Support and Structure for the Demands of Higher Education

Students with ADHD often struggle in college. Many drop out or fail after the first semester. Reasons can include:

• Poor time management or study skills
• Sudden loss of parental support
• Immaturity
• Lack of understanding of their own ADHD
• Not taking ADHD medication

Research has shown that ADHD students are usually several years behind their non-ADHD peers in brain development. This can compound what is already a challenging college experience, particularly if the student had to be pushed through the application process.

Family ADHD coaching can mean the difference between success and failure for college students. Coaching offers parents tools to support their child, while giving ADHD students the edge they need to make it at the next level. Students can better understand their ADHD challenges (and hidden strengths!) while getting time-management coaching specifically geared to their situations.

Currently Struggling at College

Watching your college student struggle is a totally helpless, and often hopeless, feeling for parents—especially if the college is far from home. So often, the child began college expecting to do well and finds himself or herself overwhelmed by the demands of the experience.

While upsetting, it’s not hopeless.

There are many ways a college student can be scaffolded from afar. Linda or Karen can work with the student remotely to create systems and strategies when there currently are none, while providing essential accountability.

Working with both the parent and student, they will dig deeper to understand the student’s specific ADHD challenges, as well as strengths. The first step is to help the student understand his or her unique brain wiring. Learning about likes and dislikes, passions, and what they are finding intolerable all goes in to helping the student understand their learning type, along with how to best absorb and manage the material.

Parents are consistently updated with how they can best support their student.

Returning to College After a Break

Often a promising student finds himself wanting to be in college but is unable to cope with the demands of that academic life, so ends up leaving after a semester or two. The student and family are faced with questions of what to do, where to turn, and what steps to take next.

Sometimes failures can plant the seeds of success.

This same student can thrive if given the proper tools. Additional time at home may give the brain time to catch up. Motivation may grow, especially if friends and peers are away at college.

If an ADHD student wants to return to college, parents might be understandably nervous about history repeating itself. Indeed, that can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if the student goes back without the right skills.

Studies show that professional ADHD coaching can mean the difference between success and failure when students return to college after an extended break. Linda and Karen can help a returning college student learn how to manage their ADHD, including:

• Improving poor time management or study skills
• Understanding specific ADHD challenges
• Finding those hidden strengths
• Developing time-management practices

Family ADHD coaching helps parents support their child returning to school. Linda and Karen encourage a collaborative setting, working at first with both parents and student to resolve barriers and come up with realistic strategies for getting back to school.

Once the student re-enrolls, They work primarily with the student to maintain momentum through the back-to-school transition, while keeping parents in the loop. Regular check-ins help the student stay on top of the academic requirements while getting the most out of a balanced college life. Contact Linda at Linda@JoyofGTD.com or Karen at Karen@JoyofGTD.com for a complimentary 30-minute consultation to see how professional ADHD Coaching can benefit your college student.