College students and young adults face life changes, for the most part, completely alone. Great Bernard is here to help. Great Bernard supports the success of college students and rising college students by providing live, personalized, hands-on, human assistance and reminders for many of life’s routine tasks.
A Word From Great Bernard’s Founder, Dr. Allison
I founded Great Bernard because I am adamant (and enthusiastic!) about the belief that any student who wants to attend college, as a commuter or a resident, should be able to achieve that goal with the right support.
As a student at Vassar College, I worked within the residential life program as a Student Fellow (an RA of sorts, providing emotional and logistical support to freshmen), a House Intern (leading and supervising the Student Fellows and serving as a liaison to the Dean of Students), and as an office assistant in the Residential Life office.
I furthered my education by earning a doctorate in clinical psychology and have 19 years of clinical experience. My work with adolescents and families has informed my understanding of the various reasons that a student may need additional academic and organizational support when entering and completing college, as well as some creative ways to provide that support.
As the parent of 3 children who are quickly approaching college age, I am acutely aware of the skills that need to be mastered for college and independent living. I am also very cognizant of the intense desire and drive of many high school students to leave the nest and leap into college life. My intention is that Great Bernard will help students to succeed in a fun and optimistic way while giving parents a sense of security and relief.
Great Bernard provides research-backed, proven, hands-on support for students and young adults who are facing life’s challenges. We operate a 24/7 helpline staffed with the world’s best Advisors.
It all starts with weekly, scheduled, calls. You and your Great Bernard Advisor will discuss the kinds of tasks you have upcoming for the week and the kind of help you’ll need to get them done.
Then, during the week, we’ll reach out proactively to keep you productive. If you get stuck or need help, an Advisor is available 24/7 to help you push through via phone or chat. Our services are designed to keep you productive, no matter what challenges you face.
Great Bernard provides support in two areas: academic and health.
Academic support starts with weekly, scheduled, calls. You and your Great Bernard Advisor will discuss the kinds of tasks you have upcoming for the week and the kind of help you’ll need to get them done. Then, during the week, we’ll reach out proactively to keep you productive.
If you get stuck, or need help, an Advisor is available 24/7 to help you push through via phone or chat.
Our advisors are all highly organized, US-based, students, former students, and parents. They have all experienced college themselves and are aware of the complexities of college life. They get a special thrill helping individuals reach their goals.
Our services are designed to keep you productive, no matter what challenges you face.
Health Support is a unique offering that provides important health reminders and check-ins. Nothing is more important than your health, but we know it can sometimes be hard to remember all the things you need to in order to take care of yourself. Forgotten medications can have devastating effects, even forgotten meals can throw your body for a loop. Great Bernard can help you remember all the things you need to in order to live a full and successful life.
It all starts with weekly planning calls. Great Bernard Nurses and Nurse’s Assistants can help you organize your medicines so they are easier to take, plan for important health reminders, and help you formulate questions for your healthcare providers. Then our live-human reminders will keep you on track.
Need more accountability? No problem. We can discuss ways to set up a reminder system that works for you. We can be as obnoxious as necessary, all while keeping your health information confidential.
If you get stuck, or need help, a Nurse’s Assistant is available 24/7 to help you push through via phone, text, or chat. Please note that Great Bernard should not be called in a health emergency. In emergencies, 911 should be called or your area equivalent.
Our Nurse and Nurse Assistants are all highly organized, highly qualified, and US-based. They have all experienced college themselves and are aware of the complexities of college life. They get a special thrill helping individuals reach their goals.
Our services are designed to keep you on track with your health, no matter what challenges you face.
Great Bernard is Designed For Students
Congratulations on moving on to college! We remember our transition to college as being both very exciting and a little daunting.
At Great Bernard, we would like to help you with the part that is a little scary by being with you (like a favorite camp counselor) as much or as little as you would like.
We can call you to remind you to wake up and do essential things like study and go to class. We can help you organize your assignments and due dates, and we can even watch you turn papers in via Zoom so that you know that you have done it. We can help you talk through an essay and we can help you schedule study time. We can sit with you (again, via Zoom) while you check your email or even while you do a problem set. We can also help you to problem solve if you aren’t sure how to handle something or if you are stuck on making a decision.
And, you can call us! Anytime, even at 3 am, because we know that your schedule probably includes late hours and we have planned for this by hiring a bunch of night owls. We can even help keep you awake during all-night study sessions.
Think of us as a combination of older sibling, camp counselor, and favorite teacher. We are not employed by your school and we are not related to you, so we are neutral and we are on your side. We will keep your information private and can be trusted to help you move forward.
Great Bernard is a Help to Parents and Guardians:
You did it! You sent your student to college. It’s a big step for them and for you. It’s normal to worry about them, even if you know they are ready. Will they have the help they need? Will they succeed socially, and academically? These are all normal concerns.
At Great Bernard, we know what it is like to be in your shoes. We’re set up to help your student in a proactive and highly supportive way, utilizing research-backed methods for improving your student’s success. We are just the thing your student needs to set off on their own without your help.
If you think of all the ways you helped your student succeed in high school, they were myriad: helping them stay organized, making sure they made it to their appointments, and helping them gain perspective when things got overwhelming. They likely don’t want your help in college, even if you’re close enough to give it. That’s where we come in.
Our service is completely confidential and highly available. We fly under the radar and help in ways that would be too hard for a parent, any parent or guardian, to do successfully. We’ll be there when you can’t, until they are fully ready to be on their own.
College is a big investment and Great Bernard is a way to protect that investment and your student. We’ll be the guide on the side, as much or as little as your student needs.
Visit https://GreatBernard.com to learn more.
