Successful academic performance can be broken down into two general components: a good grasp of content and a process that supports your learning.
By content, I mean the specific things you need to know for a project, paper, or exam. For example, in a physics class, “content” would mean understanding the necessary concepts and formulas for electromagnetism. The process is everything else that surrounds and facilitates the understanding of content. Using that same physics class as an example, “process” here would refer to taking good notes, planning ahead to avoid late-night cram sessions, studying effectively, and performing well on projects and exams.
While subject tutoring deals primarily with content of a course and secondarily with process, academic coaching focuses solely on the process of learning and studying.
You might consider academic coaching if you feel that you:
- don’t manage your time well
- are spinning your wheels when studying
- take much longer to complete assignments than your peers
- always stay up late the night before an assignment is due
- are performing lower than your potential, but not because you don’t understand the material
- are overwhelmed with your workload
- have small, logistical problems that prevent you from earning good grades (ie, can’t seem to turn in homework on time)
- are constantly distracted from your work
- are uninterested in your work
- need help staying organized
How does it work? An academic coach will take an in-depth look at your whole academic life in order to get a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not. Based on that holistic assessment and diagnosis, your coach will then begin to suggest changes that may help you.
We know change is difficult and never happens all at once, so the process will be calibrated to exactly what you can handle. That may mean several changes at once, or one change a month. The entire process will focus on exactly what you need; there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to academic coaching. Here are some examples of what might be covered in an academic coaching engagement:
- studying effectively
- taking and reviewing notes effectively
- essay-writing methods
- planning your semester, including when to study for exams
- time-management skills
- concentration abilities
- approaching your teachers and professors to engage their help
- systems for keeping track of all of your to-dos
- simple tools and routines to keep yourself organized
If you are curious about academic coaching or know you need it, give us a call to have a free discussion about how we can help.
