Why your college student needs an ADHD coach (and it can’t be you)

Posted on August, 13, 2025 by Susan Schaefer, M.Ed., M.A.T, Founder & CEO
 

It’s that time of year, when rising college freshmen are on the cusp of transitioning to being actual college freshmen. This reality hits parents of students with executive function challenges especially hard. Take Jenna, for example, she told me she woke up one morning a week or so before her son, Noah, was set to leave for college and had an epiphany.  That was, as much as he said everything would be fine, without her there to manage him, she had no actual proof to believe he would be fine. She had tried a few times to step back and let him figure it out, and as she said, “he crashed and burned,” and she had to step in once again and pick up the pieces.

This situation is common for parents of high school students with ADHD. Parents routinely serve as their child’s unofficial executive function coach, reminding them about deadlines, organizing schedules, and helping them manage distractions. But when your student heads off to college, your role needs to change.

It’s time to transition from parent coach to supportive parent, while entrusting a professional ADHD executive function coach can make all the difference in your student’s success.

The High School-to-College Transition for Students with ADHD

In high school, parents often have access to grades, assignments, and teacher feedback. You could step in quickly when deadlines were missed or organization fell apart. In college, professors expect students to manage everything independently. Privacy laws (FERPA) also prevent you from accessing academic records without your student’s consent.* For many young adults with ADHD, this sudden independence can be overwhelming without structured support.

What Can an ADHD Executive Function Coach Do?

A college ADHD coach is trained to help students strengthen executive function skills, such as time management, organization, task initiation, and self-monitoring. They understand the specific challenges ADHD students face in higher education, from staying on top of multi-step assignments to resisting distractions in unstructured environments.

Unlike parents, professional coaches can provide accountability without emotional tension. What might feel like “nagging” from a parent comes across as constructive guidance from a neutral mentor. This makes students more receptive and less defensive, critical for building real independence.

How Coaching Builds Independence and Confidence

Professional ADHD academic coaching focuses on skill-building rather than dependency. Coaches help students:

• • Create realistic schedules and prioritize tasks
  • Break large assignments into manageable steps
  • Use tools and systems to stay organized
  • Develop self-advocacy skills with professors and peers
    

Over time, students become more self-reliant, confident, and equipped to handle the demands of college life, and later, the workplace.

The Parent’s New Role in College

As your student works with a college ADHD coach, your role shifts from manager to support system.  You provide encouragement, emotional support, and a safe place to land, while the coach handles the structure and accountability.

Letting go is never easy, but passing the baton to a trained ADHD executive function coach ensures your student isn’t just surviving in college, they’re thriving.

*Since Academic Coaching Associates is a private company not affiliated with the college, ACA coaches inform parents of their students’ academic status weekly.