Republished: May 24, 2017


Young Sarah, the adoptee who has been living with me since December, is heading to college at the end of May to start summer classes.

This doesn’t mean that Auntie Janice’s Finishing School for Young Ladies is closing. Instead, we’re opening a branch office.

Since Sarah grapples with ADHD and anxiety, I talked to my friend and organizing colleague Ellen Delap, who works with a number of high school and college students on managing their own ADHD and school life.

Ellen offered up tips we Savvy Aunties can use to help guide our own nieces and nephews who are heading to college or vocational training.

1. Create a structure schedule.
Unlike in high school, college professors don’t chase you down to attend their class. You either show up or don’t. Obviously, it helps to show up, and that’s half the battle.

All college students need to use a calendar to remind them of class times and homework assignments. You can use the calendar on your smartphone or a paper one. For Sarah, she does better when she uses both a digital and paper calendar. For a digital calendar, set reminders and alarms about specific tasks and assignments. Paper calendars – such as those hung on the wall – are great for seeing the big picture at a glance.

2. Create accountability.
Sarah and I had a conversation as well about how much involvement she needs from me when she returns to college. At her school, you can log in and see each and every grade in a class. She wants me to check the website and give her feedback and support on how she’s doing.

3. Create a solid schedule.
Ellen recommends having classes each day of the week and only carrying a load 12 hours per a full semester as much as possible. With 12 hours, students are considered full-time but are not overloaded as they would be if they took more hours.

4. Skip online classes.
For ADHD students, online classes can be more difficult to follow since it triggers that “shiny object” reaction. Compared to in-person classes, online classes seem more unstructured for the ADHD students. Having a specific place and time to show up in person is helpful in maintaining structure and accountability.

5. Study every day.
Even if there is no pending test or project, it’s good to have a set time each day to study, read and go over your class notes. Again, it’s a way to establish structure.

6. Get a tutor.
When you take a subject you hate, it’s a good idea to have a weekly tutor session to keep you on track. When it’s a class you don’t like, it’s easy to wander away from it and focus on the classes you prefer.

For more tips on helping students organize, check out The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond and The Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week: Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and Life.

Follow Ellen Delap on Twitter @TexasOrganizer.

Janice Marie Simon, MA, CPO, is a Certified Professional Organizer® and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. Visit her blog at www.theclutterprincess.com.

Photo:  kadmy