So you have a college student who is struggling, but does not want to get help. They feel like this is the time when they are supposed to just magically know how to do everything on their own. If they are having trouble adjusting, they figure just give it time, they will try “harder”, and things will just fall into place. Of course, we know that is not what happens. Change, especially positive change, does not occur if nothing is done. Here are 3 Ways to Get Your College Student to Accept Academic Intervention in Austin, TX.
COLLEGE
ACADEMIC COACHING
Our college academic coaching program focuses on supporting students through organization, time management, goal setting and accountability.
COLLEGE
TUTORING
Has your student found themselves on academic probation or falling behind in their college coursework? Our expert educators can help!
HIGH SCHOOL
ACADEMIC COACHING
Our high school academic coaches teach students how to organize, prioritize and utilize effective study, note and test taking strategies.
HIGH SCHOOL
TUTORING
If your high school student is stressed with their demanding course load or needs help getting back on top of a challenging subject, give us a call.
At Academic Coaching Specialists, we help students overcome these obstacles and we can show your student how to turn the corner to a brighter semester. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Here are 3 Ways to Get Your College Student to Accept Academic Intervention in Austin, TX.
1. Normalize the concept of coaching for people that want to get better at things.
So many people get coaching for a multitude of reasons. Athletes, Musicians, Business owners, etc. If you want to get better at something, you practice and you seek an instructor of sorts, who is an expert in that area and can help you improve. This is a very commonly accepted idea and practice. Why then, do teens have so much trouble accepting the idea when it comes to their academic performance? Because, developmentally they are in a stage where they are trying to assert independence. Asking for assistance for something they have been preparing for literally their entire lives, feels uncomfortable at best. They can feel like they are letting people down and have an incredibly strong convictions to do things on their own. Assure them that they are not alone and that getting a tutor or coach is a completely normal thing. In fact, it is so normal that schools and companies like ours, have programs that work with students every semester. By appealing to their sense of logic, often we can get them to change their outlook and open up to the idea of receiving help.
2. Point out that repeating a pattern that has not worked will not produce different results.
Stubborn? Resistant to change? We know the type! For these guys, ask them if they are lost in a forest and continue to walk in circles will they find their way out? Repeating patterns that produce poor results will only produce more poor results! It is very formulary in that if you put in A + B you get C. If you keep putting in A and B you don’t get D, you still get C. This logic cannot be argued. If they are receptive, have them reflect on what they have been doing and whether or not it has worked. It may truly have worked in high school but is not working in college. That is where we come in. We can use that realization as the opening needed to show them the differences between college and high school and how they now have to pivot and do things a little different if they want to see a good result.
3. Ask for a detailed plan on what they will do different to produce a different result (working harder is not acceptable unless they can back that up with what that means).
Still not budging? Agree to let them continue trying to work things out on their own, but insist on a plan choc full of details on how they will change patterns and behaviors to see better results. Most of the time students feel they just didn’t put forth enough effort (which sometimes is true) and so they say they will “work harder”. So what does that mean to them? Studying in the same way but for a longer time? Reading more of the text? Re-reading the text and notes? Often, these small changes will not be enough to get good grades because they are not changing the way they input the information. In college, tests go beyond simple memorization of facts. They demand you show understanding and can apply knowledge to different situations. This is why they have to study at a different level now and why they often become frustrated when they try it their way and it does not give them their expected result. We can change that!
NJ D.
” The program has geared me up for success not only in the classroom but also in life. Having a dedicated plan day in and day out has helped me achieve so much. With the help and guidance from ACS, I was able to graduate college (which I never thought could happen) and have helped me land my dream job right out of college! Thank you ACS!! “
Joe D.
” I was able to improve my test scores, improve my overall grades and even make dean’s list. I also gained a new mentor, coach, and friend. I am using the skills I learned through ACS daily in my career such as planning, focusing, and prioritizing my tasks each day. “
Carolina B.
” I struggle with time management and I have learned that I need accountability to finish and reach my goals. Having someone who cares about my success, offering tools and strategies to get there, has been crucial for my professional and personal development. I am so grateful for this support from ACS in this journey. “