You built the skills to succeed in high school. The College Continuation Program helps you rebuild them for a world with no one checking your planner.
College removes the structure that helped you thrive: daily classes, teacher reminders, parents nearby and an IEP or 504 plan that followed you automatically. The College Continuation Program keeps you working with people who already know how you learn, while you build study and executive function systems that work on campus and gradually take over running them yourself.
Plan Your Transition How It WorksWhat Changes When You Get to College
Many students who did well with support in high school have a hard first semester. It is not because they lost their skills. The demands on executive function jump just as the outside structure disappears.
In high school
- Class every day, with frequent quizzes and homework checks
- Teachers remind you about deadlines
- Your school identifies your needs and runs your IEP or 504 plan
- Parents notice when things slip
- Most learning happens in class
In college
- Classes two or three times a week, with a few high-stakes exams
- One syllabus in September is the only reminder you get
- You must register with disability services and request accommodations yourself
- No one notices until grades post
- Most learning happens on your own, outside class
That shift in responsibility is real. The U.S. Department of Education explains that college students must identify themselves to the school and provide documentation to receive accommodations, and that a high school IEP or 504 plan may not be enough on its own (U.S. Department of Education).
What We Work On
A system for the whole semester
Turning every syllabus into one calendar, a weekly review routine, and a plan for breaking papers and projects into steps with your own deadlines. These executive function systems replace the structure high school provided.
Study strategies that hold up
Moving from rereading and highlighting to practice testing and spaced review, two techniques with strong research support (Association for Psychological Science), applied to your actual courses.
Reading and writing at college volume
Strategies for heavy reading loads and longer papers, building on the reading and writing skills you already have, including assistive technology when it helps.
Exams and test anxiety
Planning study for midterms and finals weeks in advance, and carrying forward the anxiety management strategies that worked in high school to higher-stakes exams.
Accommodations and self-advocacy
Registering with disability services, requesting accommodations each term, emailing professors and using office hours. If your documentation needs updating, see testing for college students.
Independence
Every session moves you closer to running your own systems. The goal is not ongoing support; it is a student who no longer needs us.
How the Program Works
Support is heaviest when the transition is hardest, then steps down as you take over.
- Senior spring and summer
Bridge
Preview what changes, plan disability services registration, set up a calendar and study system, and practice college-level reading and writing.
- First semester
Launch
Regular sessions while you apply your systems to real courses, with extra support before midterms and finals.
- Second semester
Step down
Fewer sessions as you run your own weekly review. We troubleshoot what didn’t work in the fall.
- After that
Check in
Occasional sessions at the start of each term or before finals, as needed. Many students stop entirely.
All sessions are online, so they work from any campus, and can be scheduled around classes, practices and time zones. Students home on break can also meet in person in the greater Boston and San Diego areas.
Who It’s For
The College Continuation Program is for current and former Therapeutic Tutoring students who are starting college, community college or a gap-year program. You continue with someone who already knows your learning profile, with the same tutor whenever possible, so there is no starting over.
New to Therapeutic Tutoring? If you are already in college and have not worked with us before, start with therapeutic tutoring for college students or take the 2-minute learning check for college and adult learners. Graduate students can see tutoring for graduate students and professionals.
How this differs from coaching, therapy and testing
| If you need | The right fit |
|---|---|
| Study skills, executive function systems and academic support during the move to college | College Continuation Program (this page) |
| Help with ADHD, anxiety, depression or adjustment that goes beyond academics | Therapy and ADHD coaching with Dr. Jacobson |
| A new or updated diagnosis, or documentation for college accommodations | ADHD testing for college students |
For parents
Once your student is in college, they lead the work. We share progress with parents only with your student’s permission, and many families agree on a simple check-in at the start of the program. Sessions follow our standard fees: $110 to $125 per 30 minutes, with Flexible Spending Account funds accepted and a limited number of Foundation-supported seats available. Common college questions are covered in our FAQs.
College Continuation Program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the College Continuation Program?
The College Continuation Program is study skills and executive function support for Therapeutic Tutoring students moving from high school to college. It begins as early as senior spring, continues through the first year, and steps down as students take over their own systems. Sessions cover semester planning, research-supported study strategies, reading and writing at college volume, exam preparation, registering for accommodations and self-advocacy. Students keep working with people who already know how they learn, so they do not have to start over with a new provider at the hardest point in the transition.
When should we start planning for the transition to college?
Ideally in the spring of senior year or the summer before college. That leaves time to preview how college differs, register with the campus disability services office, check whether accommodation documentation needs updating, and set up a calendar and study system before classes begin. Students who start in the fall can still join; the first semester is when support makes the biggest difference. If midterm grades are already a concern, contact us right away and we will focus on the most urgent courses first.
Will my IEP or 504 plan carry over to college?
Not automatically. IEPs end when a student leaves high school, and colleges set their own accommodation process. Students must contact the disability services office, provide documentation and request accommodations, usually each term. Many colleges ask for current information about how a condition affects the student now, and a high school plan may not be enough on its own. We help students prepare for that process. If an updated evaluation is needed, see ADHD testing for college students.
How is this different from ADHD coaching or therapy?
The College Continuation Program focuses on academic skills: planning, studying, reading, writing, exam preparation and using accommodations, with the anxiety and motivation strategies that support them. It is not therapy. If a student is struggling with mood, anxiety beyond schoolwork, ADHD treatment or adjustment to college life more broadly, therapy or ADHD coaching with Dr. Jacobson may be a better fit, and some students benefit from both. We will tell you honestly if we think a student needs more than academic support.
Can sessions continue if my college is in another state?
Yes. All College Continuation sessions are online, so students can work with us from any campus and schedule around classes, jobs and time zones. Sessions use shared screens and the student’s actual syllabi, assignments and course materials. Students who come home for breaks can also meet in person in the greater Boston and San Diego areas. Learn more about how we make online therapeutic tutoring structured and engaging.
Will parents receive updates once their student is in college?
Only with the student’s permission. College students are adults and lead their own work in the program, which is part of building independence. Many families agree at the start on what parents will hear, such as a brief check-in each term or a note if a student stops attending sessions. Parents are always welcome to contact us with general questions about the program, and we can discuss fees, scheduling and payment options at any time. See our fees page for current rates.
Start College With a Plan
Book a free consultation to map out senior spring, summer and the first semester. Current and former students, just mention your tutor’s name.
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