I’m Dr. Dagny Rearden. I see college from both sides.
I’m a college professor with more than 20 years in the classroom, and a mom who has watched smart students struggle. That combination is why I created College Success Made Simple.
It started at my kitchen table.
I didn’t start out as a college success coach. I started as a mom watching my son struggle. He lost learning time during the pandemic, and by Pre-Calculus his midterm grade was an F.
I used what I’d learned as a professor to teach him active study strategies and a system he could stick to. Now I help other families do the same.
An F in Pre-Calculus
Pulled it up to a D, then started fresh with a plan
A solid B, while playing a varsity sport
Started with confidence. Dean’s List ever since
I didn’t succeed because I was brilliant. I built the skills.
As a first-generation college student, I figured it out on my own. I didn’t get straight A’s, but I earned a strong GPA, passed a major licensing exam, and went on to two master’s degrees and a PhD while working full time.
Studying effectively and managing time are learnable skills. Your child can learn them too.
Your child isn’t incapable. They’re untrained.
College is a different game, and most students arrive without knowing the rules. Once they have a system, the overwhelm clears and keeping up becomes manageable.
Take the parent quizFree. 10 questions, about 2 minutes. Your result arrives by email.
Dagny Rearden is a pen name. I write about my son and my students often, and I want to protect their privacy and my own. Thanks for understanding.
