I have a learning disability, Will It Be hard to Study Anthropology?

Question

I am Thinking on majoring it in college but i'm afraid that it might be difficult for me. What do you suggest I do? I Know that having a learning disability doesn't mean that I can't learn but learning slower then other people.

Answer 1

I have often times felt not quite as fast as my classmates either in fine movement or cleverness. Hence I have strived all my life to take to heart one lesson from an Aesop's fable, the Hare and the Tortoise. I work a little harder, and I make sacrifices because I know for a fact that I am not multi-talented. By making better judgements, by following common sense and by applying myself to work, I have often excelled in many competing situations. Slow and steady, when applied, can have quite amazing results. If I took a copious record of all that I've done, however, there should be nothing amazing because it was the natural result of intelligent work. The accumulative amount of work and smart, efficient planning combined would have clearly favoured me by absolute figures. Hence I would advise you to plan ahead with a clear definition of what are the essentials and what are the non-essentials so that you can better manage your time, effort, and any limiting resources to improve your net performance in academics. One technique I enjoyed was previewing the textbook during summer, winter, and spring breaks. Once my friends invited me to go on a ski trip for spring break, but I declined. Going skiing was a small pleasure I could sacrifice for something more valuable. I hit the books and continued my daily workouts sticking around campus. I did fairly well according to plan, and that was infinitely more pleasing than to waste my chance to stay afloat or move ahead in school.

Answer 2

I have a learning challenge, and after trying three majors, I settled on a combination Anthropology/Sociology major.  I did extremely well, and was offered a graduate  scholarship.  As I  look back,  It really had little to do one way or the other with my way of thinking differently, It was because I had great teachers and loved the material.  I could not get enough.  

I've always wanted to understand what makes different groups of people tick.  I  will never completely figure it out, but I think I understand it better than most people around me.

Answer 3

What are your strong areas? Do they match well with the descriptions of what an anthropologist does?

Where you're not as strong what do you do to get the information you need?

How are your grades now?

Are you 504 or IEP? Most colleges will have programs to support 504 students (IEP students are also 504)

All colleges have a disabilities coordinator (by various names) that deals with just this issue. When considering schools you must contact that person and learn what support is provided.

Answer 4

I have one as well and was able to get my degree in anthropology / archaeology.  Don't let it hold ya back.  For me it was a bit difficult to sit in class for long periods of time and to stay focused on the questions being asked on test but it was important to me that I graduate with this degree so I put the work and effort into it that was needed.  No worries though, talk to someone at your university in student reources and they will be able to help you out a lot, for me they were able to help me find books on tape / cd and helped me find private study tutors to help me learn how to take tests.

Answer 5

I have my degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology and I was both a tutor and a TA - Teaching Assistant - while I was in college - and beyond - and worked with many students who had either learning disabilities, physical disabilites or both and the University and colleges that I attended and worked at had a Student Services Center where these students would go, be evaluated and then given the help they needed such as people to help them take notes in class, help them sit/take tests and study.  They would also get them private tutors for each of their subjects.  These students often had to study much harder than their non-disabled counterparts but with the right assistance they did well and graduated with their desired degrees.

You are absolutly correct, just because you learn 'slower', as you put it, than other people, does not mean that you cannot learn you just have to make compensations and work all that much harder.  

Get tutors for your classes - preferably ones who are majoring in that field or have taken the classes - if they are a certified tutor like I am, that is even better.

Form or get into study groups with your fellow students from your classes - this is good even if you do not have a learning disability as everyone has a different take on the material being studied and if you are having trouble with a concept(s) they can give you different ways to look at it/them.  Some colleges and Universities have Tutoring or Learning Support Centers where there are free tutors for you and they often have organized study groups for certain subjects like math - or they can help you form your own.  Your Instructor or TA may also help you form a Study Group or run one.

Get to know both your instructors and if your classes have them, the TAs, both are valuable resources for helping you learn the material - and that is what they are there for, to help you learn.

Years ago when my dad went back to school, he is blind, he had all of his books on tape - I think they do it on CD now, they let him tape his lectures.  Check with each Instructor and see if they will let you tape their lectures, most will but some will not - this is a good way to review your notes to make sure that you did not miss anything and to also reinforce the material.

I hope all this helps you and if you have any other questions or want to talk, please feel free to email me through Y!A.

Wedge