Student Life

Academic Coaching

Students work with an Academic Coach to develop executive functioning skills, adopting a growth mindset, achieving goals, managing academic anxiety, self-regulation, self-efficacy, time management, and organization. Additionally, Academic Coaches can support an individual to achieve balance in their lives.



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Introduction

Academic Coaching is not new but in recent years has become more specialized and widely used by universities, businesses and individuals to offer support improving skills and maximizing performance. Most coaches are trained educators who further their knowledge to understand how people learn and process information. This data is used to help a student become more efficient in their work, improve executive function skills, manage their academic anxiety, prioritize their work, and set realistic short and long-term goals. Academic Coaches continue to check in with the student for accountability and make sure they remain on track.

Meetings can be one-on-one and in small groups, either in person or via zoom. Students can schedule an appointment with Sara Morrison M.S., GSD Academic Coach, through her Bookings link.

Focus Areas

  • 1. Managing Your Time

    Does Studio take up all your time? Learn how to plan your week so that you can succeed and still have a life beyond the demands of this one class. Planning in advance actually helps one realize how many extra minutes in a day there are for other things.

  • 2. Organization

    A key area that impacts every single aspect of your life is Organization. Not simply your belongings but rather how you organize your life, your brain, time, basically your every day existence to reach peak performance in: 

    • – Work  (Academics/Professional/Chores)
    • – Nutrition 
    • – Exercise 
    • – Sleep 
    • – Personal Fulfillment 
    • – Mindset

  • 3. Setting Goals

    We all have goals, professional, personal and more. These goals are our way of having a built-in checks and balance system for making sure we are on track, moving forward, and growing personally and professionally. Our goals can change at different stages in our lives which is why outlining them can be helpful to ensure that what we are doing is aligning with our ultimate goals.

  • 4. Balancing Workload and Work/Life

    When we get busy, which probably seems often, one of the first things we let go of is maintaining a work/life balance. People usually focus on work and deadlines. However, how long can a person function with little sleep, lack of proper nutrition, and not engaging in fulfilling social activities? We can continually push ourselves, but something is going to give. Perhaps your sleep, the little amount that you already get is interrupted and not continual, therefore not beneficial sleep at all. Maintaining a balance, homeostasis if you will, will keep us functioning at our peak and help us to achieve our goals.

  • 5. Transitioning Back to Academia After Time Away

    Returning to academia after a time away, regardless of length of time, can be a shock to the system. The hours are usually different, expectations from a professor versus a boss are different, if you were your own boss, now you have someone else to report to, and deadlines are out of your hands. It can be beneficial for someone to take a global look at the changes and develop a plan to make the transition as seamless as possible.

  • 6. Executive Function Skills

    • – Paying attention
    • – Organizing, planning, and prioritizing
    • – Starting tasks and remaining focused until completion
    • – Understanding different points of view
    • – Regulating emotions
    • – Self-monitoring (keeping track of what you’re doing)

  • 7. Adopting a Growth Mindset

    A growth mindset helps people to reach goals and achieve. Simply put, a growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed and enhanced through effort, practice, and commitment; that one’s capacity for growth is limitless. Challenges, setbacks, and failures are looked at as opportunities to improve and learn new or better skills. Individuals with a positive or growth mindset tend to be happier, healthier, and achieve more.

  • 8. Managing Academic Anxiety

    At some point in your academic career, you will question your abilities and if you measure up to those around you. This is perfectly natural as high performance is what you know. But now everyone around you is top of their class! Carving out your niche and contributing your ideas might take some practice as you become more comfortable at the GSD. And always remember, you earned your spot, there are many others who were not admitted!

Academic Coaching FAQs

What is Academic Coaching?

Personalized, one-on-one and small group meetings to help you improve your skills and reach peak performance.

Is it therapy?

No, Academic Coaching looks at areas of an individual’s life that affect their academic performance. Of course, one’s personal life and previous experiences are a factor; however, a licensed therapist is better qualified to handle that. Academic Coaching looks forward to reaching goals.

How long does it take?

It all depends. Some students need a one-time meeting to answer a specific question and others want ongoing support in specific area(s). 

Do I have to pay for it?

No, Academic Coaching is included in your tuition and there is no limit to the number of sessions you can book. 

Will this add to my already full academic workload?

No! The goal is to have each student become more efficient. Lessons and strategies are used to support your learning style and work you are currently doing. 

What is the process?

There are three main steps: 

  1. Discovery – How do you learn/process information? 
  2. Implement Strategies 
  3. Accountability 

Resources

Have Questions?

If you need more information about academic coaching, contact us today!