Center for Student Success

Success Coaching

The Oberlin College and Conservatory Success Coaching model is grounded in Appreciative Education and asset-based thinking. Students work alongside professional coaches to define their own success, leverage their strengths, and develop individualized plans to accomplish their pre-determined goals.

Who are the Success Coaches?

Success Coaches are masters-level professionals who are trained in asset-based, student-centered approaches to coaching. They coach Obies to reach their full potential through self-exploration, creating connections across the campus community, and building life skills.

"My Success Coach was very helpful with getting my obligations in order and helping me understand how to go about each of them. They were very useful as a resource to help understand where to go to address various issues."

    One-on-one Success Coaching:
    30-minute sessions between a Success Coach and a student that are individualized to the students needs and goals. These sessions can cover topics such as time management, self-efficacy, effective communication, value alignment, and more.

    Schedule a 1:1 Success Coaching Appointment

    CliftonStrengths Coaching:
    30-minute sessions between a Success Coach and a student to focus on exploring the students CliftonStrengths and applying them towards their goals.

    Schedule a CliftonStrengths Coaching Appointment

    Group Success Coaching:
    30-minute to 2-hour sessions for various campus groups (classes, athletic teams, or student organizations) tailored to the specific needs of the group.

    Schedule a Group Coaching Appointment

    What to Expect

    Initially, your session will begin with you and your Success Coach getting to know each other! Your Success Coach will ask you what you hope to accomplish during your session: each session is individual to the student and goals will vary. Session goals can range from developing study schedules to exploring various academic and personal interests.

    Coaches will then work with you to co-create a Success Plan with a manageable step-by-step process to help you reach your intended outcome. Sometimes, multiple coaching sessions are neccessary to finalize these plans: students are not limited to the amount of coaching sessions they can set up thoughout the year.

    You'll recieve follow-up emails from your Coach to help you stay accountable to the goals you set for yourself. Want to change the goal? No problem - simply let your Coach know, and they'll help you make adjustments to your plan.