A Compass for Navigating the College Journey Together
Here, Beth shares practical strategies for students and families as you traverse the college journey and changing relationships with each other and with school.
Insights
Pings, Prompts,and Platforms: How Adults Contribute to College Students’ Digital Overload
College students are checking their phones over 100 times a day. As a result, both anxiety and fatigue linked to constant digital connection continues to rise. With their neuro-engineered algorithms…
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Don’t Be Spooked: Helping Your Student Thrive in a Dynamic Higher Ed Landscape
It’s Halloween! While ghosts, goblins, and jump scares are expected this time of year, many parents are feeling unsettled by a different kind of fright: the fast-moving, dynamic world of…
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So, About That 2-3 Hour Study Rule…
You’ve no doubt heard the advice: for every hour you spend in class, plan to study 2–3 hours outside of it. It’s one of those pieces of advice that shows…
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Helping Students Find Their Emotional Footing During The College Transition
Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the first time or returning for another semester, the transition to college can feel unsettling. It’s common to experience a mixture of emotions from…
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Beyond the Transcript: Fulfillment as an Important Component of Success
As a college success coach, I work with students throughout their undergraduate journey to navigate challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and maximize experiences. Ideally, students become self-regulated learners who optimize…
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From Campus to the Couch: Balancing Re-connection with Independence Over Thanksgiving Break
Whether your family celebrates Thanksgiving or not, it is likely that your college student will have a break from classes for some or all of next week. Many students will…
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Supporting Your College Student: Struggle as a Path to Growth
College life can be challenging, and it’s natural for students to experience struggles. However, not all struggles are inherently negative—they can promote resilience, independence, and personal growth. This post, which…
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Defragging The Brain for College Success
In today’s fast-paced and tech-saturated world, college students face constant information overload and stimulation. This often leads to mental clutter, decreased productivity, and stress. Just like an overloaded hard drive…
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No-Foolin’…it’s April
April is often the most intense month for many college students. Spring fever has set in, faculty find themselves behind and scrambling to cover material, and students who do not…
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Navigating Academic Technology at Semester Start-Up
After 25+ years in higher ed, including approaching my second anniversary of launching College Navigators, I continue to be amazed at the time required during “semester start-up” for students to…
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The Art of Winter Break Renewal: Tips to Help College Students to Relax, Recharge, and Reflect
Providing that students have a safe and welcoming place to be, winter break will hopefully allow students to rejuvenate after the demands of the past few months. Regardless of how…
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Uh Oh! I’m Behind in My Classes with Only a Few Weeks Left…Tips for the Final Push
It is common for many students to find themselves behind to varying degrees in their courses throughout the term. Yet, being behind going into the last few weeks and through…
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Unlocking the World: The Transformative Power of and Tips For Studying Abroad in College
The college years should be a time of exploration, growth, and self-discovery. Studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to do all three, and more! While many of today’s college students…
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First Year “Pre-meds”…This One’s For You!
Being “Pre-med” Jeremy was proud and confident when he shared that he was “pre-med” on his college applications as well as on social media posts and discussion boards as he…
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First Year of College is Not Grade 13
I don’t know about you, but I find myself asking “Where has the summer gone?” even though it is only the second week of August. For those familiar with the…
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Parents: Empower Your College Student to Use Campus Resources and Services
As a parent, you probably are aware that a world of possibilities awaits your college-bound child. While it’s understandable that parents emphasize the importance of students embracing and making the…
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Aim to Be Competitive and Compelling
Summer is often a time when college students seek opportunities to complement their coursework and strengthen their resumes. Some will participate in internships, research, or employment, while others may volunteer.…
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Three, Two, One…Take-Off: Getting Your Student Ready for the College Launch
For those with a high school student who recently committed to a college for the fall, congratulations! Enjoy this celebratory time! Once the dust settles after the stressful college application…
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“Who Am I if I Am Not a Student?”
Supporting Your College Senior’s Loss of Identity Despite the excitement that many college seniors are feeling and the joy they will have in being able to say “I did it,”…
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Academic Disappointment or “Failure,”…now what?
Anyone who attended college and is honest with themselves can recall a time, or perhaps quite a few times, when they experienced academic disappointment or even worse (cue the theme…
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A Major Decision
The cost of a college education is exorbitant, the amount of information and number of opportunities available to students can be overwhelming, and the national four-year graduation rate is a…
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Reflecting On The Fall Semester and Identifying Behaviors to Support Spring Success
For many, the beginning of the new calendar year means making resolutions and setting goals. While they can be motivating and productive for some, too often they are short-lived and,…
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#no-all-nighters
A student’s parent recently signed an email to me with “#no-all-nighters.” Not only did I confirm it was indeed one goal that their student was committed to and actively working…
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Pepper the Turkey, Not Your Student With Questions…Help Your Student Recharge Over Thanksgiving Break
Whether your family celebrates Thanksgiving or not, college students will have some days off this coming week. Many of them will be spending time with family. If your student will…
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When a C is Not an F
As we enter the midpoint of fall semester, parents of college students (particularly first-year students) may hear…or more likely read via text message “I just failed my exam!”
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Is More Better? A Call to Stop the Credentialing Craze
College is not an arms race! Help your student assess what they want to achieve while in college, who they want to become, and what they want to prepare themselves…
Keep reading“Level-Up” Your Academic Game as a Student-Athlete
One of my realizations during my first year as a college student-athlete was that each thing I did to improve as an athlete and be a successful “on the…
Keep readingQuestions to Ask When You Consider Hiring a Student Success Coach
You may recall in the last post I shared five reasons to work with a college student success coach. As you further contemplate whether or not a college student success…
Keep readingTop 5 Reasons to Work with a College Student Success Coach
After 25 years in higher education in a variety of direct service and leadership roles, I’ve come to realize that my passion is coaching individual students, over a sustained period…
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