Frequently Asked Questions

If your student is not performing up to their potential, is currently struggling, or you simply hope to protect your investment in advance, the team at Pivot can help. We offer several workshops covering a variety of issues that students face, including improving time management and study skills, as well as learning how to improve stress resilience and brain health. For those looking for individualized coaching support, Dr. Thom has found that for most students, a comprehensive diagnosis of the issue, followed by targeted neuroscience-driven coaching and accountability, will enable most students to flourish in college.

You know it will work because everything we teach is evidence-based and because of the extensive research & development process that Pivot undergoes every summer. Specifically, each summer we improve Pivot’s offerings by synthesizing:Our experiences with Pivot studentsResearch we perform on our own packagesDr. Thom’s classroom experiences from the previous academic yearDr. Thom’s synthesis and integration of the latest neuroscience and educational research Some more encouraging data:Our most recent student went from a 1.9 GPA to a 3.1 GPA in one semesterThe college drop-out rate where Dr. Thom works is about 5%, which is drastically smaller than the national drop-out rate of 40%; he has spent the last decade witnessing first-hand what it takes to ensure that students successfully graduate Dr. Thom has studied the nation’s elite (e.g., olympians, adventure Racers, warfighters) and has gleaned common principles and techniques from his research that can help almost anyone succeed

Our goal is to create self-sufficient students, so we create a plan with specific goals and an associated end-date in mind. But our plan depends on your student’s needs, which we will discover through our intake process. Some students only need a little bit of help studying or with time-management at the collegiate level, making our First 30 Days Workshop ideal. Some students need more help, in which case we would recommend a Coaching Package that spans a semester or academic year, working intimately with us to build the skills and habits necessary to pivot to college.

Dr. Thom’s background in preventive medicine means he recommends taking early steps toward ensuring your student does well in college from the outset. We offer various workshops that graduating high school students can take and are aimed at equipping them with the mindset and tools they will need to transition to college successfully. However, a vast majority of our students find us a few months into their freshman year, after under-performing on their first college exams. We do also have students who find us later in their college careers, though, and are able to benefit from our services.

It depends on the circumstances, but our workshops were developed and are delivered by Dr. Thom. Most of our Coaching Packages were developed by Dr. Thom and are primarily implemented by Dr. and Mrs. Thom

Your role will be mainly peripheral, as the Pivot team will primarily interact with your student. You’ve likely spent the last 18 years investing significant amounts of time in your student, and we believe it’s time to step back and let us teach your student how to manage their college career. That said, we value your input and will involve you in the intake process so that we can understand the situation from your perspective. After that, we will share an overview of our assessment and action plan with you and update you at regular intervals regarding your child's progress. Most parents are happy to let Pivot do the heavy lifting!

Some colleges provide training similar to what we provide at Pivot, but most do not because it’s simply not financially feasible. If your student isn’t doing well, most colleges do not have the personnel to manage the issue in the personal, specific, and neuroscience-backed way that Pivot can.

Yes and no. This level of support is quite rare at most colleges, unfortunately. The reason is two-fold: first, the staff who might perform this role may not have the expertise necessary to help and, secondly, those with the expertise (i.e., the professors) do not have the time, resources or the desire to provide this level of support. Dr. Thom’s unique combination of expertise and desire to coach is what sets Pivot apart.

Yes and no. Dr. Thom brings an extensive amount of training and experience to Pivot that simply cannot be replicated. And while there are a myriad of book and/or online forums that promote solid advice, they lack a specific, tailored diagnosis of whatever problem is occurring, and thus cannot provide the expertise and accountability that we can. At the same time, though, Pivot is planning to offer low-cost, student-led packages that are designed to be completed independent from any input from our staff. If your student is motivated, these packages can be a cost-effective strategy. These will rollout soon.

Working with Pivot is an investment in your child's collegiate success! Our costs vary based on how much one-one-one time is requested , are based on the needs of the student, and we make every effort to be affordable. Please reach out to us if cost is a concern and we can discuss your situation. Ultimately from our perspective, we view collegiate success as a clear indicator of future career and financial success, and as such it is something to invest in.

Not yet. In 2016 a company offered $5 million to any developer who could design an app that would improve college retention rates. The competition failed, no one won. Apps can’t offer the diagnostic tools and expert accountability that Pivot can offer.

The Covid pandemic is actually part of the reason Pivot exists. While college-level learning has always been an independent endeavor, Covid forced many professors to teach in new ways that require much more independence from the learner. Given that collegiate-level earning is much more independent now, Pivot's main goal is to foster the knowledge, skills, habits, and character required for individual students to succeed in college and beyond.