Hofstra University

🏫 Disability Services Overview

Hofstra University offers two tiers of support for students with disabilities: the Student Access Services (SAS) office providing standard accommodations, and the Program for Academic Learning Skills (PALS) — a fee-based enhanced program specifically for students with learning disabilities and ADHD. Hofstra's Long Island location — 25 miles from Midtown Manhattan — gives PALS students access to exceptional internship and career resources while receiving intensive support in a mid-sized campus environment.

Tier 1: Student Access Services (SAS) — Free

• Standard academic accommodations: extended test time, distraction-reduced testing, note-taking support
• Alternative format materials and assistive technology
• Priority registration
• Faculty accommodation letters each semester

Tier 2: PALS Program — Fee-Based Enhanced Support

• Individual weekly sessions with a PALS learning specialist
• Strategy instruction: reading comprehension, essay writing, math strategies, test preparation
• Executive function coaching: time management, planning, organization, self-monitoring
• Tutoring by trained graduate students and PALS specialists
• Access to the PALS dedicated space: quiet study areas and support facilities
• Academic advising coordination — PALS staff work closely with academic advisors
• Technology training: assistive tools and academic productivity software
• Group workshops on study skills and academic success strategies

🧠 ADHD-Specific Support

ADHD Coaching

Yes — PALS learning specialists are trained in ADHD-specific academic strategies. The individual weekly sessions focus on the practical, week-by-week challenges ADHD creates: getting started, sustaining effort, managing multiple deadlines, communicating with professors. This is not generic tutoring — it's strategy coaching tailored to how your ADHD presents academically.

Executive Function Support

• Personalized planning systems developed through coaching sessions
• Week-ahead planning: reviewing the upcoming week's demands and building a realistic task map
• Deadline management: backward planning from due dates with checkpoint milestones
• Strategies for managing procrastination and task initiation difficulties
• Monitoring academic standing: PALS staff help students track their progress across courses

Testing Accommodations

• Extended test time and distraction-reduced rooms through SAS (all PALS students also registered with SAS)
• PALS specialists coach students on exam preparation strategies and test-taking approaches
• Practice testing and timed rehearsal available

Medication Management

• Hofstra's Student Health Services provides basic medical care with psychiatric referrals
• Long Island has strong healthcare infrastructure — abundant ADHD specialists in private practice
• Many Hofstra students maintain care with their home providers via telehealth

📋 Documentation & Neuropsychological Evaluation Requirements

Required Documentation

• Comprehensive psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist or certified school psychologist
• Evaluation must be within 3 years of enrollment for ADHD
• DSM-5 diagnosis clearly documented with criteria
• Functional impact statement: how does the disability affect reading, writing, math, attention, and academic performance?
• Recommended accommodations tied to identified deficits

Required Evaluation Components

• Cognitive assessment: WAIS-IV or equivalent adult IQ battery with full index scores
• Academic achievement: WIAT-III or WJ-IV Achievement
• Attention/executive function: Conners-3, BASC-3, Brown ADD Scales, or similar validated measures
• Processing speed and working memory: WAIS-IV PSI and WMI
• Diagnostic conclusion: DSM-5 diagnosis with clinical interpretation
• Evaluator credentials: Licensed psychologist — credentials in report

Doctor's Letter or IEP?

Neither alone is sufficient. A physician's ADHD diagnosis letter may supplement documentation but cannot replace the evaluation. The IEP is valuable background context — submit it alongside your evaluation, not instead of it.

Cost & New York Resources

• Private evaluation: $2,500–$5,000 (NYC/Long Island area pricing tends higher)
• New York school districts provide evaluations through IDEA — Nassau and Suffolk County districts on Long Island routinely do these
• NY ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) may fund evaluations for eligible students
• Hofstra's Psychology Department Clinic may offer training-supervised evaluations at reduced cost

🎓 High School → College Transition Preparation

Timeline

• Junior Year: Research Hofstra PALS. If your current evaluation is from middle school, request an updated evaluation through your district now.
• Senior Year: Apply to Hofstra. Request PALS program information and apply to PALS along with or shortly after submitting your college application.
• After Acceptance: Submit documentation to SAS and PALS. Schedule intake appointments for both. PALS enrollment has limited capacity — act promptly.
• Summer Before College: Confirm PALS placement and first coaching appointment. Arrange medication continuity. Attend orientation including PALS-specific new student programming if offered.

NYC/Long Island Advantage for Career Preparation

Hofstra's proximity to New York means internship access in media, finance, healthcare, law, and more. PALS staff can help students with ADHD manage the additional complexity of internship applications alongside coursework — and that skill-building has career-long value. Use Hofstra's career center and PALS together, not separately.

Key Transition Skills

• Building a consistent morning routine that works without parental structure
• Managing email and professor communication professionally
• Understanding the difference between high school homework and college studying (college requires more independent preparation)
• Knowing your own ADHD warning signs: what does a difficult week look like before it becomes a crisis?

🎯 Practical Fit Notes

Who Thrives at Hofstra PALS?

• Students from the NYC metro area who want to stay close to home while getting strong ADHD support
• Students interested in Hofstra's strong programs: business, communications, film and television, healthcare, education
• Students who will actively use and engage with PALS services — the value is proportional to engagement
• Students who want access to New York City's internship market while living in a more manageable suburban campus environment

Campus Environment

Hofstra's Hempstead, NY campus is suburban and contained — a classic American college campus on Long Island. LIRR access to Manhattan is direct and relatively fast (~45 min). Campus life is active with a residential student community. Greek life, athletics, and a broad range of student organizations. The size (~9,000 undergrads) is comfortable — not too big to feel lost, not too small to feel limited.

Cost Snapshot

• Tuition: approximately $48,000–$52,000/year
• Room and board: approximately $16,000/year
• PALS fee: approximately $3,500–$5,500/year
• Total COA with PALS: approximately $67,000–$73,500/year before aid
• Hofstra offers merit scholarships — many students receive significant institutional aid

❓ Questions to Ask Hofstra / PALS

1. What does the PALS intake process look like, and how is the match between a student and their specialist determined?
2. How many students does each PALS specialist carry, and is appointment availability reliable throughout the semester (including during midterms and finals)?
3. Can PALS help students manage internship applications and work responsibilities alongside academics — especially for NYC-area positions?
4. What is PALS's retention and 4-year graduation rate for program participants?
5. If a student's needs change mid-year — say, they need more intensive support during a difficult semester — how does PALS accommodate that?
6. How does PALS handle summer preparation for incoming students — is there any pre-enrollment orientation or advising?

🔗 Official Resources