What is academic coaching?
Academic coaching is an emerging field in a post-COVID world. The higher education landscape has changed, and so have the students. It's clear that students have not only been affected at a socio-emotional level, but they have also suffered learning loss in the classroom. The effects of these are low concentration, low motivation, and difficulty staying on track. Students feel overwhelmed, anxious, and confused by the rigor of college classes.
College professors, staff, and dean’s are all doing the best they can to meet the needs of students. Unfortunately, there are high numbers of struggling students and not enough hours of the day to support each and every one of them. College students need individualized support now more than ever.
As an academic coach, I help college students achieve college success. You might be wondering, what does that even mean? College success means different things for different students. It can mean increasing grades to boost GPA for grad school, adding self care, reducing stress, or having a school-life balance. For me, personally, college success is developing self reflection, self growth, and self confidence.
In my practice, I provide personalized support that helps students develop effective learning strategies, improve organization, and enhance academic performance. As a coach, I help them set goals, overcome challenges, and prioritize assignments. Students begin to develop the skills and mindset needed to become independent learners and achieve long-term academic success.
Here are six ways academic coaching can support students in college:
Goal setting: An academic coach can help students identify short-term and long-term goals. Together, we break down goals into smaller achievable steps.
Time management and organization: College students are juggling a lot of responsibilities and deadlines. A coach can help with creating a schedule, prioritizing tasks, and organizing materials. This leads to productivity and reduced stress.
Study skills: Coaches help students reflect on their learning style and suggest new study techniques. This improves comprehension and retention of information.
Motivation and accountability: An academic coach provides support and encouragement to help students stay motivated and on track. They hold students accountable for completing tasks and developing healthy habits.
Problem-solving: College can be challenging. Working with an academic coach helps students develop a solution-focused mindset to overcome obstacles, setbacks, and manage stress. Students learn that they are capable and develop resilience.
Personal development: College is a time of self-discovery. Academic coaching can support students' personal growth. Coaches help students develop self-confidence, communication skills, and a growth mindset. These are all valuable attributes for success both academically and in life after college.
If you are a college student that struggles with two or more of these, an academic coach might be a good fit. If you are a parent and your college student needs extra support, an academic coach can help with accountability.
Interested in learning more about how to work together? Set up a free 30-minute Academic Success Call, where I help you (college students) identify what is currently keeping you stuck and give you a personalized strategy for the semester. Are you a parent? Jump on an Academic Success Call to learn more about how I can help your child.