University life coaching allows students time to discuss challenges they experience on a weekly or biweekly basis. This type of communication makes it possible to highlight available university resources and provide direction for additional assistance before small issues grow into larger, more difficult problems to manage.
At New Student Orientation, I encouraged students to seek tutors for any courses they thought they might struggle with. One freshman met with me in December and shared that she was easily getting As in her most challenging courses instead of struggling to get Bs or Cs because she took my advice and secured tutors at the start of the semester. Most universities provide tutoring as a part of tuition, and many students are unaware of this. Important takeaways from this interaction:
The student was listening and open to seeking assistance. Although she was a stellar high school student, she recognized the new academic challenges posed by university courses and realized it would be wise to position herself for the best possible outcomes.
The student was proactive – securing tutors before an issue arose. Tutors in the most challenging courses are in great demand (especially after the first midterm) therefore students should secure tutors early to ensure availability later in the semester.
The student took advantage of university services available to help her succeed academically.
New Student Orientation provides students with a wealth of information, but it is a lot to take in at one time, especially considering the many demands on new students during orientation—making new friends, posting to social media, and figuring out where to go next! Universities are right to provide robust orientations, but I have learned that some information needs to be revisited throughout the academic year.
University life coaching allows for such review in the context of students’ developing lives, challenges, and interests.
