Report from a College Student: the benefits of Cogmed Working Memory Training

Ashley, a college student that I have seen through Cogmed Training reports on her experiences with Cogmed.

I am a college student who recently finished the Cogmed training program. I’ve got to be honest; when I began the program, I was doubtful of its said effects. However, since finishing the training, I have noticed several positive changes, mainly with my academics. Like I said, I was skeptical, even doubtful at times, of it working for me. I thought, “How could a computer game help me to get to meetings and class on time?” or “Is this really going to help my anxiety?”

The training was a process. My coach played a vital role in reminding me on a weekly basis of why I was doing the training and how to train right to get the best effects from it. Honestly, the actual training wasn’t fun. It was a real challenge to me. Planning in the hour to train five days a week was difficult to do with a busy schedule. I tend to have anxiety anyway. But, as it turns out, my general anxiety was something that Cogmed ended up improving after completing my Cogmed training.

I am a senior in college, looking to attend Graduate School in the fall. I am at a in the midst of a very important time in my academic career. I am a full-time student. My classes are upper level seminars and all include major presentations and term papers. I am preparing to take the GRE for grad school adimissions; I am researching schools for the fall. I have a job, and I am a college athlete. My plate, so to speak, is full and I almost always feel overwhelmed by my daily schedule and upcoming commitments or deadlines. So you can imagine how I felt when Cogmed was added to my plate. I thought that if I had to make time for another thing, this had better be worth it!

In the beginning of my training, I was able to rush through the activites just to finish and check Cogmed off of my list of to-do’s for the day. I quickly learned that this was not the right approach. My coach helped me to see the importance in doing Cogmed with a certain focus every training day. I had to block out all of my other obligations and deadlines, and concentrate on Cogmed only. Teaching myself to focus on the task at hand and to pace myself instead of rushing through activites just to finish and move on to the next thing has really helped me academically.

I have been able to transfer the skills I gained through my Cogmed training to my daily life. One of my goals from the beginning of my training was to study more effectively and efficiently. I struggled with getting side-tracked with other tasks while doing one thing, and because of that, I never seemed to get any one thing finished. After finishing with Cogmed, I have noticed that I am more systematic in getting things done. It’s like I can ‘attack’ tasks and complete them efficiently without feeling overwhelmed or like I need to rush through them.

Another goal that I set in the beginning of my training was to be more punctual to class, meetings, work, etc. I remember it being embarassing to set that goal, as I had always considered myself to be very puctual, but when it came down to it, this had become a real weakness of mine. Before Cogmed, it was like I was always rushing from one class to a meeting and then to practice; going, going, going… Cogmed helped to teach me a rhythm. I had to find a way to get through the training; to not drag it out and to not rush through it. Since my training has been finished, I can find a rhythm for the day, based on what I have to get done, and I roll with it.

I am writing these things to illustrate to you just how effective Cogmed really has been for me. I hope that this gets you thinking about how Cogmed might be able to help you or someone you know. Maybe it’s a co-worker who is always whirling around with no focus. Maybe it’s a child of yours who can’t make it through his chores without continous support and reminders of what he/she is supposed to be doing. Maybe you can identify with my previous struggles and want to see similar effects. I’m not sure where Cogmed fits into your life, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask about it and learn more about it!

Dr. Charles Shinaver

Located in Carmel, Indiana near Indianapolis, Noblesville, Fishers, Zionsville, and Westfield.

 Host of                                   And provider of

Clarity4Health.com            Cogmed Working Memory Training^TM

 Servicing you through web and phone:  No matter where you are.

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