It’s common for high school and new college students to be undecided about what they want to major in during college. Even those who start college with certainty about their major often change their minds. Not being sure about what one wants to study is entirely developmentally appropriate!

Once you’ve identified schools that meet your general criteria (location, size, academic programs, etc.), what else should you be thinking about to determine if a school is a Deep-Fit? Consider the results of a 2015 study of approximately 30,000 individuals by Gallup-Purdue Index. Researchers identified six college undergraduate experiences linked to life preparedness and success:

It is common for high school and new college students to be undecided about what they want to major in during college. In this piece, I share my expertise for guiding the student who enjoys math and science but is uncertain whether they want to study math, science, or engineering: the undecided STEM student.

Once a student arrives on their college campus, what can they do to make the most of their time? How can they set themselves up for success during and after college? With decades of experience teaching, mentoring, and advising undergraduate students, I have deep insights about what it means—and takes—to thrive in college. This article shares my roadmap for college success which includes specific action items in the areas of wellness, academic success, knowing and using resources, building community, and creating a future. I hope it helps students navigate their college experience confidently and with agency.

The podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in engineering admissions, particularly parents whose children are interested in pursuing engineering as a major in college. Lisa and I discussed the pros and cons of universities versus colleges (and how each might work better for your student), how to review your student’s college list, using experiences and extracurricular activities to understand what careers and majors fit, and college and major flexibility for different engineering degrees.

Lantern College Counseling families come from all over the world. Many of our American students are interested in or open to attending college outside the United States. We also frequently work with students from other countries who are looking to come to America for college. In all cases, students considering studying in a country other than their own can anticipate some common challenges and rewards.

Your child must understand how AI works on a high level. In its current form, AI can do a great job on things already done. Its output is a mashup or collection of what has already been written and created. There must be data out there for it to provide a good response. One way to think about AI is as a sophisticated, highly-powered search engine. With this lens, AI is actually not so new.

On May 10, I presented at the IECA 2023 Spring Conference in Seattle, WA, in the Featured College Session titled "Is Artificial Intelligence Changing College Counseling?" During the panel discussion, I shared my insights from my career as a computer science professor, engineering dean, and IEC specializing in STEM with a focus on the impact of AI on college counseling and higher education.

When a high school student comes to me for help to apply to college to study engineering, my first step is to get a sense of how clear their interest is. Are they interested in one specific field of engineering, and if so, what is the basis for this interest? If not, are there different types of engineering that they are considering and why?

Computer Science skills can be developed through a top-ranked CS program (via a strong CS fingerprint built up in high school), a CS major at a small liberal arts college (perhaps after discovering a CS interest in college), post-baccalaureate or graduate work, a job, and activities. Opportunities abound for someone with talent and a genuine interest in computer science.

The podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in computer science admissions, particularly parents whose children are interested in pursuing computer science as a major. I highlight how to have a strong computer science fingerprint on the college application, why creative students may want to consider computer science, computer science-related majors for students to consider, and advice for navigating this highly competitive major.

Making the decision to transfer from one college to another is brave. It requires that a student walk away from their first college home and take a leap of faith amidst many unknowns as they try to find a new college home. It is an active, bold choice. Transfer students typically arrive at their new institution with direction, commitment, and a sense of purpose.

In November of 2022, ChatGPT, the chatbot launched by OpenAI, exploded onto the scene of social consciousness. How text generated by computer software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) will shape and change society remains to be seen. Many questions are raised in the domain of college applications: how will colleges respond to this new tool?

An academic life is rewarding. My favorite day of the year is the first day of the academic year each fall. The campus buzzes with excitement, promise, and potential as all the students return. When walking across the quad, the energy is palpable and infectious. It is a privilege to be surrounded by young adults as they develop their identities and to participate in this process.

On November 9, I presented an educational session at the 2022 IECA Fall Conference in San Diego, CA, titled “Navigating the Computer Science Admissions Landscape,” based on my article “Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Computer Science Admissions: An Expert’s Approach.”

An ABET-accredited program has met rigorous standards through a formal intensive review process, including ongoing self-study and periodic evaluation by academic, government, and industry experts. With its focus on specific learning outcomes and program improvement, ABET provides a standard for high-quality engineering programs.

“You know, when you have some interest, that gets you excited. That makes you get up in the morning. That makes you want to do more than the minimum. That is an important element. And that is something you can get anywhere. That doesn’t happen only at Ivy League institutions, you know.” - Dr. Rob Playter

References can help admissions officers distinguish between students who look alike on paper, those with like grades in similar classes, roughly equivalent standardized test scores, and common extracurricular activities. The strongest letters of reference are written by a current or recent (junior year) teacher who knows the student well and can provide anecdotes and details about the student beyond their grades.

Because CS is a discipline overrepresented in the applicant pool, admission as a CS major can be far more competitive than for other majors. Admission to schools as a CS major is supported with clear direction in the field reflected in activities, resume, and coursework: a strong CS “fingerprint.”

The COVID-19 pandemic first hit college and university campuses in the middle of the spring 2020 semester, upending traditional academic and co-curricular experiences for the entire campus community. But even as campuses shut down and students, faculty, and staff were sent home, admissions officers released decisions just as they do every March. So, what happened from there on out?