Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, we’re restructuring our Making Waves coaching model to better support your path to economic mobility – earning your degree, gaining work experience, and building long-term financial stability.
You’ll still have a dedicated coach. What’s changing is how we support you – with more specialized roles that match the goals and challenges of each stage in college.
A more personalized coaching model
We’re organizing our college and career success program into three core areas of support to guide you through your college journey:
| Who it’s for | What is included | |
🎓 College Coaching | Students in the early years of college | Navigating the college transition Academic habits Education planning Staying on track to graduation |
🗺️ Career Coaching | Students in their later years of college | Building your network Internship prep Job search or grad school guidance |
💰 Financial Coaching | All students | College budgeting Scholarship and financial aid support New financial literacy and personal finance resources |
What this means for you
You’ll continue working with a coach – but their role may shift depending on your year in school and progress toward your college degree.
These changes reflect what we’ve heard from students – you want support that’s clear, consistent, and matches where you are in your journey.
- If you’re in your first few years of college, you’ll primarily work with a College Coach.
- If you’re closer to graduation, you’ll have a dedicated Career Coach.
- All students will continue working with a Financial Coach, with access to added resources to help you build strong financial habits.
You don’t need to take any action right now. We’ll contact you directly with coach assignments and next steps.
Why we’re making this change
We’re restructuring coaching to support your economic mobility — your ability to build a strong financial future through college success and career readiness.
By aligning our coaching roles to your journey, we can offer the right support at the right time — always focused on your goals.
These updates were also informed by feedback and data from students – including your ideas about what support you need most in college, your career, and your financial life.
Here’s what the college, career, and financial coaching means for you:
- Support earning your college degree — so you stay on track and graduate with a plan.
- Help gaining work experience — through internships and job prep that lead to college-level roles.
- Resources for building strong financial habits — so you can manage money now and grow long-term wealth after college.
Meet your Making Waves team
Our entire team is rooting for you. Get to know the Making Waves team here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my coach change?
Not necessarily. Some students may continue with the same coach; others may be assigned to a new coach aligned with where they are in their college journey.
If your coach changes, we’ll make sure there’s a warm handoff – and your new coach will be ready with notes and context to support you right away. A new coach also means new connections – and access to a broader support network with expertise tailored to your college stage.
Will I have to start over with a new coach? What if I’m in the middle of switching majors or schools?
If your coach assignment changes, we’ll coordinate a warm handoff – including a transition meeting where you, your current coach, and your new coach can connect. This gives you the chance to share what’s worked for you, ask questions, and feel confident about your next steps.
To support a smooth transition, your new coach will also have access to shared notes and context from your current coach – so you won’t have to start from scratch.
Can I still reach out to my old coach?
Of course. Relationships matter, and your old coach will still be part of your support community. While your new coach will be your primary contact, you’re always welcome to stay in touch with previous coaches – we’re all here to help you succeed.
