A college transition mentor helps your freshman build a routine, keep up with classes and handle the first-semester deadlines that catch students out. Blackburn Mentoring pairs college freshmen with one dedicated mentor by video at any college in the United States, or in person in Los Angeles, from the summer before through the first year. Call (888) 305-5422.
The first year of college is one of the biggest transitions most people ever make. Blackburn Mentoring supports students from the summer before they leave through the first semester and beyond, with one dedicated mentor who meets with them by video weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact in between and helps them build a life that works on their own.
Quick facts: college transition mentoring
| Who it is for | High school seniors heading to college and first-year students, at any college in the United States |
| Family updates | Depend on the student’s age and the permissions they give |
| Format | One-on-one with the same dedicated mentor, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles |
| Between sessions | Text and phone check-ins on the steps agreed in the session |
| Session times | Early morning, evening and weekend times, scheduled in your time zone |
| Getting started | A short online assessment, then a free intro call with a member of our team; new clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days |
| What it is not | Tutoring in a single subject, or therapy. Mentors work alongside a therapist only with written permission |
| Contact | (888) 305 5422 or the online assessment |
Before they leave
- Practicing the routines college requires: waking up, planning the week, managing money
- Setting goals for the first semester
- Knowing where to find help on campus before it is needed
- Talking through worries about roommates, workload and being away from home
The first semester
- A weekly plan built around a new class schedule
- Staying on top of deadlines when nobody is checking
- Using office hours, advising and campus resources
- Making friends and finding a community
- Noticing early when things start to slide, and adjusting
Why the first year matters so much
Habits formed in the first few months of college tend to stick, good or bad. A student who builds a working routine early has much more room to enjoy everything else college offers. A mentor helps make that routine real, then steps back as the student takes it over.
For parents
It is hard to watch from a distance. With the student’s permission, mentors share progress updates, so you know how the transition is going and can support it without managing it.
How to start
- Take a short assessment. Tell us about the student or yourself and the goals. It takes about five minutes.
- Have a free intro call. Our team reviews it personally and sets up a short call.
- Meet the mentor. We match each person with a mentor whose experience and style fit.
- Start the plan. 60 minute video sessions, scheduled in your local time.
Who first year mentoring is for
- Students who did well in high school with a lot of outside structure, and now have to supply their own
- Students who are excited but nervous about managing time, money and a new social world
- First-generation students who want someone to talk through how college works. See first-generation college students.
- Students who are not sure yet, and want to talk through a gap year vs going to college right away decision first
It is not a replacement for orientation, academic advising, disability services or campus counseling. Mentors help students find and use those offices.
A month-by-month view of the first semester
- Summer: practice the basics at home: waking on time without help, a weekly plan, a simple budget. The college move-in checklist covers the practical side.
- Move-in and first weeks: map every syllabus into one calendar, set fixed study blocks and find the advising and tutoring offices.
- Weeks four to eight: the first exams and papers arrive. Sessions focus on starting early and visiting office hours.
- Late semester: plan for finals and registration, and look honestly at what to change in the spring.
What a typical week looks like
Most students meet once a week by video from their room or the library, with a second short session during busy stretches. Between sessions, the mentor sends a text on the day a big assignment is due or the morning after the student said they would visit office hours. The point is not to supervise; it is to make following through a little easier until it becomes routine.
Sessions also make room for the non-academic side of the first year: managing a meal plan and spending money, getting enough sleep in a loud dorm, joining one or two groups and handling the first conflict with a roommate. These small skills often decide how the academic side goes. Our guide to making friends in college covers the social part.
Campus resources and a transition mentor: who does what
Colleges offer real support, but most of it waits for the student to ask. A transition mentor checks in first and helps the student use what the campus already provides.
| Support | What it does | Who starts the contact |
|---|---|---|
| Academic advisor | Course planning, degree requirements, registration | The student, usually once or twice a term |
| Residence life staff | Help with dorm life and roommates | The student, or staff when there is a problem |
| Campus counseling center | Short-term counseling and referrals | The student |
| Tutoring or learning center | Help with specific courses and study skills | The student |
| Disability services office | Accommodations for a documented disability | The student, with documentation. See disability services in college |
| Transition mentor (Blackburn Mentoring) | A weekly plan, routines, deadlines, and using all of the above | The mentor, every week, with check-ins between sessions |
How parents fit in
Parents usually help set the goals before move-in, then step back. A short conversation in the summer about how often you will talk, what money is available and what you expect on grades saves a lot of tension in October. With the student’s permission, the mentor shares regular progress updates, which tends to replace anxious daily texts with one calmer, factual picture. If homesickness or roommate trouble comes up, the mentor helps the student handle it directly; see homesick college freshmen and the parent’s guide to the first semester.
The college transition at a glance
The first term is when many students either find their footing or start to slide. National Student Clearinghouse data published in June 2025 found over 86 percent of the freshman class of 2023 returned for a second semester, with first spring persistence of 92.1 percent for full-time students and 67.4 percent for part-time students.
| When | What usually goes wrong | What a mentor works on |
|---|---|---|
| Summer before | No plan for sleep, money, laundry or a weekly schedule | A starter routine, a budget and a plan for the first two weeks |
| Weeks 1 to 4 | Unstructured hours, skipped classes, no study blocks | A weekly calendar, class attendance and office hours |
| Midterms | First low grades; hiding them from parents | A catch-up plan and talking to professors early |
| Drop and withdraw deadlines | Missed deadlines or rushed decisions | Knowing the dates and weighing options in time |
| Finals and winter break | Burnout, then a hard reset in spring | A finals plan and a spring semester reset |
Questions about first year mentoring
When should we start?
The summer before college is ideal, so routines are in place before classes begin, but mentoring can start at any point in the first year.
Can the student keep the same mentor all year?
Yes. Students work with one dedicated mentor for as long as they want support.
Does it work at any college?
Yes. Sessions are by video and scheduled in the student’s local time, wherever they study in the US.
How do I find a college transition mentor for my freshman?
Look for one dedicated mentor who starts before move-in, meets weekly through the first semester and checks in between sessions. Blackburn Mentoring offers college transition mentoring by video for students at any college in the United States, and in person in Los Angeles. Call (888) 305-5422 or start with the short online assessment.
Is a transition mentor the same as an academic advisor?
No. An advisor helps with courses and degree requirements and usually meets a student a few times a year. A transition mentor meets weekly, works on routines, deadlines and follow-through, and helps the student make use of advising and other campus resources.
Is it too late to start after the first semester begins?
No. Students often start after midterms or over winter break. The first session maps what is left and builds a plan from there.
What if my student will not tell us how things are going?
That is common in the first year. With the student’s permission, mentors share progress updates, so you have a clearer picture without having to push. See staying connected with a college student.
Does a mentor help with choosing classes?
Mentors help students prepare for advising meetings and think through options, but course and major decisions are made with the college’s academic advisors.
Can mentoring continue over winter and summer break?
Yes. Sessions are by video, so they continue wherever the student is. Many use breaks to reset routines; see a winter break plan for college students.
Can a college transition mentor work with a student at any college?
Yes. Sessions are by video, so a Blackburn mentor can work with a student at any college in the United States, and keep going over breaks.
Related
- College students
- High school students
- Gap year mentoring
- For families
- First-Generation College Students: The Hidden Curriculum
- Your College Freshman’s First Semester: A Parent’s Guide
Get started
Getting a student ready for college? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.
Last updated .
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.