Improving Grades In College: A Guide For Parents
Brand new! A 176 page guide written by Jeff that describes specific actions, key insights, and insider information for parents that includes:
-Unexpected ways that a bad start to the term can cause a student to earn bad grades during the first weeks, cause them to lose their entire schedule, and have lasting effects for their grades.
-Real life problems that students face, and mistakes that they make, that parents can help to prevent at the beginning, middle, and critical end of the term periods.
-How to improve a student’s study efforts based on principles such as active learning, distributed practice, levels of encoding, and more.
-Building skills in students like helping with common types of writing projects, such as reaction papers, position papers, lab reports, and research papers.
-How innocent procrastination can turn in to anxious avoidance, which is often the beginning of a downward spiral for the term.
-Why college-based services may not always be the best option when seeking help for students, and what private practitioners might be a better option.
-What to do if things do not go well, including past-deadline withdrawals, retroactive medical withdrawals, and grade correction programs.
True Stories Of College Failure To Success: What Real-Life Students And Parents Say, And How Any Student Can Make A Complete Turn Around In College
***2017 e-book for $2.99 at Amazon in Kindle format, 152 pages filled with stories used as a framework to discuss many college issues like low GPAs, transfer, and even how students worked semester-by-semester to turn around their grades and college careers. The Kindle reader is free and can be used on PC, Mac, and mobile devices including your tablet or phone.
Kindle Version: Improving Academic Underperformance®
In College Book
A kindle version of Jeff’s book is now available. The Kindle reader is free and can be used on PC, Mac, and mobile devices. This is the electronic version of the same book that is being used by colleges and professionals to help students.
Pittsburgh Area Resources
Daniel Monti, M.D.
Dr. Dan Monti is dually board certified in both adult and child & adolescent psychiatry and is experienced in treating patients for conditions such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. He has a private practice in Fox Chapel, and currently accepts Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield and UPMC Insurance. Appointments with Dr. Monti are by professional referral only, so please use the contact page to inquire about appointments with him.
Wendy McSparren, LCSW
Wendy McSparren, LCSW, is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices in Murrysville, PA. She has an M.S.W. from the University of Pittsburgh an M.S. in Non-Profit Management from Robert Morris University. Wendy specializes in the treatment of problems that young adults face, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and other areas. She works with both high school and college students to help them overcome the social, emotional, and interpersonal issues that can interfere with their academic success. To contact Wendy about services, you can write her at wmcsparren@comcast.net or call her office at (724) 733-3491 extension 2.
National Resources
United States Department Of Education
The Department of Education’s website is a good source of information on higher education in the U.S. It has information on student aid, student loans, and the FAFSA.
Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This is the website for the FAFSA, the application that parents and students must complete in order to qualify for federal student aid programs.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
This is the College Board’s website for the SAT. It has information about registering and preparing for the SAT exam.
This is the website for the ACT test, a college aptitude test that is an alternative to the SAT. The website has information about the test, including registration and preparation.