Fucked up CS degree due to mental health problems & ADHD: what now? [UK]
Asked about this a while ago on the r/cscareerquestions but didn't get much help so here goes again.
I graduated last year with a 3rd in Computer Science due to what I'm reasonably certain was a double-whammy of undiagnosed ADHD and OCD.
The good news is I'm currently seeking a diagnosis for the ADHD with the intent of getting prescribed meds for it and I've got my own coping mechanisms for the OCD now. The bad news is I'm probably going to be on an NHS waiting list for some time and I think I'm up shit creek without a paddle as far as the job market's concerned.
I've got a temporary admin job in the mean time (though again, ADHD is causing some problems) and I'm at a huge loss as to what my next move should be. Despite my grade result I don't think I'm like, inherently bad at programming (Got a 1st average in the first year and I can make simple stuff on my own just fine, and when reading through somebody else's code I can parse and understand the code absolutely fine), I think it's specifically ADHD fucking me up.
I don't want to totally give up on a programming career, since I think with proper medication I'd be pretty damned good at it, but I acknowledge that a 3rd class degree with no work experience isn't going to get me anywhere and is probably more of a liability than an asset, and it's going to be at least a year before I get seen by anybody about the ADHD or start medication so I ask; is there anything practical I can do that would make me genuinely attractive to employers (certificates, projects etc.) or should I be considering throwing in the towel at this point?
Posted Mar 12, 2018, 9:23 PM UTC · edited