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 momentum 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 life.
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.
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
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.
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 strategic 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 and career momentum
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 and steady mentorship. 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.
College Success Coaching Pathways
We offer coaching support for two stages of the college journey: students preparing to begin college and students already enrolled.
For Students Preparing to Begin College
Support designed to help students plan the transition to college, navigate the critical first semester, and build momentum during the first year.
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Expert college transition planning with two experienced university deans | $2000
A focused strategy session designed for students in the summer before their first year of college to plan for the academic and social transition to college addressing:
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 communities, and laying groundwork for research 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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Guidance during the critical transition from high school to college | $4,000 (10 hours)
Ongoing meetings and high-touch, responsive support
Assistance completing required orientation tasks, and navigating course selection and registration
Guidance for making the most of college:
Help students develop foundations for academic success (strong study habits and effective approaches to coursework and longer-term projects)
Connect students with relevant campus resources and advising systems
Build community and mentors (including connecting with faculty members, finding a fulfilling co-curricular activity or group to join)
Develop academic and career direction and determine a major
Support for parents to remain appropriately connected while fostering their student’s independence
Benefits all students, especially those beginning college outside their home country
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Sustained guidance to help students build academic momentum and long-term direction | $7,500 (20 hours)
Includes all elements of First Semester: Transition and Foundation, with continued guidance throughout the remainder of the first year.
Ongoing meetings and high-touch, responsive support
Sophomore year fall course selection and registration in the spring semester
Guidance for making the most of the summer after the first year of college
For Students Already Enrolled in College
College can bring moments of growth, uncertainty, and change. Our coaching provides steady guidance to help students navigate challenges, make thoughtful academic decisions, and build a fulfilling college experience.
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Sustained guidance helping students navigate academic decisions, build meaningful connections, and make the most of their college experience.
Up to 10 hours of sustained support over one term | $4000
Up to 20 hours of sustained support over two terms | $7500
Support typically includes biweekly 30-minute meetings, along with additional guidance during key academic moments such as the start of term and course registration periods.
Students receive guidance across several key areas of college life:
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.
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Focused advising for students navigating particular academic or personal transitions during college.
4-hour minimum | $500 per hour
Common areas of support include:
Major discernment and career advising
Navigating a return from a leave of absence and re-establishing academic momentum
Periods of personal or academic transition requiring thoughtful reevaluation of college direction
Coursework at another institution for transfer credit and degree progress
Evaluating and planning a potential transfer to another institution (learn more about our transfer admissions counseling)
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 coaching support would be helpful — and, if so, which level of support is most appropriate.