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Starting University

HCW1965

Hello, my 17 year old son has recently been diagnosed. He has offers for places at universities and although academically he is very capable, the rest of Uni life will be a great challenge.

At the moment he is saying there is no point attending open days for new students as he thinks he won't be able to go to uni at all. The university he is most likely to attend isn't too far from home and is fully catered so is a good choice. But he finds the whole prospect overwhelming and is just not thinking about it.

We have contacted the uni about his ASD and they will offer support when he goes.

How can we convince him that he is capable. Even though he is expected to get A*s in his A levels, he thinks he is a failure and his life is going no-where. He has suffered with depression and we don't want the stress to affect his mental health.

Has any one any experience of this situation,  we just want him to be able to fulfill his potential, how can we help him.

Thanks in advance.

Parents

  • Open days are a great idea.  They give the potential student a chance to see the campus and atmosphere of the university.  And universities vary a lot.  If he's going to spend 3 years in the place then a one day,  open day visit is vital.

    Some universities have a proper campus,  which gives them  a community or village spirit.  Others, look and feel just like isolated office blocks in a city.

    Some are city centre based, others are built outside cities, close to the country. 

    The main point that I'm trying to make is that every university is unique,  he needs to find one that he will feel comfortable attending. 

Reply

  • Open days are a great idea.  They give the potential student a chance to see the campus and atmosphere of the university.  And universities vary a lot.  If he's going to spend 3 years in the place then a one day,  open day visit is vital.

    Some universities have a proper campus,  which gives them  a community or village spirit.  Others, look and feel just like isolated office blocks in a city.

    Some are city centre based, others are built outside cities, close to the country. 

    The main point that I'm trying to make is that every university is unique,  he needs to find one that he will feel comfortable attending. 

Children
  • in reply to Robert124

    Hi, we have been to a few open days with him and also last year when our older son was looking for a place. The uni he is most likely to go to is a collegiate based one so they are well looked after.

    I think it's just the whole idea that's overwhelming for him rather than the actual university. Any change for him is a massive challenge (even small things like new clothes) so university seems a daunting prospect. 

    It's small steps we need to take to get him used to the idea, but he finds it hard to even think about it.