College Success

ADHD Coaching for College Students

Why ADHD Coaching?

It can be easy to assume that good grades in high school should automatically translate into college success. While high school is full of routine, predictability, and accountability, the college experience presents a more dynamic environment that demands a lot more than just being smart.

Success requires the ability to manage time, plan, organize, and prioritize while maintaining, a healthy life balance academically, socially, and personally. Unfortunately, these skills, don’t exactly come naturally to students with attention and learning differences. The good news is these skills can be learned and developed with the proper support, clarity, and accountability.

ADHD Coaching supports students by helping them learn and develop the academic and life skills they need for college success.

Unlike high school, the college environment has less structure and more “free time” during the day. What students do with that free time often determines their success. Managing personal, academic, and social obligations can create challenges for all students, particularly those with ADHD. That’s because college success demands skills that often don’t come natural for ADHD students.

This skills include:

Time management
Sustaining attention
Planning and Prioritizing
Organization
Working Memory
Managing Stress and Emotions
Getting started on tasks

What is an ADHD College Coach

Someone who is knowledgable about the neurology of the ADHD brain
Helps students gain clarity and simplify what can often feel like an overwhelming task to the student
Provides a non-judgmental supportive environment that fosters trust, raises awareness, and supports the individual’s motivation, attention, and emotional needs
Empowers students by educating them on the positive and negative impact ADHD can have on their success
Collaborates with students to design “ADHD friendly” strategies that align with their goals and value

Measuring Success

When it comes to measuring success the difference between successful and unsuccessful students can be found within a specific set of character traits. Students who achieve success, despite their learning and attention differences, all seem to share the following characteristics:

They understand and own both their ADHD challenges and strengths
They effectively advocate for themselves
They consistently utilize the best resources and tools for overcoming their specific ADHD challenges
They stay frequently connected, practice, and explore areas that complement their strengths and passions

ADHD Coaching helps college students understand, learn, and develop these characteristics through education, awareness, and goal setting. Each semester the coach and student carefully evaluate progress and create a specific action plan for reaching goals.

Goals may include:

Raise self-awareness
Develop a realistic plan for success
Learn how to set and achieve goals
Develop skills that build confidence and self-esteem
Learn self-advocacy skills
Create a healthy balanced lifestyle
Develop strategies for increased focus and concentration
Effectively manage procrastination
Engineer the best working environment
Improve time management and organizational skills
Learn strategies for engineering a supportive learning environment

The Coaching Process

Complimentary Consult

Students interested in coaching can schedule a free consultation to learn about the coaching process and how it may benefit their needs. Please email boevingb@rhodes.edu to schedule an appointment.

Coaching Sessions

Sessions are scheduled on a weekly reoccurring basis for the entire semester. Meeting times typically fall Monday through Friday in the hour between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Once the session date and time have been determined, students will receive email and text reminders every week about upcoming appointments. Due to limited make-up appointment times, students should make every effort to attend all sessions. If a student cannot attend, they should email or text to arrange a make-up session. While make-up sessions cannot be guaranteed, every effort will be made to accommodate this situation.

Students should email boevingb@rhodes.edu to arrange session appointment times. Before the first session, students should email or bring copies of their course syllabus information. During the first session, students will work on goal setting, conduct a detailed syllabus review, and create a semester calendar that includes all important dates, deadlines, and important events.

Areas of Focus

Time Management and Organizational Skill Development

Identify upcoming important deadlines such as tests, homework, projects, and other obligations
Estimate how long each task will take, what steps are involved, and what tools and resources will be needed for support
Identify potential challenges and obstacles that can get in the way and how to overcome them
Create times for studying and completing weekly assignments

Study Skill Development

Best study environments
The Writing Process
Reading
Class material organization
Strategies for improving memory and focus
Specific learning styles for processing and retaining information
Note-taking
Exam Prep

ADHD Adulting 101 – Areas that influence focus and attention

Sleep hygiene
Exercise
Nutrition
Stress management
Healthy boundaries
Money management
Medication management

Registration and Payment

The fee for coaching covers the initial intake, semester planning, goal setting, weekly coaching sessions, text, and email reminders, communication with support staff, and parent check-ins. Coaching sessions are available beginning the week of August 15, 2023, for Fall Semester and the week of January 10, 2024, for Spring Semester.

Please review the following coaching options:

Option 1:

Semester Payment – Parents can make a one-time payment per semester at a discounted rate. Total payment is based on the frequency of weekly sessions. Students typically meet 1 to 2 times per week and may have the option of making up missed sessions.

Session Frequency

(1) session per week

(2) sessions per week

Semester Payment

$ 1040

$2080

2023 Fall Semester

Due September 1

2024 Spring Semester

Due Jan 15

Option 2:

Monthly Payment – Parents can make (3) monthly payments per semester. The total monthly payment is based on the frequency of weekly sessions. Students typically meet 1 to 2 times per week and may have the option of making up missed sessions if available.