Across college campuses, a curious trend is taking root faster than dandelions in an untended lawn. Students are racing to declare themselves “disabled,” not due to the usual, visible handicaps one might imagine, but because of invisible challenges like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. This rise in self-declared disabilities has led to a bonanza of extended test times and quiet exam rooms. It’s like a special VIP club, except the entry fee is a doctor’s note rather than a velvet rope.
At prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Brown, a substantial percentage of undergraduates are now officially classified as disabled. It’s almost as if checking that box isn’t about genuine need but a tactic to gain an edge over peers with regular, old-fashioned exam conditions. These days, a higher test score is just a well-phrased sob story away. It seems these students have learned the one lesson that counts: how to game the system.
In the past decade, schools are seeing a meteoric rise in students qualifying for these accommodations. It’s not an epidemic; it’s an avalanche. Yet, when half the students requesting these exceptions have no official diagnosis, one might question the authenticity beneath the surface. But ironically, while students master the art of acquiring accommodations, they’re floundering in actual academic basics. Let’s face it, they’re about as prepared to handle multistep equations as a dog is to drive a car.
Professors note that incoming freshmen struggle with basic math, the kind that doesn’t even require a calculator to solve. With problem-solving skills as elusive as a snowstorm in Miami, students face a daunting academic world. These are the same folks who might excel at tweeting their grievances or composing earnest TikToks, but when it comes to actual critical thinking, well, that’s a bridge too far. It’s almost as if the schools are setting them up to fail, while handing them a trophy for participation.
Ultimately, there’s a larger issue at play. By providing these accommodations without stringent verification, schools maintain the facade that they still churn out elite graduates. Yet, a closer look might reveal these graduates step out into the world armed not with sharpened minds, but with inflated confidence and a degree that tells them they’re ready for anything. In reality, they might be best prepared for a spate of retail jobs as they try to measure up against the cold, hard truths of the post-college world.
