Frequently Asked Questions About College Coaching

Unlike other coaching services that stretch across age groups and education levels, we specialize exclusively in college students. That focus means we understand the unique challenges, transitions, and demands of college life better than anyone else. The pandemic and the rise of remote interactions resulted in many educational professionals scrambling to offer their services online - often with mixed results. That is not us. College Success Plan has been working with students across the country, virtually, since our founding in 2009. 

While each student works exclusively with their own coach, our team of highly trained, dedicated coaches meets often to collaborate on how to best help our students succeed, and share their wealth of experience with the more than 250 colleges and universities where our students have attended. The time-tested, research-based comprehensive curriculum and resource guides we have developed are constantly updated, giving our coaches the best possible tools to help college students thrive.

College Success Plan is designed for students and families that want to have a better semester with stronger grades, fewer dropped classes, more confidence, less worry and lower stress. A common trend finds College Success Plan students having a stronger academic record in college relative to their high school work and graduating more quickly.

We know how challenging the family dynamic can become when parents must manage and oversee their student's academic expectations, and we help break that cycle. Our experienced coaches help students tap into their fullest potential, and take parents out of the academic equation - in the best way possible!

Working with their coach, your student will meet virtually each week, with interim accountability check-ins as needed. Together, they will map out time-tested strategies to tackle whatever project, paper, blog post or problem set is on your student’s horizon. Having each task organized into manageable steps and planned breaks will empower your student to make progress on their assignments with more focus and fewer distractions.

One of the things we hear most from parents is that they love how College Success Plan takes them out of the equation … in the best way possible! Together your student and their coach will develop customized study strategies and time management plans to stay accountable and on track. While parents receive update emails from their student’s coach after each session, they are relieved of the burden of micromanaging their student. We hear time and time and again that the entire dynamic between parent and student has improved. College Success Plan allows parents to enjoy their time and conversations with their students more, and take pride in their students’ successes.

The majority of our coaches have master’s level or higher degrees in the educational field. All coaches go through College Success Plan’s intensive proprietary training program, and many are also accredited through the Rush NeuroBehavioral Executive Function Center (part of the Rush University Medical Center). In addition, all of our coaches are continually supported and mentored by our senior staff. Many of our coaches currently or in the past have worked in student success offices at colleges nationwide. Our turnover rate is very low and coaches stay with us for many years, as our coaches love working with college students and feel very supported by College Success Plan leadership. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact students in different ways. Poor habits developed during the pandemic may hinder current academic success. Many students missed out on learning basic organizational and study skills that are essential to success in college and beyond. Also often lost was the opportunity to develop critical social skills, making self-advocacy and engagement with instructors, professors and even peers overwhelming. College Success Plan coaches understand the challenges many students still face now as a result of the pandemic, and our coaches work with each student’s individual situation to develop academic and life-long strategies that decrease anxiety and promote confidence and independence. 

No! We encourage students to be involved on campus and enjoy what school has to offer. Volunteer, play intramurals, exercise, hang out with friends, join clubs, work a few hours a week and go to as many school events as you can! We help make a realistic plan so students feel good going out with friends knowing their assignments are done and they are on track. Prescheduled meetings allow for consistency and accountability. Students also make better social decisions when they are performing well and feeling good about themselves.

College Success Plan students universally comment that they feel better about school and more in control. Students come home from the semester knowing they did their best and didn't let themselves, or their parents, down. They like having a plan for each week and knowing what needs to be done. Learning to work ahead gives them flexibility and prepares them for the unexpected. Finishing assignments and prioritizing tasks creates time for other activities.

But don’t take our word for it, take theirs!

If a school offers additional help, we will make sure the students are maximizing what is available to them. Accessing school resources is sometimes a confusing and multi-step process that can easily deter a college student. College Success Plan coaches are experienced in helping students access the supplemental academic resources their school provides. Coaches work with students during their online sessions together to guide the student to the right resources and to take the steps necessary to sign up. ​

While many schools offer excellent supplemental resources, many others are understaffed, have high turnover rates and/or limited appointment availability. With College Success Plan, your student works exclusively with an academic coach who has been hand-picked to match their unique needs … a coach who is always a text away. This level of consistency and accessibility is generally far greater and more effective than what many student disability service centers are equipped to provide.

While in most cases health insurance does not cover executive function coaching, some of our families have explored alternative funding options for our coaching services.

Many families have utilized 529 Plan college funds to pay for our services. To determine if this is an option for you, please contact your 529 Plan provider for more information.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), it is possible that you may be able to use these funds to cover the cost of our services. Each FSA/HSA provider has its own requirements and approval processes, so we recommend reaching out to your FSA/HSA provider to inquire whether our services qualify as an approved use of those funds.

We are happy to provide any documentation requested by your 529 Fund or your FSA/HSA provider.

Incoming freshmen are ideal candidates because we are setting the stage for success from the beginning. Students are welcome to join at any time, since the program works for all college ages but preferably in the beginning of a semester. We do register students mid-semester and have had positive results, but find it more advantageous starting the semester together.

It all starts with a call. Click Here to schedule a complimentary phone consultation.