Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being widely applied in nearly every aspect of our modern world. Yet, very few colleges and universities offer a formal AI major or degree. Indeed, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, only ten US institutions are currently offering a formal major in artificial intelligence.

Every student’s journey to—and through—college is unique. Students can find themselves feeling lost when they get to campus. Students who’ve historically lacked direction can suddenly uncover a passion that catapults them into an entirely new direction and career path.

At Lantern, the cornerstone of our work is comprehensive college counseling of high school students applying to college. However, I often work with families otherwise through targeted advising in various ways.

A strong personal statement shows who you are as a person and what makes you unique and different from other students with similar grades, courses, standardized test scores, and activities. It differentiates and individualizes you.

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 good 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.

If you are a student interested in studying computer science or the parent or counselor of one, I’m excited to share my new online course, “How to Write a Standout Computer Science College Application.” The course is packed with my expertise and richly crafted resources and includes 70 lessons delivered through a mix of media: videos, audio and screen recordings, documents, and fillable PDFs. The first module (0) and its five lessons are complimentary via preview at the course site.

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.”