Navigating College Learning Support: 5 Tiered Options

Securing the right academic assistance for a learning-different student means understanding a spectrum of offerings. From light support to full immersion support, multiple tiers of college support exist (though prices increase as the support gets more intense). Matching the right amount of support with your teen's current needs will help create a smoother transition to college, resulting in early "wins" for your student that build confidence and momentum.

  1. Light support: Some independent students succeed simply by connecting with resources like the University of Arizona's SALT Center. For a $5,000 fee each semester, SALT provides weekly sessions that coach organization, planning, and communication skills and offers campus connections for conquering college realities.
  2. Robust support: The University of Denver's Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) is a great example of robust support. The program gives high-potential students academic counseling, tutoring, executive function support, social skills support, and college transition support. Fees are $1,600/quarter or $4,800/academic year.
  3. Wrap-around support: All aspects of success are reinforced at the University of the Ozarks' Jones Learning Center. JLC students get executive functioning instruction, learning strategy integration, life coaching, advising, and monitored study halls. Social growth also gets nurtured in this tightly-knit community. Fees are $6,000 per semester for the comprehensive program or $4,000 for the tier-two program.
  4. Full immersion support: Some students thrive only when surrounded by holistic support every day. Places like College Living Experience or Mansfield Hall provide structured living support, life skills mentors, academic coaching, counseling, and campus inclusion assistance. 
  5. External support: if your student falls in love with a college that doesn’t offer the exact support they need on campus, you may be able to set up outside support through in person or virtual professional tutors, writing coach and/or ADHD/executive function coaches. This type of setup typically works if a student is truly motivated to be at the particular college and it’s important to set each piece up in advance of freshman year to avoid your student falling behind early in the semester.


When envisioning your teen's college path, lean toward over-support — especially during that important first year. Assessing fit means honestly evaluating your teen's deficits and monitoring needs at this transitional moment, not after they've already slipped through the cracks. Considering a lesser coarse load in the first semester can help your student build up their skills and confidence without becoming overwhelmed. Support can be scaled back gradually as their competencies grow across their college experience.


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