College Navigators, LLC

Your Student Got In! Time to Strengthen Their College Readiness!!!

In spring of 2022, I wrote a similar post, Three, Two, One…Take-Off: Getting Your Student Ready for the College Launch. Since then, through both my one-on-one work with students at over 25 institutions and ongoing professional development, I have deepened my thinking about what college readiness really requires. This post is an updated look at that same question through a broader and more current lens....

Your Student Got In! Time to Strengthen Their College Readiness!!! In spring of 2022, I wrote a similar post, Three, Two, One…Take-Off: Getting Your Student Ready for the College Launch. Since then, through both my one-on-one work with students at over 25 institut…

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 and high dopamine distractions social media and entertainment apps certainly play a large role. But, the reality is that parental habits and both higher-ed and employer systems also contribute significantly to our students’ digital overload. ...

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 algorithm…

https://college-navigators.com/2025/10/31/dont-be-spooked-helping-your-student-thrive-in-a-dynamic-higher-ed-landscape/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNyAm1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFsQmkycDF6TzQ0cjVQSnE1AR5TVwnhPWtMDu1qONsFWQRmiISSune4cZN57EdymKhHmTyQJyEd1t0CPnMZsw_aem_eGvnOO27JrsGAoQ8ubIOjg

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 higher edu…

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 up in college success talks, orientation slides, and even remains on some current syllabi. And, while it’s meant to be helpful, I've never known a student to follow it and this one-size-fits all approach has never been particularly helpful....

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 up in college success talks, orientation sl…

Check out The Student Guide to AI! This is the first comprehensive AI guide I have seen that provides guidance and encourages students to "become skilled at using AI comfortably, effectively, safely and ethically."

It emphasizes the importance of learning AI’s capabilities and limitations, as well as when and how it can augment their work, and when their unique human expertise and creativity is invaluable. ***This should not be substituted for information or guidelines students receive from their institution or specific instructors.

studentguidetoai.org

A “must-have” resource for college students, educators and other personnel!

studentguidetoai.org

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 excitement and joy to anxiety, uncertainty, and loneliness. You may, in fact, experience a wide range of emotions all at the same time! This is totally normal, and often a healthy response to a significant life shift....

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 excitem…

It is impossible for any student to perform their best if they are tired or if their energy is completely depleted. Some studies have shown that getting adequate sleep accounts for up to 25% difference in academic performance. My number one tip for students this time of the semester is to be intentional about their sleep (focus on sleep hygiene, including putting the phone away)! When organizing your time, and in addition scheduling time to prepare for your exams and deliverables, make it a priority to schedule (and get!) at least seven hours of sleep every night. Here’s to a strong end to the semester and to -all-nighters!

https://college-navigators.com/2022/12/02/no-all-nighters/

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/school-and-sleep/final-exams-and-sleep

The end of the semester often gets hectic. Now is a great time to confirm your DUE dates (final exams, projects, papers, and presentations).

Then, breakdown each significant assignment (or assessment) into smaller tasks that when all are completed will position you to be prepared for your deliverable on the DUE date. Create tasks that can be competed in a single "work session". Check out Goblin Tools https://goblin.tools/

Next, create a "backwards plan" by adding each of these tasks (or you to-"DOs") to your planner, working in reverse from the DUE date to the date you intend to begin. These will be in addition to ongoing weekly assignments or "homework" for each course.

Finally, as you move forward with the rest of the semester and plan each week, schedule time blocks on specific days for each of these additional to-"DOs" for your end-of-the-semester assignments and tests.

In today’s tech-saturated world, college students get overloaded much like a a computer slows down when too many tabs are open or it hasn't been restarted or updated. It is important that students learn how to lower the level of stimulation (decrease stress), restore mental energy (recharge), and increase overall efficiency (enhance well-being) by "defragging" their brains...randomly throughout the day, purposefully on a daily basis, and with longer periods of time without access to any tech.

Check out my blog post for more about the importance of "defragging" your brain and specific strategies for doing so. https://college-navigators.com/2024/07/18/defragging-the-brain-for-college-success/

Given the amount of information, number of options and the different messages about the connection between major and career, it is understandable that selecting a major can feel daunting. It is critical to consider a number of factors when selecting a major, including but not limited to your interests, abilities, values, aspirations, and financial situation. Invest the time to explore all your options through a holistic process. Read more about selecting a major and resisting the "credentialing craze" in previous blog posts.

https://college-navigators.com/2023/02/14/a-major-decision/
and
https://college-navigators.com/2022/09/23/is-more-better-a-call-to-stop-the-credentialing-craze/