@darkphotonstudio some environments are more forgiving than others. Sometimes a person can also make great connections in one place, but fail miserably in another. That was me.

@t3rmit3 there definitely is favoritism towards extroverts, but being autistic still takes off lots of points no matter how sociable they are. Neurotypical introverts don't typically experience the same level of rejection that autistics do. ADHDers are more accepted than autistics; it is so common that it is not always seen as a real disability.

I'm not even that introverted. I just won't mask. For many young people unfortunately, that is a reason they won't even give me a chance.

@Lemvi Only some autistic people have a gift in STEM. ALL autistic people struggle connecting with neurotypical peers. My point is that large universities are set up to almost REQUIRE students to have these skills, while those who do not are left to sink. Some autistics can still perform well despite this, but not all of them have that superpower. I barely passed my classes and never felt more discouraged in my life. I deserved a better experience.