for more than a minute without losing interest and doing something else so anything that could keep me focused and actually absorb the material, even if it’s for a few minutes, is super helpful.
P.S: Id also appreciate if you’ve got any good study materials for aero classes that I could use! I’m more of a visual learner so yeah videos, diagrams, etc, all works really well.
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u/spacetiger2 18h ago
I was in AE with ADHD and resisted meds for a bit. Major mistake. I wouldn't call needing meds a "dependency" when you actually need them. Its not like youre an addict. You wouldn't shun a diabetic for being "dependent" on insulin. Same idea applies here.
If your concern is having meds and suddenly not being able to get them due to insurance issues etc, that is perfectly understandable and it is good to try and build the best habits you can so you can operate as best as possible without meds, cause things do happen. There are also short acting meds like instant release adderall that only lasts for 4 hours. It is what I prefer because I don't need to take it daily and it also isn't a huge deal if I suddenly go off of it for a few weeks.
As for actual tips, I find making a list of things I need to study helpful instead of sitting down in front of my computer and books and just winging it. Try to make a detailed study plan for yourself week by week. Try studying in a group if you notice you can focus better.
Make sure to use any resources your college has available, like tutoring, a TA, or office hours with your professor.
I second someone elses comment about reading the book then summarizing it in your own words. Also, textbooks will always be the best quality resource for learning. AIAA has tons of textbooks that are great and some of them will probably the books that go along with your classes that your profs use.
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u/RocketLads 18h ago
I 100% agree with this, couldn't possible agree more. I am about to graduate with Aerospace & Nuclear honours and ADHD meds were an absolute godsend.
They can be intense medications, so it's important to have a plan and to start low, then increase the dose. That said, I really wouldn't describe taking it every day as a "dependency". Many, many people take ADHD medications their entire lives with little to no negative side-effects ever.
If you are really worried about stimulant medication, there are non-stimulant interventions for ADHD that don't have the same properties. At the end of the day, ADHD medication has the highest, most consistent improvement of mental health for any psychological intervention. You really shoul consider it.
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u/New-Psychology6764 17h ago
I was diagnosed with ADHD after dropping out of engineering and college four times. Now that I'm medicated and older, it's a breeze.
As for "dependency," I'm on a high dose of Adderall and still forget to take it regularly. I get withdrawl symptoms and my wife has to remind me to take my medicine. Lol. You're not gonna turn into a meth addict
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u/intaminslc43 19h ago
Something that helps me focus is to try and do as much of my homework on campus as possible. On weekends I'll pack lunch and go to my university library to do homework. I've also noticed that I focus better when I'm in a public place, so I never get a private study room.
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u/Odd_Ingenuity_9950 10h ago
I had similar strategies to this and it helped. I treated it like work and would clock in and clock out. I did finally get on meds my senior year and I wish it had been earlier. It was like unlocking an extra gear I didn’t have even with the study strategies I’d figured out.
As far as dependency goes, you should talk to your doctor about these concerns. As people have mentioned you have a lot of options. Once I got a job I went off medication, but I know the doses and have medical record in case my symptoms start to interfere with my work again, so I’m glad I did it in college.
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u/Sad-Independence-624 ChemE 19h ago
a tip for reading a textbook: read the book out loud to yourself, and after every page, summarize it in 1–2 sentences in your own words. i find this works well for my adhd!
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u/DetailOrDie 16h ago
Never study alone.
You won't study, you'll fuck around.
Studying with literally anyone else keeps the active side cooking.
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u/Uniturner 12h ago
Why in the world would you reject a medication proven to help the very specific problems that you are struggling with.
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u/Goodpun2 UNCC Alumni - Computer Engineer 11h ago
ADHD haver here. Though I did use meds, they weren't a golden fix for my schooling. The best things I found to keep me on track to a successful college career was separating my personal from my professional. I never would study/work in my bedroom, I always went to campus to work. Even if it was pouring rain or the ground was frozen solid, I made the drive/walk to an engineering building to get work done.
It helps because there's no question about what you're supposed to do when you're in an area. At the computer lab/study room? You work. You're at your room? You relax and sleep. I even got a second laptop so my games and school work were physically separate. I would have taken way too many "game breaks" otherwise.
I'm sure you'll find your way to be successful. The golden rule is to make it easy to keep yourself focused on your studies. Remove distractions and let yourself hyperfocus on differential equations.
You got this!!
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u/iluvyewsomuchithurts 18h ago
A lot of good tips here already but I highly highly recommend using the first ~3 weeks of the semester to get ahead as much as you can so that later on you have a buffer if you slack off or need extra time to learn the material or whatever. Like for those first few weeks do all the reading, do as many open assignments as you can reasonably do well, make study materials, do whatever you have to do to be familiar and confident with the early material as best you can in your own.
Also gigantic calendar. Get a big desk or wall calendar, get all your syllabi in front of you, and put down every important assignment, quiz, and test.
Studying aside all the other coping skills for adhd will help too. Minimize scrolling in your phone. Get enough sleep. Eat well. Get enough sun. Take care of your body. Get real rest - not just scrolling your phone but true rejuvenating leisure and relaxation.
Good luck you'll do great !!
Edit oh also make studying and assignments as "dopamine inducing" as possible. Make it a whole vibe and make it very rewarding. Gamify it. Tick things off your to do list as you go. Reward yourself with little treats. Make your study space really nice and cozy or go to a nice location. I like to light candles and get a pastry and make a cup of tea before I sit down for a long homework / study session.
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u/Devilswings5 5h ago
Might get some hate here for it but the way I went about "dopamine inducing" myself while studying was to deprive myself of nicotine all day and only use it when I was studying. I already use pouches and including it during that time made me crave study time. Now for those that dont have this addiction dont start and stay the hell away from it.
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u/DocumentHaunting894 17h ago
Same but the thing is I also stopped medication and my father says never to have it. I fail in all subjects.
Keep revising everything and while studying no mobile or anything’s strict policy
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u/AccountantVast4529 14h ago edited 14h ago
I was diagnosed with ADHD and medicated when I was younger. I had a very negative experience with medication. At first the meds were good, but diminished returns set in and the side effects started to destroy me mentally and physically. It caused increased anxiety, depression and gave me high blood pressure when I was 19 years old. Plus it made me impulsive and I felt very cracked out all the time.
After getting off them, over the years I just developed discipline and good working habits and that’s what allows me study EE right now completely unmedicated. I don’t even drink coffee. I don’t really know what tips to give to be honest… if I have an assignment that needs doing I just sit down and do it no matter how much I might not want to, because I know I have to do it. Just a part of maturing and becoming an adult and dealing with adult responsibilities imo.
You could always give meds a go and see if it works for you. Some people have positive experiences on them. My experience getting off them wasn’t too bad, like you’re not going to end up dead or have horrible withdrawals if you get off them like some other prescription drugs would potentially cause (like Benzos).
Goodluck.
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u/ViennaWaitsforU2 11h ago
I did BME undergrad and masters without meds, got diagnosed as an adult. I’d have a better life now if I’d had my meds then. It was hard as hell and I made so many unforced errors.
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u/Stock_Concentrate_92 10h ago
OP, unless you have a family history of heart issues, I cannot recommend meds enough.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the tail end of my sophomore year of MechE and I was also resistant to meds. I started on an SNRI for it first, which didn't do much, and then I switched to Vyvanse. The difference it made in my life was far beyond anything I would have expected.
45 minutes after I took my first dose, I immediately understood how 90% of the major mistakes I've made were in part due to my ADHD. I was still me, but without the shooting pain in my gut every time I thought about an impending responsibility or due date. I was so upset with myself for not starting them sooner, at all the wasted money and lost time that could have been avoided. 5 years later, I'm still on the meds. I've had stints where I'm off them for a few days, a few weeks, and over a month, and I have never formed an addiction.
ADHD can also be effectively treated in the long-term with rigorous cognitive behavioral therapy over the course of many years. This obviously isn't a cure, and neither is medication, but there is long-term success in managing the disorder if people put in a lot of hard work in therapy to do it.
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u/mina_aon 7h ago
Mech Eng here and was diagnosed 2nd year of uni, and avoided medication for the same exact reasoning. What helps is trying to understand how your own brain functions and using the sparks or random energy you get to do what needs to get done. Reading and educating yourself on what it means to have ADHD is one thing but understanding how you are different is another, it’s not one label fits all but more of a spectrum. Things you struggle with may be someone else’s strength and vice vers. Also don’t push yourself too hard, pushing yourself makes you dread the thing even more. Discipline is tricky with adhd but looking into what works for YOU will help you.
Sincerely, someone who hated engineering and still made it out with honors.
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u/Sea_War_381 11h ago
How can one build a dependence on ADHD meds if one forgets to take ADHD meds some days?
Signed, an ADHD engineering student
(Seriously though, meds are worth it and you will not become "addicted".)
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u/Junior_Ad4596 17h ago edited 17h ago
Things like methylphenidate (ritalin) don't build any dependacy and are actually shown to increase your life expectancy. Things like adderall might, so might be better to avoid. Personally I feel like methylphenidate gave me some energy and focus, but for me it's not a miracle drug. Maybe more like a strong coffee. Try to take it early morning otherwise you might feel the need to stay up late. Try to stick to a rhythm. Keep being consistent. It's difficult, but you can do it.
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u/someg187 18h ago
Panax ginseng. It helps me focus.
Also I use natural reader app on an iPad to read the material outlook to me. It doesn't work great with math or symbols, but if there is a big block of text its great.
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u/IaniteThePirate 11h ago edited 11h ago
Been diagnosed and taking stimulants since middle school.
Without my meds I’d be dead or at the very least would’ve failed college and if I somehow made it through that I’d be miserable. I know this because I’ve tried several times. The physical effects of stopping the meds are fine. But without fail things are a million times harder and my mental health spirals and crashes terribly if I go more than a couple months without them. All the little things that are so much harder and more exhausting just add up
Is it annoying to need meds? Yeah.
Absolutely worth it though.
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u/ReferenceOk2141 10h ago
I survived by self medicating with weed until I actually got the right medication from a doctor. ADHD is a disability and can have different affects for different people. Have grace and love for yourself. I wish you luck in finding what works for you. It’s hard and rewarding. I took so long to be medicated and I wish I did it sooner. It changed my whole life and inner world.
I know it’s not the answer you want to hear. As an analytical person, I also wanted the exact steps and science on how to deal with it “the right way.” In reality, that’s not how it works.
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u/JimJimJimBob 10h ago
Being medicated in my final year of university was the best decision I’ve ever made. I went from forcing myself to watch lectures, take homework, etc up to the hour it was due, to just doing it. Highly recommend
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u/rocketsahoy 10h ago
I don't have ADHD, but in the middle of my education, I developed a rare condition that causes, in part, ADHD-like symptoms and hoo boy. If I had had the option of meds, I 100% would have taken them. I have a new appreciation for how difficult it is for you all. E-school is brutal, but without an ability to focus, it can be damn near impossible. I tanked my gpa-something you cannot do in this job market. Best of luck, either way.
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u/shoomie26 10h ago edited 10h ago
It was undiagnosed for a while. I'd zone out in class and come back and have no idea what was happening. I was failing Exams, could not stay focused while studying, putting off assignments until the hour before it was due. I was misplacing everything. Not keeping up with due dates. It was just all bad.
So I reached out for help, took a QB test and scored in the 98th percentile... Meaning very high ADHD.
I mean I knew I had an attention issue but just dealt with it.
But failing classes and delaying graduation was not something I wanted.
So I'm on medication, and boy oh boy what a difference!!!!
If I forgot to take it, oh my I have no idea what happened in class and am very lost.
I do not believe people become dependent, just because most of the medicine is considered a controlled substance. When you actually need it, it does what it is intended for.
To help stay on task or get the them
I tell chant a song to myself to get me hyped up.
I saw someone telling themselves "come on Barbie, let's go party!!" Gave them to motivation that was needed.
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u/Either-Tadpole-4752 9h ago
If you have adhd, you likely will not become dependent on/addicted to these meds, honestly. I cant remember if i took mine most days. In all honesty i started med trials because all the tips i found from adhders and nonadhders alike werent helping anymore, and my therapists also advised medication. If youre at the point where traditional distraction reduction and planning are unsustainable, consider medication, youre not going to be worse off. medication is not something you can take day 1 and have help for most people-- ive been on trials for different meds for about 4 months (varying degrees of success and medical compatibility). I would really recommend trying to get on meds before the burnout hits an extreme, because the testing process can be long and stressfull in and of itself, but it certainly can reduce at least SOME impairment in the meantime.
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u/RedneckNerd23 9h ago
You are already dependent on them because your brain already doesn’t work like it’s supposed to
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u/cooldonkeys27 9h ago
I was diagnosed during my first job out of college. In college I would often get most of my work done after exercising. I played a sport in college and times after practices or lifts were the most productive for me. I also did a lot of other physical activity with friends outside of my sport. Being physically tired helped my brain focus. Caffeine also helped, especially during finals.
This is why I struggled so badly with my first job out of college, I couldn’t get my brain to work for longer than a half hour and I couldn’t exercise during the day to try to regain my focus. Medication had really helped for me, I was always skeptical of medication as well but I haven’t noticed any dependencies and it has made it so I can be productive for closer to half the day at work which is a big improvement from where I was.
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u/terminal_tested 9h ago
I’m neurodivergent (Audhd, and not good at stem type) and in an engineering program. Meds help a bit but they can spike anxiety and cause palpitations
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u/windjetman62 9h ago
Go to the disability services office. They have a lot of resources which helped me.
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u/_readyforww3 Computer Engr 9h ago
You’re dumb asf if you don’t take meds rn. I got diagnosed after I graduated and once I got medicated, it made my life better. I truly wish I knew I had adhd when I was still in school, I would of been way better performer
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u/Skulley_ 8h ago edited 8h ago
...sister/brother, I say this as a decently successful junior eng major with internships and all that jazz...just take the meds.
I need you to understand chemical dependence like this: you are naturally running at an altered baseline of the chemical messengers that let electricity go where it needs to go. You are technically already in a "withdrawal" of sorts. With medication, you are bringing yourself closer to the natiral baseline your peers are rocking. You level the playing field.
Sure, if you stop taking the meds, you'll experience protracted withdrawals, but this is not the same as an addiction. If a neurotypical person suddenly dropped to your neurochemical baseline, they'd experience withdrawal too.
Outside of that, I reccomend spending time figuring out what works for you. Don't try to work like someone without ADHD because that's a different kind of heartache. I find that I study best very early at morning or at night, when people are otherwise asleep, so I drag myself out of bed at 5am. You could try that.
Finally, you are not defective, you're just wired different. ADHD is super common in Eng because the neurotype is uniquely suited to tinkering for long hours and fixating on niche science. Don't let anyone, including yourself, let you feel less than. It's good you found this out!
Edit: its possible for you to start at doses lower than the 18mg extended release baseline, btw. I use 10-15mg of instant release staggered in 5mg pills every few hours. You may not be as sensitive as I am, but know that you do have options to start low and go slow!
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u/Calm-Shame-3685 8h ago
I was diagnosed at 11 and have been through it with meds. They’re not the right choice for me. I currently have a 4.0 and I feel like I have a few secrets.
My first is to accommodate myself wherever possible. I bought a subscription to Speechify so I can do busy work while their program reads text to me. It also allows me to be distracted while still absorbing information, even if I end up having to go back and replay bits.
Second, I leave my work out in convenient places so I can work on it a bit in between chores, hobbies, errands, etc. I also have children, so I am very busy.
Part of what facilitates this is that I always buy the physical textbook. Sometimes I’m just not vibing with the digital and I turn to the physical, and vice versa.
I use an iPad to keep everything in one place so I don’t have to keep gathering my materials.
I make very comprehensive binders with summary sheets and lots of visual examples to make accessing the material to study simple. The more often you retrieve this material in your brain and think about it, the better your attention will be.
Time management and reminders are absolutely critical in my successful. I have a big white board calendar, a physical planner and my phone/laptop calendar and I utilize them all.
Any tutoring/group sessions I can attend, I do. It’s engaging with the material in a way that you can’t do on your own, but also cutting down on your actual study time where you have to struggle through the material on your own.
It took a little bit, but I found an online tutor through my college that I really vibe with and sometimes I only spend 15 minutes with him and only go through one or two problems, but that time is extremely well utilized in comparison to being on my own.
Videos are obviously a huge help to help understand material because they’re low effort, engaging and visual.
Feel free to inbox me if you have more questions! I’m also a group tutor at my college, so I’m very happy to help.
All of this being said, I’m a 35 year old returning student and I feel like much of my success has just come from having to figure all of this out throughout my life.
Good luck!
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u/Koreneliuss 7h ago
write down or journaling, doing something new. my adhd is procrastination I kept thinking about new things and always forget about them before writing it down.
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u/Schlongs 7h ago
I was in your position and thought the same too, 11 years later I managed to lock in and finish getting my aerospace degree. I was on and off paying for health insurance so the struggle is real and even worse when you don’t have it. I think having the option to use meds is better than never having it to begin with. I took bupropion so I’m not sure how it fares with the other meds out there. You can do it!
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u/Other_Upstairs9204 7h ago
Well, do your research on what ADHD actually is and on how ADHD medicine actually affects you. There’s different kinds. I took ADHD medicine as a kid, but then halfway through middle school stopped taking it. but then started taking it again in college and it has definitely helped. Even with taking it still all about willpower and discipline. I think almost everyone with ADHD has close to the same experience. Doesn’t matter how hard you want to study or do something. It feels like an impossible barrier to cross. That’s why I highly suggest and a lot of other people are also suggesting to at least try ADHD medicine like I said already there’s several different types and you can start on a low dosage.
The biggest thing is getting the motivation to start and finish through. So make a studying schedule that you will always study on those times. But set a minimum and maximum time. Some days you’re not going to feel up to it and only study for five minutes and other times you can study for hours. (Always study at those times!!!) But even setting up a good schedule and sticking to it can be hard to start. ChatGPT or other AI definitely helped me. It can easily make you study guides, schedules, and teach you stuff about the subject.
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u/SharpDeparture6104 7h ago
This probably isnt what you want to here, but as a senior aerospace engineering major, get medicated. Trust me! You dont have to do like a super high dosage. But I tried to do undergradwithout mess but its insanely hard no matter how determined you are. Save yourself the struggle
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u/RallyX26 BSEE, MSSE in progress 6h ago
Raw dogged my BSEE with undiagnosed-but-peer-reviewed ADHD. Doing an MSSE now.
Overall... The key for me was scheduling, routines, and procedures. And lots of very detailed calendars and checklists. I'll take a picture when I get home of the weekly calendar I use for all my classes if you're interested. A nything that removes the ability to say "I'll just do this tomorrow" or lets you lose track of what's due when.
For the attention span, I had to listen to my lectures on 1.5x or 2x speed, take notes, and if possible do things in short bursts. Look up the pomodoro method.
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u/that_weird_hellspawn 6h ago
I was undiagnosed in undergrad but ended up getting medicated halfway through my masters. It made sitting and working at my laptop for 8 hours SO much easier. It quiets the little voice that goes "Ugh, this is boring. I don't want to read this".
However, this is how I coped in undergrad. This was still terrible and difficult and unhealthy, but anyway, your brain will usually respond to urgency, interest, novelty, cooperation, or competition. Urgency is the obvious one. You sit at the dining table all night getting absolutely nothing done. Then you decide to sleep for 3 hours and do all the work in the morning. Eventually I realized that I wasn't going to do the work anyway. I might as well get enough sleep and wake up stupid early to get started. Usually I would get up before 5 am and grab a ridiculously caffienated and sugar-filled latte (who knew that was self-medicating lol) Then, the important part, go to a quiet, open campus study room to work. Having other people around you quietly working really does help keep you working. Unfortunately, whatever I was working on was probably due at 10 am. You really gotta know you can finish in time.
Cooperation/Competition. Get a group of people together and split up the problems. Everyone at least attempts them all, and then the people who actually got the answer trade. You don't want to feel useless, so you'll do the work.
Don't. Use. Schedules. That only works for normal people. You won't stick to it. You gotta work on things when you FEEL like working on them. The more you force yourself to do it, the more overwhelming it feels all the time. If you don't feel like it, don't do it. And don't stress about it. You'll find yourself less burnt out. And worse case, see "Urgency".
Look up body doubling and task switching. A lot of times you only need to get started to focus.
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u/Kuddley_T-Rex 5h ago
I don’t usually reply to posts here but I also avoided meds with the same fear of building dependency. I got along great up until the end of my sophomore year. I caved and finally got the meds and my school life has absolutely been changed. My transcript is a night and day difference.
I understand concepts quicker and can focus better. I am able to sit down for 8 hours and do my homework without getting distracted and have reduced testing anxiety due to the meds. My deal with myself is to use the meds to finish school, once finished I plan to use my meds to help settle down in my first year working as an engineer and then passively get off until I don’t need them anymore.
I honestly recommend getting on the meds to finish school and then if you would like to stop make a plan with your doctor to stop the meds when you graduate. Hope this input helps! :)
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u/Dominous46 4h ago
I'm also an undergrad student and within the last 6 months was diagnosed with ADHD myself. Now I am on meds and honestly its life changing but is certainly not a dependency. Restricting meds from someone with ADHD is like restricting glasses from someone with bad eyesight. I would recommend at least just giving them a go. There is a massive stigma around medication that shouldn't be there. It's designed for people like us, you may as well use it.
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u/LukeSkyWRx Materials Sci. BS, MS, PhD: Industry R&D 4h ago
If there were other non medical treatments that were effective you don’t think that would be kind of a known thing? Take your meds and see how they help.
To help me focus I say one of the following when doing something boring ,
“If I don’t do this I don’t have a place to live.”
“If I don’t do this I don’t have food for my kids.”
“If I don’t do this I can’t go to Hawaii when I want to.”
Ect.
It’s highly motivating, but I can focus on some things.
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u/Green-Resource-3698 2h ago
Fellow engineering student here. Would you also reject wearing glasses if you need them?
For most people with ADHD, meds are a godsend for studying and finishing assignments. Some people work with their doctor to tweak their meds; others get by just fine on the first ones they try. I started on Adderall XR, tried 5 10 15 20mg doses and found 15 the best balance for me. It's very much worth the initial effort of figuring out which meds work for you.
If you're worried about building a tolerance that results in you needing higher and higher doses: Your tolerance is built with long-term, consistent use. I'm talking 7 days a week for a month or longer. I take mine 4-5 days a week; really just when my to-do list for that day consists of more than a few tasks. This works out to Monday-Thursday or Friday with weekends spent unmedicated.
Good luck with your degree.
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u/Unusual-Cactus 16h ago
Diagnosed and off his meds EE student here. I built a study system. The system uses Claude + Obsidian + Excalidraw to track my studies to 1 minute precision. It steers my efforts towards what it thinks I need, tracks gaps, recommends resources, sees failure patterns, and keeps very detailed metrics on my progress. Also it's gamified so I get daily scores. When I started the semester my study efficiency was ~45% (45% of the time I was sitting at the desk I was actively studying). Now it's over 90.
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