Film/Art & Design School...

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Hi everyone. I'm new here and um...I've just been diagnosed with AS. I thought all of my difficulties stemmed directly back to child abuse, but apparently I'm wrong there. This threw me for a loop, as I'm now 24 and also just realized (in the last two days) that at least one of my parents suffered from AS or Autism as well.

I've gotta say I'm panicking a little bit. I tried to look at some books on aspergers at B&N to see if they could help me in the 'life skills department' but no luck....something about 'behavioral problems in aspergers syndrome'...

Anyway, all of the books focused on PROBLEMS with disorders, not with SOLUTIONS or COPING with it...ugh anyhow.


SCHOOL! I need help! I tend to get on well with people and can sell myself well. I'm frightened to death as to whether I can go to film school or not. I'm applying to Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. I got in when I was 18...this shocked the interview lady. She said that it's extremely difficult to get into their directing program, and they don't accept people that young as a general rule. Most freshmen are at least 23. SO.....

I've gotten in before. She said I shouldn't have much of a problem, as my portfolio is good. The portfolio is the only reason I got in in the first place. My grades are about a 2.5 - 2.7....I've attended college irregularly. I'm 24 now and I have to explain myself. Directing is a collaborative experience, but I've studied up and I think it's possible for me. Movies are 'my thing'. I'm odd but so was howard hughes....

So..this school is MY TICKET. I think, ok I'll get to the point. Do I send them my AS diagnosis information? or something like that? I am going to need some sort of accomodations. Like bringing an audio recorder with me everywhere because I have difficulty with um processing lectures. How do people handle this? Film school can be supercompetitive. So..do I apply and not mention any difficulties and then ask for help after being accepted?

Anybody have any advice or experience or support or...I dunno, I need help, I'm a little panicked. I'm in college now and I make this one instructor somewhat nervous I think. But if I tell him I have a disorder, I HATE HATE HATE the 'special treatment'. I consider AS to be somewhat of a gift, plus most people have no idea what it is so aw sh** ok....





Apologies guys. I build myself up to freak myself out. But I've got a gift, I gotta use it. It's just so hard.

--Red

p.s. ok any tips whatsoever about college in general would help a whole lot.

<sigh>