Parents

College Student Stress is the #1 impediment to academic performance and is on the rise. Is it any wonder that 50% of students never graduate?

Parents, Your Child Has Made It To College!

Now make your education investment worthwhile by enhancing your child’s performance, satisfaction, and success in the college they have entered.

College can be exciting, but is not a game to be played – it is preparation for life itself.

Of course you want your child to enjoy the experience – but today college is more costly and challenging than ever before.

Tuition costs continue to rise and financial aid requirements are more complex than ever. Half of students take part-time jobs while enrolled, and college graduates are now leaving school with more debt, including huge credit card balances.

And according to the American College Health Association the #1 impediment to academic performance, college student stress, continues to rise. In fact, more than 75% of college students report feeling overwhelmed, and 22% sometimes become so depressed they can not function in school. Is it any wonder that grades sometimes suffer?

Caring parents want assurance that their investment in college is being spent wisely, and that their student is learning the skills that will prepare them for life.

Helping your son or daughter enroll in the best possible school is a start, but it does not guarantee academic success, nor their satisfaction with the time spent at college.

"You spend all this money on college and so many kids do not
graduate.  I wanted to provide Elizabeth with every advantage 
in going to college, so hiring David as her coach just makes sense."

                                                                                                         Beth, Mother of College Freshman

What Can You Do To Insure
The Best Possible Results For Your Child?

Although you want your children to learn to make decisions on their own, it’s tempting to try and solve problems for them, and natural to want to help.

When you do offer guidance, one of the challenges is that children are sometimes reluctant to follow advice you offer them directly – the whole premise behind “reverse psychology”.

Now, more and more parents are learning the value of academic coaching, utilizing an experienced third-party who has their best interests at heart and can help their student to:

• Transition from high school and get up to speed quickly

• Evaluate and utilize resources presented on campus

• Develop solid study habits geared for college life

• Reduce college student stress and still have a well-rounded experience

• Learn to make good choices related to academics

• Identify challenges and learn valuable skills to overcome them

• Increase their GPA by being more focused

• Identify a career they will love – and then pick the right college major to achieve it

"I could have used a coach when I was in college.  My son Jason
will be further ahead of me with David's coaching." 


                                                                                                Dennis, Father of College Sophomore

Why An Academic Coach?

Coaching offers tangible benefits that college counselors and well-meaning friends simply can’t provide: that is, the structure and support to remain consistent. Consistency is the necessary ingredient for developing a few key habits – habits that will serve your child for the remainder of their life.

You may be familiar with career and business coaching. Once involved in their career, many executives utilize coaching to achieve tremendous results. It’s effectiveness derives from having a trusted source with whom to discuss challenges and potential solutions – a place to think through decisions before they get implemented.

A student who learns the habits and skills of executives before even entering the work force has an incredible advantage – a fact that families in business and industry have known for generations.

"My granddaughter was ready to drop out of college after 2 years and
$60,000.  I know the impact a college education has over a lifetime.
After I hired David for Erin, her whole attitude changed and she is on
her way to graduating.  David's coaching was the difference!"

                                                                                Margaret, Grandmother of College Senior
  

Peace of Mind For Parents

One of the strongest sentiments I hear from parents is that I give them the confidence to let their child handle many college issues on their own, knowing that they are receiving experienced guidance on their academics.

Coaching is a means to foster stronger decision-making skills in the student, by providing a trusted resource that will help them evaluate their choices.

Meanwhile, you gain the peace of mind knowing that your student has the benefit of experienced input, rather than just the well-meaning advice of friends and new-found acquaintances.

Coaching helps students learn to make good choices – a critical skill that leads to career success. This alone helps many to avoid the pitfalls that sometimes occur soon after college, including an unfulfilling job and serious financial missteps.

"Hiring David as Jessicas's coach is a security blanket to her college
experience, not to mention bringing me and my wife peace of mind."

                                                                                Steve, Father of College Freshman

Why Students Respond So Positively to Coaching

Students find that coaching is extremely empowering for them. Although college can help your child feel more independent by taking on responsibilities and making their own decisions, it can be scary giving up the frequent input of parents. And it can be embarrassing to admit to you when their choices don’t work out as planned.

The student/coach relationship is viewed differently, with a structure that allows a safe place to discuss ALL options, hear what has worked for other students, and know that the coach is there to support and guide, rather than judge and evaluate.

Students perceive the role of a coach differently than that of a parent, and that’s where the value lies:

Parent Role	Coaching Role
Makes Rules	Points Out Choices
Influences Decisions	Helps Weigh Options
Judges	Provides A Safe Sounding Board
Responsible for Child	Helps the Student/Client Remain Accountable
May Take Control	Encourages Decision Making

Additionally, academic coaching is a great source of relief for college student stress. Just having someone devoted to helping the student evaluate and solve problems provides tremendous peace of mind. Soon, the student begins to realize they can resolve many problems on their own, and their confidence – and performance – grows.

"Thank you Mom and Dad for hiring David as my coach.  With the gift
of coaching, I am on the right path to my college degree."

                                                                                            Sara, College Junior

Graduating on Schedule

Even a few changes to a student’s planned curriculum can result in extra semesters – and extra tuition. Dropped classes, changed majors, even an untimely illness, can all extend the time it takes to finish a “four-year” degree. And college student stress is credited with affecting health, study habits, and the inability to complete a degree in the usual time frame.

Ask yourself – what would even one extra semester cost in the form of tuition and living expenses? Not to mention the wages lost by starting a promising career half a year later.

You know it’s not strictly about the money – it’s about maximizing the overall benefit your child derives from their college experience.

The Coaching Process

By reviewing the Coaching Programs offered, you will clearly see which one applies to your child’s current situation. Once the program is selected and payment is made, the student can send me an email to set up their intake session.

During the intake session we get aquainted and set up specific times for coaching as outlined in the program you have selected.

Once the coaching program gets underway, your student will be able to give you feedback on the progress being made on the skills they are learning.

Reserving a Spot

 Because of my high retention rate, I take on a very limited number of new students each semester.   Additionally, you can learn more about the benefits your child will experience, by examining some of the resources provided on this website, including my college success tips. 

The Gift Of A Lifetime

Engaging a coach for your child has long-lasting effects.

Believe me, when your child looks back and realizes how much stress and frustration they avoided compared to their friends – how far better prepared they are for life with decision making skills, a sense of self confidence, and the knowledge that they can tackle problems on their own – they won’t be thanking you for the money spent. They will thank you for providing them with a bright future that they could not even have imagined when they first left high school.

You have guided your child this far, and they are on the right path. Make sure they obtain the best possible result from all that care and planning.

I welcome the opportunity to speak with you soon!

 Wishing You Every Success,

David Ritchey

The College Coach