College Success Coaching
Guidance for students transitioning to college or navigating challenges during their college years
College is a period of rapid intellectual, personal, and social development. Even highly capable students can struggle to translate their potential into sustained engagement and direction once they arrive on campus.
Drawing on more than 60 years of combined experience as university professors, advisors, and deans at Harvard University, Wellesley College, and Tufts University, we provide personalized coaching that helps students navigate the academic, social, and developmental realities of college.
Whether a student is preparing to begin college or is already enrolled, we build trusting relationships that help them gain—or regain—momentum, develop direction, and chart a purposeful path through college and beyond.
This work is part of our Deep-Fit™ Framework, which views college not simply as an admissions outcome but as a period of growth, direction-finding, and long-term development. College success coaching helps students make the most of the opportunities available to them once they arrive on campus and develop the habits, relationships, and self-understanding that support long-term success.
Our work with students and families spans college admissions counseling, college success coaching, and college crisis support. See our full range of college counseling services.
To learn more about how college success coaching works and why students benefit from it, read our article: College Success Coaching: Personalized Support to Help Students Thrive.
When Families Seek College Success Coaching
Families typically reach out when a student is navigating one of several common moments in the college journey:
Preparing for the transition from high school to college and wanting a thoughtful plan for the first year
Preparing a student who has benefited from structure or support in high school to navigate college with greater independence and make effective use of university resources
Adjusting to the academic and social expectations of college life
Exploring majors or academic direction after arriving on campus
Building stronger relationships with faculty, mentors, and campus communities
Navigating a period of uncertainty, change, or reevaluation during college
Considering transfer or reevaluating college fit
Addressing more serious academic challenges such as probation, dismissal, or a leave of absence
Some students seek coaching simply to make the most of their college experience. Others reach out during moments when additional guidance can help them regain momentum and move forward with clarity.
In situations involving academic probation, dismissal, or a leave of absence, families may also benefit from our College Academic Crisis Support services, which focus specifically on academic standing, leaves of absence, and academic recovery. Students considering transfer may also benefit from our Transfer Admissions Counseling or Strategic Transfer Pathway services, depending on whether the situation primarily involves admissions planning or broader academic recovery and reentry support. Many students move between crisis support and ongoing coaching as they regain stability and direction.
How College Success Coaching Works
College success is rarely the result of academic ability alone. Students thrive when they learn how to navigate complex institutional systems, build meaningful relationships with mentors and peers, and develop the habits that support sustained growth.
Drawing on decades of experience as university professors, advisors, and deans, we help students understand how colleges function from the inside and how to position themselves to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.
Through ongoing conversations, reflection, practical tools, and individualized guidance, students learn how to:
develop effective academic habits and manage complex workloads
build relationships with faculty and mentors
identify meaningful extracurricular and intellectual communities
explore majors and academic direction with intention
navigate institutional resources and advising systems
translate college experiences into long-term academic, professional, and personal growth
Lantern College Counseling is intentionally small and high-touch. We work with a limited number of students to preserve the depth, responsiveness, and individualized attention that define our approach.
Coaching relationships are built on trust, steady mentorship, and deep understanding of how students develop over time. We meet students where they are — whether they are navigating the transition to college, refining academic direction, or responding to moments of uncertainty.
Our goal is to help students develop the judgment, confidence, and skills that allow them to thrive throughout college and beyond.
Coaching Options
Our coaching support is designed to meet students where they are in the college journey.
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Expert college transition planning with an experienced university dean | $1250
A focused, one-time strategy session for students in the summer before their first year of college, designed to help students prepare thoughtfully for the academic and social transition to college. Prior to the session, we gather information from the student about their interests, goals, and anticipated challenges, and conduct individualized research into the student’s institution, resources, and opportunities so that guidance is tailored to the student’s environment and goals. This option is well suited for families who would like a strategic plan and expert guidance but may not need ongoing coaching during the semester.
Topics commonly addressed include:
Navigating the advising model at the student’s institution and connecting with assigned advisors
Identifying faculty, staff, and campus resources aligned with the student’s academic and personal interests
Preparing to engage with services such as career centers, academic resources, counseling, accessibility, and cultural or identity centers
Building mentoring relationships with faculty, identifying meaningful extracurricular and intellectual communities, and laying groundwork for opportunities such as research, internships, or study abroad
Exploring majors, course selection, second majors or minors
A recording of the session is provided for future reference, along with written recommendations outlining key strategies and next steps for the first year.
For international students, we also discuss key aspects of U.S. academic culture and communication norms, including how to read and interpret course syllabi, faculty expectations for participation and engagement, the importance of office hours, FERPA and student privacy policies, and academic integrity expectations.
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Ongoing mentorship and guidance helping students navigate college with greater confidence, direction, and intentionality.
Short-term coaching engagement (5 hours) | $2125
Standard coaching engagement (10 hours) | $4000
Extended coaching engagement (20 hours) | $7500
Support typically includes weekly meetings of 30 to 60 minutes, along with additional guidance during key academic moments such as the start of term and course registration periods.
Coaching is tailored to the student’s needs and goals, but commonly includes support in areas such as:
Academic success skill development — developing strong study habits and effective approaches to coursework and longer-term projects
Navigating the university environment — connecting students with relevant campus resources and advising systems, including academic support, tutoring, health and wellness services, accessibility resources, and leadership or identity-based communities
Mentorship, community, and engagement — building relationships with faculty mentors and identifying meaningful extracurricular and intellectual communities on campus
Academic direction and major exploration — exploring academic interests, selecting courses, and determining a major
Planning for summers and future opportunities — aligning summer experiences with academic interests and long-term career goals
Parent partnership — helping parents remain appropriately connected while supporting their student’s growing independence
We also provide high-touch, responsive support when questions or challenges arise between meetings.
Considering College Success Coaching?
Every student’s situation is different. Some families seek guidance as their student prepares to begin college, while others reach out when questions or challenges arise during the college years.
We’re happy to talk through your student’s circumstances and help you determine whether college success coaching would be helpful — and, if so, what level of engagement is most appropriate.