About Lantern College Counseling
Who We Are
Lantern College Counseling was founded by a university dean and is staffed by experienced admissions, academic success, and crisis-recovery specialists. We work with U.S.-based and international families seeking expert, ethical guidance through college admissions, long-term student success, and academic crisis support.
Drawing on decades of university leadership experience, Lantern helps families navigate admissions, institutional expectations, and academic challenges with clarity and confidence.
Much of our work focuses on students pursuing engineering, computer science, and other STEM pathways, though we also support students across a wide range of academic interests, including those still exploring their academic direction.
Our work is grounded in deep academic fluency, thoughtful mentorship, and a commitment to protecting student voice and agency throughout the process.
Many families come to Lantern seeking clarity in a complex landscape. We help students move beyond checklists, rankings, and conflicting advice to develop a thoughtful path forward — one grounded in self-understanding, academic alignment, and long-term thriving.
Lantern’s guidance is informed not only by admissions experience, but by decades of experience working with students on college campuses and helping them succeed once they arrive.
Leadership
Lantern’s work is led by a collaborative team with distinct areas of expertise:
Jennifer Stephan, PhD — Founder & Academic Strategy Lead
University engineering dean and former computer science professor who specializes in guiding students pursuing engineering, computer science, and other STEM pathways through strategic admissions planning.
Her experience includes leadership on Tufts University’s Mental Health Task Force, where she worked on initiatives related to student mental health, academic standing, and medical leave policies. At Lantern, in addition to admissions counseling, she also works with families navigating academic difficulty, leaves of absence, and academic recovery.
Dr. Jennifer Stephan has been featured in national podcasts, articles, and professional conferences on college admissions and higher education. See our In the Media page.
Eliza Yuen, MS — College Admissions Counselor
Admissions specialist who works closely with students applying to U.S. and Canadian colleges, with particular experience supporting STEM students, undecided students, and international families through thoughtful college search, application strategy, and essay development.
Karen Flood, PhD — College Success & Academic Crisis Specialist
Former Harvard dean with deep experience supporting students navigating academic probation, leaves of absence, re-entry after disruption, and rebuilding academic momentum through structured academic recovery and college success coaching.
Learn more about our team.
Our Areas of Expertise
Lantern provides guidance in three primary areas:
College Admissions Counseling
Strategic guidance for students applying to U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities, particularly those pursuing engineering, computer science, or other STEM fields, as well as students who are still exploring their academic direction. Our work is grounded in thoughtful planning, authentic self-presentation, and the development of strong, reflective applications.
College Success Coaching
Structured support that helps students build the habits, organization, and self-awareness needed to succeed once they are enrolled.
College Crisis Support
Expert guidance for students experiencing academic difficulty in college, including academic probation, leaves of absence, transfers, and institutional review processes.
Learn more about our services:
Our Frameworks
Lantern’s work is guided by a set of well-defined frameworks shaped by decades of experience supporting students on college campuses. These frameworks help students and families make informed, reflective decisions across both traditional and complex educational paths.
The Deep-Fit™ Framework
A comprehensive approach to college selection that prioritizes academic alignment, institutional culture, learning environment, and long-term student thriving — not just admissions outcomes.
Ethical College Counseling in the Age of AI
A student-centered philosophy that protects voice, agency, and integrity in the age of AI and high-pressure admissions.
College Success Coaching & Academic Recovery
Expert guidance for students navigating academic probation, leaves of absence, transfers, or re-entry after disruption — grounded in real institutional experience and focused on rebuilding momentum and confidence.
Who We Work With
Lantern works particularly well with students and families whose educational paths benefit from thoughtful guidance and careful institutional navigation.
We are especially well suited to supporting:
• STEM-oriented students, including those pursuing engineering, computer science, AI, or interdisciplinary technical fields
• Students who are undecided or intellectually curious, and who are still developing clarity about their academic direction
• International students and globally mobile families navigating U.S. and Canadian college admissions systems
• Students experiencing academic crisis, including academic probation, leaves of absence, transfers, or the need to reset after a difficult college start
Across all of these contexts, our work focuses on helping students develop self-understanding, confidence, and a clear sense of direction so they can make decisions that support both admission and long-term success.
Many of the families who seek out Lantern place a deep value on education itself. They may be educators, researchers, or parents who understand that college success depends on more than rankings or brand names. Others come to us because their student requires a particular learning environment to thrive — whether due to giftedness, neurodivergence, or a need for structure, challenge, or support that may not be well served by a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why Families Choose Lantern
Families choose Lantern because they want more than generic advice or checklist-driven admissions strategies. They want experienced, thoughtful guidance that helps students move from uncertainty to clarity.
By working closely with a limited number of students over time, we develop a deep understanding of each student’s academic profile, learning style, goals, and context. This allows us to offer guidance that is both highly personalized and grounded in real institutional insight.
Our role is to help families sort through the noise of rankings, timelines, and competing advice, and to create a steady, intentional process that supports both strong college applications and long-term student well-being.
The result is not just successful admissions outcomes, but students who feel prepared, self-aware, and equipped to thrive in the environments they choose.
Next Steps
Choosing the right college — or finding a way forward when college does not go as planned — is a significant decision.
We begin by listening carefully, understanding your student’s context, and determining whether Lantern is the right fit for your family’s needs.
If you would like to explore working together, we invite you to schedule an introductory call.