Services: Academic Coaching

Manage your time better

I am well versed in the difficulties that students have in this area, and I have a lot of experience helping students learn ways to prioritize commitments and plan their time efficiently. You will learn practical techniques such as making a semester calendar of due dates, planning weekly schedules for classes, assignments, recreation, etc., and using prioritized to-do lists effectively.

Overcome procrastination

One of the chief reasons students underperform in college is procrastination. This is particularly a problem for students who recently have moved out on their own and no longer can depend on parents to enforce study time. I help students learn proven techniques to avoid putting off reading, study time, and assignments.

Comprehend and retain more from textbook reading

Many students have trouble understanding and remembering what they read in their textbooks; as a result, they are unprepared for class lectures and are at a severe disadvantage when it comes time to study for tests. I teach students active reading techniques that increase understanding and make test preparation more effective and less time-consuming.

Improve attention in class

Professors expect student to mentally engage and process what they say in their lectures; yet, many students find it difficult to follow what is being said. I teach students active listening techniques which prepare them to listen and engage.

Take better notes

Many students falsely believe that writing down everything said in a lecture is good note taking.  Actually, such a strategy is counterproductive; writing down everything makes listening and processing what is said difficult; also such notes are often hard to use in studying for tests because they fail to distinguish between important points and unimportant details. I teach students how to use active listening, attention to lecture cues, and other techniques to help them create organized notes.

Study more effectively for tests

Students often are not as successful as they could be on tests because 1) they try to study everything rather than focusing on the important concepts and 2) they try to memorize rather than synthesize material. I teach students how to prioritize their study material according to the what the professor emphasizes and to process concepts rather than merely memorize them.

Write better papers

There is a huge difference between high school and college expectations for student writing. College professors expect students to clearly present their points, support them with strong evidence, and present their arguments in an organized manner. I have twenty years of experience helping students learn the process for writing quality college-level papers.

Understand project assignments

One of the chief reasons that students do poorly on projects is that they do not follow the assignment. Students often have difficulty understanding project assignments and the criteria the professor will use to grade them. As a former professor, I have years of experience writing such assignments; I know how to help students learn to figure out what to focus on when they read them.

Give better oral presentations

One of the assignments students most dread is the oral presentation. Students usually get little instruction about how to give quality presentations and have had little practice speaking in front of others. I have years of experience helping students prepare, plan, and deliver such presentations.

Work effectively with professors

This is an overlooked skill that is critical not only to success in courses but also to getting quality letters of recommendation for internships, employment, graduate applications, etc. down the line. My experience as a professor of communication helps here.