Parent Info – Ben Boeving

Transitioning to College

Coaching Information for Parents

While the transition to college is exciting, it can also be stressful. Unlike high school, college lacks the routine and predictability, and there’s no one to provide gentle nudges or reminders. As a parent, you might worry if your child has the necessary skills to succeed in college. Will they wake up on time for classes, check their emails regularly, make friends, and avoid procrastination on schoolwork?

This can be especially difficult for parents of children with ADHD. Despite their amazing gifts, the skills they need to be successful in college (time management, organization, prioritizing, self-care) don’t exactly come naturally.

An ADHD College Coach is a professional who understands how the ADHD brain works. They specialize in helping college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) manage their symptoms and improve their daily functioning. Coaching is distinct from tutoring, peer coaching, or therapy. An ADHD College Coach:

Helps students gain clarity and simplify overwhelming tasks
Offers a non-judgmental, supportive environment that fosters trust, raises awareness, and supports motivation, attention, and emotional needs
Empowers students by educating them on the positive and negative impacts of ADHD on their success
Collaborates with students to design “ADHD-friendly” strategies aligned with their goals and values

Measuring Success

When 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 challenges, 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

Parents interested in coaching for their current or soon to be college student 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, 2024, for Fall Semester and the week of January 10, 2025, 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

$ 1055

$2110

2024 Fall Semester

Due September 1

2025 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.