CU Boulder Executive Function Coaching

We’re CU experts, and we’re here to help.

Nervous for your teen to be on their own at college? Is your current college student struggling with their workload? Our 5 star coaching program, tailored specifically to meet the needs of CU students, offers personalized in-person and remote support to ensure students stay on track and thrive. We provide students with the tools and guidance necessary to prevent academic setbacks and foster academic success throughout their journey at CU Boulder.

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Untapped Learning’s
5 Star Program

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On campus!

We meet students where they’re at, and that’s on campus. We make sure you know how to find your classes, access campus resources, and navigate your day-to-day college life! We’re here to help however we can.

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Comprehensive and unwavering support

Our mentoring includes multiple check-ins per week and support outside of scheduled sessions, ensuring that you have the help you need when you need it. We understand that success means more than just academic performance, which is why we also take physical, social, and mental wellbeing into account.

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Local CU expertise

We are CU alum supporting CU students. With our first-hand experience, our mentors provide guidance on registering for classes, accessing tutoring and mental health resources, and navigating the campus.

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Create a smooth transition

Transitioning from high school to college, or just to a new campus, can be tough. We help freshmen and transfer students understand the school and what it takes to be successful in all areas of college life.

 

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Provide community

Our roots at CU Boulder have allowed us to build a strong network and community for guidance and support. Join us for events on campus, group study sessions, or ask to be connected to a CU student/alum for any questions you may have.

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Accountability

At Untapped, our job isn’t to “get mad” about missing assignments or a bad grade on a test. Our job is to support you as you complete and submit that missing assignment, advocate for yourself with your professors, and implement strong habits and routines so you do better the next time. We’re here to cheer you on and hold you accountable—we want to help solve any problems you’re facing, not reprimand you for them. SKO BUFFS!

 

Why choose Untapped?

Easy—We’ve had over 30 CU alums on staff.

To say we’re familiar with CU is an understatement. Check out our most recent collaborations on campus!

 

Our partnership with lululemon brought CU students together for a rejuvenating yoga session, followed by a comprehensive pre-finals workshop. This event helped students harness the power of movement and strategic planning to tackle the most challenging week of the year with clarity and confidence.

 

We collaborated with PhD and doctoral students and together, we created “The Simple Neuroscience” series, a collection of videos designed to help individuals, especially those with learning differences, understand the intricacies of their brains.

 

First-year engineering students face a uniquely intense finals period. Our pre-finals workshop equipped them with time management strategies, exam preparation tips, and self-care practices, boosting their confidence and setting them up for success during one of the most stressful times of the year.

Success isn’t just defined by school.

Physical and mental health can impact academic performance. We get it—if you’re far from home, school can feel extra overwhelming. At Untapped, we strive to support students holistically, not just academically. Check out footage from our finals week prep event with lululemon: first we did yoga, then we took the time to plan out a notoriously stressful week in great detail.

What is Untapped?

Comprehensive College
Coaching for Success

Students don’t always learn the skills that they need to succeed in school. We believe that college readiness = executive function skills. So, we help students hone those skills through an academic lens, holding them accountable every step of the way. Students meet with us twice a week, on campus or remotely, to get organized, make a plan of assignments and extracurriculars, and establish routines.

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Time management and organization

Effective time management and an organized environment reduce procrastination and stress and correlate with decreased stress levels, improved mood, self-esteem, and better sleep quality.

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Work hard, play hard

Being a Buff is about more than just homework. We help students develop the discipline to get their work done so they have time for all aspects of the CU experience: spending time with friends, getting involved on campus, heading up to the mountains, and exploring Boulder.

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Study strategies and academic success

Optimizing study strategies can enhance learning efficiency, retention, and application, paving the path to academic success in and out of the classroom.

Untapped Success Stories

Dane’s journey:

Dane was a bright yet scattered freshman in high school when he began working with an executive function coach at Untapped. We worked closely with him to build structured daily routines, including specific studying times, relaxation, and boxing. These routines helped Dane develop a sense of predictability and control over his day, reducing anxiety around time management and deadlines. In addition to those routines, accountability played a crucial role in Dane’s development. By establishing regular check-ins with his coach and setting clear, achievable goals, Dane began to take ownership of his academic responsibilities.

By the time he was enrolled at CU, Dane had improved his executive function skills to the point where he only needed support his freshman year. By that time, Dane had developed the skills to thrive in college—successfully balancing his academic and personal life. After graduating from CU, he secured a coveted position in finance. Dane’s success is an example of how developing executive function skills, physical activity, and structured support can lead to significant outcomes for students struggling with similar challenges.

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Hear more from parents of CU students:

5 stars review

Thank you UNTAPPED LEARNING so much for all you and your amazing mentors have done for my daughter. We are so thankful to have found a company like yours who seemed to meet her needs so well. Having a wonderful mentor like Bay made a difference in her academic path this past semester at college . The mentors at UNTAPPED LEARNING are patient, super nice and knowledgeable. They empower their students to become more confident,motivated and organized. Grateful to have found them.

Mary

Parent
5 stars review

Untapped has been invaluable for my daughter at Boulder. She has worked with her tutor, Emi, for the last three years. After struggling in high school, she has been on the dean’s list every semester at CU. Emi has taught her the executive functioning skills that she was lacking, enabling her to thrive. Going into her senior year she has all the skills she needs to achieve her goals on her own, but I have a feeling she’ll want to finish out her senior year working with Emi because she loves her so much. My son is starting college in the fall and I’m going to set him up with Untapped as well. I want him to start college out on the right foot, organized with good study habits. Untapped is a great program!

Whitney

Parent
5 stars review

My son started working with Untapped Learning in middle school and then took a break through high school. He started working with Untapped again as a freshman in college at CU Boulder. He had some struggles with organization and getting overwhelmed with the increased expectations and independence of college. His mentor has been amazing in helping him break down his classes and organize his week for success. He has excelled and gained confidence in himself and his abilities. His mentor has empowered him to know how to manage the many challenges of college life.

Beth

Parent

How It Works

Getting started with Untapped is easy.

01.

Find your coach

We begin by pairing you with the right mentor for your personality and learning style. From there, the two of you will build weekly academic plans so you can balance school and life while staying organized.

02.

Build your plan

Breaking daunting assignments into manageable tasks (to avoid procrastination!) is the key to college success. With your mentor, you’ll develop weekly plans and checklists that fit into your schedule, not the other way around.

03.

Virtual check-ins

With a weekly plan in hand, you and your mentor will hold virtual check-ins via email, phone, and text throughout the week so you’re held accountable and stay on track.

Resources for CU Students:

For Parents

CU Boulder Checklist

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For Parents

Getting Academic Accommodations at CU Boulder

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For Parents

Registering for Classes at CU Boulder

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For Parents

Avoiding the Freshman 15 at CU Boulder: Our Hot Take

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For Parents

How to Have a Successful First Semester at CU Boulder

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For Parents

A Day in the Life

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For Parents

Best Study Spots: CU Boulder

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For Educators

Law School Bound: Max’s Untapped Journey of Growth and Mentorship

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For Parents

Excelled in High School but Struggling in College: CU Boulder

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Frequently asked questions

Find quick answers to common questions about our services, coaching approach, and student support.

Executive function (or EF) skills include planning, organization, time management, focused attention, impulse control, task initiation, flexibility, emotional regulation, verbal and working memory, problem-solving, and metacognition. These skills are hosted in the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, attention, behavior, and emotion. (When people talk about our brains not fully developing until our mid- to late-twenties, this is the part of the brain they’re referring to.) In more tangible terms, these are the skills that help us maintain routines, prevent procrastination, and get out the door on time (among other things).

Many people develop these skills in their teens, but sometimes the skills don’t come naturally to everyone. People who have learning challenges like ADHD and dyslexia, those who struggle with anxiety or depression, and many others with no official diagnoses, often need to be taught these skills. With practice, everyone is capable of learning them.

That’s where we come in!

While traditional tutoring aims to improve understanding and performance in specific subject areas, executive function coaching targets the skills necessary for effective learning across all subjects. Untapped’s mentors empower students to understand their own learning processes, develop strategies for overcoming obstacles, and build self-regulation skills. We like to say that we approach executive function skill development through an academic perspective, but our focus is on the cognitive processes behind successful learning. Planning, organizing, etc. through the lens of school provides consistent, tangible ways for mentors and students to recognize and practice these skills. This approach typically facilitates immediate academic improvement, but more importantly, it fosters long-term resilience and adaptability, equipping students with the skills to tackle new challenges on their own.

At the end of the day, we’re less focused on GPA and more focused on increasing independence and building confidence so our students are successful in and beyond school.

Our in-person middle and high school students meet with their mentors at the same time every week for one hour. These sessions, held in the supportive and interactive environment of our Broomfield center, enable students and mentors to build a strong rapport and offer immediate feedback and encouragement.

Remote students and college students meet with their mentors twice a week for 30-minute sessions. These shorter meetings help students stay engaged and focused. Meeting twice a week is especially beneficial for college students—and their workloads—as it allows mentors to help students adjust their weekly plan and course correct when needed.

Regardless of student age or location, mentors reach out throughout the week to check in on progress, help problem-solve any situations that may arise, and provide supportive accountability from a non-parent, non-teacher perspective.

Untapped employs a multifaceted approach to track and measure the progress of our students, ensuring that each step forward is recognized and built upon. We also acknowledge that progress often looks like “two steps forward, one step back.” We begin by establishing clear, individualized goals based on a student’s initial assessment, strengths, and areas for development. Progress is then monitored through a combination of qualitative observations and quantitative metrics, including the completion of specific tasks and/or assignments, tracking grades, improvements in time management and organizational skills, and reflections on learning experiences. Regular check-ins with students and parents provide opportunities to assess growth, address challenges, and adjust strategies as needed. This allows us to celebrate successes, big and small, and ensures that our mentoring remains aligned with each student’s evolving needs.

Mentors at Untapped undergo a comprehensive training program designed to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity required to effectively support students with diverse learning needs. Here’s an overview of the training process:

  • Foundational Knowledge: Initial training sessions focus on foundational knowledge in developmental psychology, educational psychology, and an understanding of neurodiversity, including ADHD, dyslexia, and ASD.
  • Executive Function Skills: Mentors receive in-depth training on executive function skills, specifically on recognizing deficits and taking action to target that skill development in a way that does not make students feel insufficient, attacked, or “less than.” This training incorporates strategies that aid in learning and skill development that benefit ALL students, and not only those with learning differences.
  • Ethical and Privacy Training: Mentors are thoroughly trained on ethical considerations and privacy laws relevant to working with minors and sensitive information. This ensures all interactions and data handling comply with high standards of confidentiality and integrity. Mentors are also required to complete mandatory reporter training once a year.
  • Cultural and Contextual Sensitivity: Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of students, mentors are trained to approach their work with cultural and contextual sensitivity. This prepares them to respect and understand different family dynamics, beliefs, and values.
  • Ongoing Professional Development: Beyond initial training, mentors engage in continuous professional development, including workshops and peer learning sessions. This ensures they remain updated on the latest research, techniques, and tools in education and psychology.
  • Feedback and Supervision: Regular feedback sessions and supervision are part of the training and development process, allowing mentors to refine their skills, discuss challenges, and continuously improve their effectiveness.

Untapped’s training program ensures that mentors are not only well-prepared to meet the academic and developmental needs of their students but also support their emotional and psychological well-being.

Here’s a step-by-step overview of the enrollment process:

  • Initial Inquiry: Parents or guardians start by reaching out to Untapped through our website, phone, or email to express interest in our mentoring programs. This initial contact includes a brief discussion about the student’s needs, challenges, and goals.
  • Intake Meeting: Following the initial inquiry and the resulting phone call, an “intake” is scheduled. This meeting can take place in person, over the phone, or via a video call, but its purpose is to provide an opportunity for parents and students to learn more about Untapped, discuss specific needs, and ask any questions they may have. During this meeting, Untapped employees will get a feel for the student’s academic skills, executive function challenges, learning styles, and any specific challenges or areas of concern. Based on that information, they can recommend a mentor to Untapped’s scheduling coordinator. This match is based on the student’s needs, personality, interests, and the mentor’s expertise, teaching style, and experience. Ensuring a good fit is crucial for building a positive and productive mentoring relationship.
  • Enrollment: Once a mentor is matched and the program is selected, the formal enrollment process begins. This includes setting clear, achievable goals for the student, establishing a schedule for sessions, and discussing any logistical details.

Reach out now to start the process!

Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation with Emiko

Gain valuable insights into supporting your student’s academic journey by scheduling a complimentary, 15-minute consultation with Emiko—CU alum and director of our post-secondary program. During this session, Emiko will address your student’s academic concerns, aspirations, and goals, providing guidance to ensure a more focused and successful educational path.

Schedule your consultation →