Prepare for a successful conversation with your coach
This checklist will help you prepare for your academic coaching call and make the most of your time with an EdAssist® by Bright Horizons® academic coach. You don't need to have all the answers—the coach is there to help you figure things out—but thinking through these questions beforehand can make your conversation even more productive.
Determining which coaching session is right for you
Depending on your employer’s plan and policy, you may have access to four different types of coaching through EdAssist. It’s important to book a session with the right type of coach based on your questions.
- Academic coaching: Provides recommendations for programs, answers questions about degree requirements, and can offer guidance on returning to school based on your career goals.
- Financial coaching: Helps adult learners assess strategies to pay for continued schooling while meeting their other financial goals.
- Policy coaching: Answers specific and complex questions about your employers’ tuition assistance benefits.
- Student loan coaching: Offers guidance around paying off student loans.
Before you schedule your academic call
- Review your employer's education assistance policy
- Note any questions you have about the policy
- Understand your annual tuition reimbursement limit
- Check if manager approval is required
When scheduling your appointment
- Use the appointment notes section to share what you're thinking about
- Include links to any specific programs you're considering
- Mention if you're unsure about whether a program is covered
- Note your general timeline (when you'd like to start)
Key questions to think about
You don't need to have definitive answers to all of these—just thinking about them will help guide your conversation.
Career and education goals:
- What do I want to study? (It's okay if you're not sure!)
- What degree level or program type am I interested in?
- Am I looking to advance in my current career or make a complete change?
- What are my long-term career goals?
Time and schedule:
- How many hours per week can I realistically dedicate to schoolwork?
- When would I ideally like to start? (This semester, next year, etc.)
- Do I prefer a fast-paced accelerated program or a slower, more flexible pace?
- Are there any life changes coming up that might affect my availability?
Budget and cost preferences:
- Am I willing to pay out-of-pocket beyond what my employer covers?
- If so, approximately how much can I afford per semester or year?
- Do I want to stay within my employer's benefit limits?
- How important is finding the lowest-cost option?
Program preferences:
- Do I prefer online, in-person, or hybrid learning?
- How important is school name recognition and prestige to me?
- Do I want a cohort-based program or more independent study?
- Do I prefer asynchronous (self-paced) or synchronous (scheduled) classes
Questions you might want to ask your coach
- Will this program be covered by my employer's policy?
- What's a reasonable course load for someone working full-time?
- What's the difference between certificates and certifications?
- Are there programs that offer better value or flexibility for my situation?
- What does the application process typically look like?
- What support resources are available once I'm enrolled?
- How long will it realistically take me to complete this program?
- How long will the school let me have to complete this program?
Information that may be helpful to have on hand
- My current education level and any previous college credits
- Programs or schools I'm already considering (with links if possible)
- My work schedule and any scheduling constraints
- My employer's education assistance policy details
- Any questions about specific fields of study I'm curious about
Remember
• You don't need to have everything figured out before your call—that's what the coach is there for!
• There are no dumb questions. Academic coaches work with people at all stages of their journey.
• You're not committing to anything by scheduling a call. It's just an information-gathering conversation.
• You can schedule multiple coaching calls. Many people have a follow-up conversation after taking some time to do research and think over their previous discussion with the coach.
• The hardest part is often just making the appointment. Once you do, you'll likely find it's much easier than you expected.
