College Admissions Counseling at Lantern: A Team-Based Approach to Student Success
Expert College Admissions Counseling, Delivered by a Collaborative Team
At Lantern College Counseling, students applying to college benefit from a unified team—two experienced counselors working together to support every student. Jennifer Stephan and Eliza Yuen bring decades of experience and a collaborative, student-centered approach grounded in shared insight and consistent communication. This dual-counselor model, rare in independent college counseling, ensures each student receives thoughtful, personalized guidance. We bring this team-based approach to every student—“If you hire Lantern, you get both of us.”
Together, we bring over 25 years of experience helping high school students apply to and transition to college—and more than 45 years of experience advising and mentoring college students on campus.
Importantly, our partnership isn’t new. We worked as a team for six years at Tufts University, advising students in the School of Engineering. That long-standing collaboration forms the foundation of the seamless support we now provide through Lantern.
Our on-campus experience is a key differentiator. While many families look for a counselor with admissions committee experience (Jennifer served on the Wellesley College Board of Admission for eight years*), it’s just as important to understand what happens after a student matriculates. In our roles as campus administrators and advisors, we work with enrolled college students every day, which gives us a deep understanding of what success in college actually looks like. We use that insight to help high school students choose colleges where they will not only be admitted, but will truly thrive once they arrive.
This depth of knowledge led us to develop our proprietary Deep-Fit™ admissions approach, rooted in helping students find colleges that support their academic goals, personal development, and long-term success. When families work with Lantern, they gain more than a college counselor — they gain a collaborative team and experienced campus insiders who understand both admissions and college success.
Over the years, families have told us they don’t just appreciate our expertise—they value the unique benefit of having two engaged, experienced counselors working together in seamless partnership.
*Families interested in understanding how Jennifer’s admissions experience shapes our counseling can read about her insider perspective on the college admissions process.
Regular Collaboration, Shared Expertise
Our collaboration isn’t just a shared philosophy—it’s a regular practice. We stay in active communication about each student to provide thoughtful, responsive guidance at every stage of the process. From the earliest stages of list building—where we work together to develop balanced, personalized college lists with detailed admissions probability coding—to the final college choice, we work side by side to guide each student with care and insight.
We also review students’ essays and application materials together. Each draft benefits from two sets of eyes and complementary perspectives, helping students clarify their voice and strengthen their message. Throughout the process, our combined insight supports families in making informed decisions, reducing stress, and staying on track.
Another part of our work is helping students develop meaningful extracurricular activities that reflect their interests and strengths, which you can read more about in What Extracurricular Activities Matter Most — and How We Help Students Find Them.
Families who want to better understand the overall college application process and timeline may find our complete college admissions timeline guide helpful.
Two Experts, One Powerful Experience
Students benefit from the combined strength of our distinct backgrounds—whether they’re pursuing computer science, exploring Canadian universities, or diving into the arts or business. Our ongoing collaboration brings together two perspectives, one mission, and exceptional support tailored to each student’s goals.
What Families Can Expect
Families who work with Lantern receive highly personalized guidance delivered through a true team approach. We also believe in consistent relationships, which is why one of us typically takes the lead in meeting with your child.
We stay in regular communication with both students and parents, sending follow-up notes after meetings, reminding families about upcoming deadlines, and sharing guidance at key decision points throughout the process. Because we work in constant partnership, we’re always aligned, and both of us bring our full attention and expertise to every student.
Families often tell us that this collaborative approach makes the process feel more manageable, supportive, and personal. As one parent shared, “Congratulations, Jennifer, for building such a caring and knowledgeable team!” Another reflected, “We could not be more pleased that we engaged in this process with Eliza, Jennifer, and the Lantern group.”
Proven Success: Recent Student Outcomes
We work with an intentionally small caseload that allows for highly personalized support and strong student relationships. Those close partnerships allow us to guide each student thoughtfully and strategically throughout the college search and application process.
As a result, our students are accepted to a wide range of colleges and universities—a testament to the versatility of our Deep-Fit admissions approach and the thoughtful, individualized work we do with each student. You can access the complete list of colleges and universities where Lantern College Counseling students have been admitted in recent years on our results page.
Each year, some of our students choose to attend university in Canada, reflecting a growing interest in Canadian institutions that we are uniquely equipped to support. Now based in Canada, Eliza brings deep, firsthand expertise in the Canadian higher education system—she attended Canadian universities herself and, prior to joining Lantern, guided students through the Canadian admissions process during her years of work with Pathways to Education Canada. Her insight into Canadian application processes, academic structures, and institutional cultures ensures that students considering Canadian universities receive expert, regionally informed guidance. You can read more in our guide to Applying to Universities in Canada & the UK.
Our cross-border knowledge expands the possibilities for students seeking a Deep-Fit beyond the U.S.
Our work spans every academic path—from highly selective STEM programs to liberal arts and interdisciplinary fields. Our students pursue a wide range of academic interests, including computer science, engineering, neuroscience, architecture, health, environmental science, business, political science, the arts, humanities, and the social sciences. While Lantern is well known for our STEM and computer science expertise, half of our students express interest in non-STEM majors.
Our collaborative model allows us to support students across every academic interest and goal. Whether a student is drawn to engineering, fashion design, game development, or global health, our focus remains the same: helping them identify the environments where they’ll be challenged, supported, and thrive—academically and beyond.
Partnering Together and With You for the Journey Ahead
Choosing a college counselor is a big decision—and it matters who’s on your team.
At Lantern, our mission is to guide students to make thoughtful, informed college choices—helping them gain admission to schools where they can thrive with confidence, direction, and purpose. Deep-Fit is at the heart of this commitment—our framework for helping students discover colleges where they’ll be challenged, supported, and inspired to grow with purpose.
Whatever your student’s goals, academic interests, geographic preferences, or college type, we bring decades of campus-based experience and a collaborative, research-driven approach to help students make informed, confident college decisions and find environments where they will grow, succeed, and find community.
To learn more about how we partner with high school students and families throughout the college search, see our article Partnering with High School Students on the College Search: How Our College Counseling Team Helps Students Find the Best-Fit College.
If you're ready to explore how this team-based, student-centered model can support your family, you can learn more about our College Admissions Counseling services or schedule a consultation.