Terms of Use
Effective: June 2, 2025
These Terms of Use (“TOU”) are an agreement between you ("you" or "User") and Lantern College Counseling, LLC (“Lantern,” “we,” or “us”) that provides the terms subject to which you may access and use the content and services offered on the websites operated by or on behalf of Lantern including but not limited to https://www.lanterncollegecounseling.com, and https://jenniferstephan.podia.com/how-to-write-a-standout-computer-science-college-application (the “Lantern Sites”). The content and services offered on some Lantern Sites may be subject to additional terms and conditions described in these TOU, on a Lantern Site, or provided with such content or services. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT BY BROWSING OR USING THE CONTENT, MATERIALS, AND TOOLS OFFERED BY THE LANTERN SITES, YOU HAVE AGREED TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE AND ANY ADDITIONAL TERMS THAT MAY APPLY.
Lantern takes the privacy of its customers very seriously and wants you to feel comfortable whenever you visit our website, access our online programs, or participate in our online offerings. For more information, please visit the Lantern Privacy Policy.
Please note that Lantern reserves the right to revise these TOU at any time by posting an update to this page. Your continued use of the Lantern Sites following the posting of changes to these TOU will mean you accept those changes. You acknowledge that Lantern has the right to terminate your access to the Lantern Sites and/or services as a result of your violation of any of these terms. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS RIGHT TO MODIFY THESE TOU SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE SET FORTH IN SECTION 10(e). NO PART OF THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE MAY BE AMENDED, DISCHARGED, MODIFIED, OR WAIVED EXCEPT IN A WRITING SIGNED BY BOTH PARTIES.
1. Services. Lantern provides online courses (each a “Course”) through a third-party platform provider (“Platform Provider”), and consulting services to students and families, including but not limited to college admissions and coaching services (“Consulting Services” and collectively with the Courses, the “Services”). The Services are intended for use by individual families with a college-bound student, or college student in their household (each a “Family”) for their personal use only, unless otherwise provided by this Agreement.
a. Courses: In order to sign up and access a Course you are required to create an account with (and accept any terms presented by) the Platform Provider and pay all Fees as defined in Section 4 (“Account”). In order to create an Account, you need to provide your name, e-mail address, a password, a billing address, and if applicable, other information required for certain uses by the Platform Provider (“Account Information”). Access to each Course will continue for a period of two and a half years beginning on the date of purchase. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT WITH LANTERN AND USE THE SERVICES. IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN EIGHTEEN (18) BUT ABOVE THE REQUIRED AGE FOR CONSENT TO USE ONLINE SERVICES WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU MAY NOT SET UP AN ACCOUNT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVITE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT AND HELP YOU PARTICIPATE IN COURSES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU. If you are a college counselor or any User other than a Family (“Other User”), please note the restrictions set forth in Section 6(b).
b. Consulting Services. Lantern provides Consulting Services subject to the terms and conditions of the College Admissions Services Agreement, Coaching Services Agreement, and any other Consulting Services agreement entered into by you and Lantern (the “Consulting Services Agreements”), and these TOU. In the event of a conflict between a Consulting Services Agreement and these TOU, the Consulting Services Agreement shall prevail.
2. Content. By registering for a Course, using the Consulting Services or Lantern Sites, you may have access to materials, content and information created by or on behalf of Lantern, including but not limited to Course modules, videos, sound recordings, worksheets, and other resources provided to participants in a Course (collectively “Lantern Content”). Lantern may also provide users with access to content or information provided by third parties, including other users, links to third-party platforms, advertisements, and solicitations to purchase third-party products or services (“Third-Party Content”).
3. Account Information: You must provide and maintain complete, current, and accurate Account Information at all times in order to access any Course. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their Account Information, if any, and, accordingly, will be fully responsible for all activities that occur utilizing their Account Information. Users agree to immediately notify Lantern of any unauthorized use of their Account Information or any other breach of security with respect to the Courses of which they become aware. Lantern may, at any time, revoke a User’s access to the Services for any reason in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, if Lantern believes that the User is in breach of these TOU. Upon the termination or expiration of any Service, or any termination of these TOU, the User’s access to and use of such Service will terminate effective immediately.
4. Service Fees. In order to participate in a Service, you must pay the fees required to register for that Service (“Fees”). For Courses, we currently only accept payment by credit card from major payment card networks. Other forms of payment may be available for Consulting Services. You must use valid payment information when purchasing any Service. If Lantern does not receive payment from your card issuer, you agree to pay Lantern all amounts due immediately upon demand, including any fees resulting from failure of your credit card issuer to process charges. If you dispute any charge to your credit card made by Lantern, unless prohibited by law, you agree not to cancel, revoke, chargeback, or dispute any amounts previously charged to your credit card. If you do any of the foregoing and it is later determined that the charge was properly authorized pursuant to these TOU, you agree to pay all out-of-pocket fees and costs incurred by Lantern as a result of the improper cancellation, revocation, chargeback, or dispute. Fees do not include, and you are responsible for, all sales, use, and other applicable taxes. You are also responsible for any third-party fees incurred by you in obtaining access to the Services (such as Internet service provider or airtime charges). Fees are subject to change upon notice. Such notice may be provided by an e-mail message to the User, or in the form of an announcement on a Lantern Site.
5. Refund Policy: Because of the extensive time, effort, preparation, and care that goes into creating and performing the Services, all Fees paid are non-refundable.
6. Ownership; Licenses.
a. Lantern Intellectual Property Rights. The trademarks, trade names, trade dress, logos, and service marks displayed on the Lantern Sites (including but not limited to Lantern, Lantern College Counseling, and the Lantern logo) (collectively, the “Marks”) are trademarks of Lantern or its licensors. The Marks and all other Lantern Content are the intellectual property of Lantern, its licensors, affiliated companies, or other third parties. The Lantern Content is protected by United States and foreign intellectual property laws. Except as stated herein, none of the Lantern Content may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without the prior written permission of Lantern.
b. Limited License to use Lantern Content. Subject to your compliance with these TOU, Lantern grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, and non-transferable license to access and use the Lantern Sites and Lantern Content for your personal, noncommercial use. If you are an Other User, such as a college counselor, your use of the Lantern Content is limited to your own personal, professional development activities. ALL OTHER USES ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.
c. License Restrictions. You may not reproduce, redistribute, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, lease, modify, adapt, create derivative works of, or otherwise transfer any Lantern Content to any third party unless we give you express written permission. If you copy, download, screenshot, or otherwise use any part of the Lantern Content in breach of the licenses granted herein, your right to use the Lantern Sites and Services will cease immediately and you must discontinue use of and destroy any copies of the Lantern Content you have made. In addition, Lantern reserves all rights to pursue any and all of its available legal remedies to address and remedy such breach.
d. Third-Party Content and Platforms. The Lantern Sites may display Third-Party Content. In consideration for the convenience of Lantern making Third-Party Content available or accessible to you, you acknowledge that Lantern is not responsible for any Third-Party Content and Lantern makes no representations as to the quality, completeness, or accuracy of such Third-Party Content. You also agree that Lantern is not responsible or liable for any losses or damages you experience with any: (i) Third-Party Content you choose to rely upon; (ii) third-party platforms you choose to use; or (iii) third-party advertisements you respond to, and that you must contact the third party directly for any remedies that may be available to you. [In some instances, Lantern Content may be available on multiple third-party platforms. Your use of such platforms may be subject to additional terms, and it is your responsibility to determine what (if any) agreements exist between you and that third party.]
e. User Feedback. In the event you provide Lantern with any suggestions, comments, testimonials, or feedback regarding the Sites or the Services (“Feedback”), Lantern will be free to use, disclose, reproduce, license, or otherwise distribute and exploit such Feedback as it sees fit, without restriction or obligations of any kind to you.
7. Copyright Infringement and Copyright Agent:
If you believe that your work has been used or copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement and such infringement is occurring on any Lantern Site, please provide notice to the Lantern Copyright Agent identified below and include the following information (“Notice”):
a. A physical or electronic signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest that is alleged to have been infringed.
b. A description of the copyrighted work or works that you claim have been infringed and identification of what material in such work(s) is claimed to be infringing and which you request to be removed or access to which is to be disabled.
c. A description of where the material that you claim is infringing is located on a Lantern Site.
d. Information sufficient to permit Lantern to contact you, such as your physical address, telephone number, and email address.
e. A statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the use of the material identified in your Notice in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
f. A statement by you that the information in your Notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf.
The Lantern Copyright Agent for Notice of claims of copyright infringement can be reached as follows:
By mail: Copyright Agent
Lantern College Counseling LLC
PO Box 775
Acton, MA 01720
By email: legal@lanterncollege.com
YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE COPYRIGHT AGENT ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR WORK HAS BEEN USED OR COPIED IN A WAY THAT CONSTITUTES COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND THAT SUCH INFRINGEMENT IS OCCURRING ON A LANTERN SITE. THE COPYRIGHT AGENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY OTHER INQUIRIES.
8. User Conduct: By accessing the Lantern Sites, creating an Account, or utilizing the Services, you expressly agree to the following terms:
a. Not to use the Services for any purpose that is prohibited by these TOU or the Platform Provider’s Acceptable Use Policy. You are responsible for all of your activity, and all activity connected to your Account in connection with the Services
b. Not to share your password with others or otherwise give another person access to your Account, including access to events associated with the Courses;
c. Not to use, or attempt to use, the Lantern Sites or Services to share any content or information that may be considered: (i) libelous, obscene, offensive, harmful, excessively violent, scandalous, defamatory, or that Lantern determines in its sole discretion to be otherwise unacceptable, undesirable, or objectionable; (ii) a violation of any law, regulation, or rights of a third party, including, but not limited to, rights under the copyright law and prohibitions on libel, slander, and invasion of privacy; or (iii) holds Lantern or its affiliates open to scorn or ridicule.
d. Not to impersonate, or attempt to impersonate, any other individual, falsify contact information, misrepresent a relationship with any person or entity, including misrepresenting a relationship with Lantern, or otherwise attempt to mislead with respect to a User’s identity;
e. Not to use the Lantern Sites or Services to distribute malware; including software viruses or any other computer codes, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, limit or interfere with the proper function of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any system, data, password or other information of ours or of any third party; and
f. Not to break or circumvent our authentication or security measures, or otherwise test the vulnerability of our systems or networks; and that you are responsible for any third-party fees incurred by you in obtaining access to the Lantern Sites and Services (such as Internet service provider or airtime charges).
9. Reservation of Rights: Lantern reserves the right at any time to in our sole discretion, change, modify, or replace any of these TOU, or change, suspend, or discontinue the Services (including without limitation, the availability of any feature, database, or content) at any time by posting a notice on the Site or by sending you notice through the Services, via e-mail or by another appropriate means of electronic communication.
10. General Terms:
a. Compliance with Laws. By accessing or using the Lantern Sites or Services, you agree to comply with all laws, rules, and regulations implemented by any government authority or agency which govern or apply to such use. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you expressly agree not to export or re-export any of the content contained in the Lantern Sites to countries or persons prohibited under the export control laws of the United States. Lantern makes no representation that the content on the Lantern Sites is appropriate or available for use outside the United States. If you have chosen to access the Lantern Sites from outside the United States, you do so at your own initiative and risk, and you are solely responsible for compliance with your local laws, if and to the extent, local laws are applicable.
b. Legal Disclaimers. You acknowledge and agree that the Third-Party Content includes public contributions, that there are inherent limitations to the accuracy or currency of such information, and that such information may be incomplete, may contain inaccuracies, or may be based on opinion. LANTERN DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, PROGRAMS, OR OTHER THIRD-PARTY OFFERINGS, NOR DOES LANTERN SCREEN THIRD-PARTY CONTENT FOR ACCURACY OR TRUSTWORTHINESS. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LANTERN AND ITS AFFILIATES, AND LICENSORS MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ABOUT THE LANTERN SITES, SERVICES, AND OTHER CONTENT PROVIDED THEREIN. LANTERN MAKES NO GUARANTEE AS TO SPECIFIC OUTCOMES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COLLEGE ADMISSION TO SPECIFIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ADMISSION TO ANY PROGRAM, OR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE LANTERN SITES, LANTERN CONTENT, AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITH NO WARRANTY, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. LANTERN DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED, EXPRESS, OR STATUTORY WARRANTIES REGARDING THE SECURITY, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE LANTERN SITES AND SERVICES. LANTERN DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE LANTERN SITES OR SERVICES WILL OPERATE ERROR-FREE OR THAT THE LANTERN SITES ARE FREE OF COMPUTER VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL MECHANISMS. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT IF YOU DOWNLOAD OR OTHERWISE OBTAIN MATERIAL OR DATA THROUGH THE USE OF THE LANTERN SITES, YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND THAT YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL OR DATA.
Some states or other jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusions may not apply to you. You may also have other rights that vary from state to state and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
c. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS LANTERN, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, OR LICENSORS LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, INCIDENTAL, RELIANCE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT FORESEEN, LOST PROFITS, OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOST DATA OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR USE, MISUSE, OR RELIANCE ON THE LANTERN SITES, LANTERN CONTENT, THIRD-PARTY CONTENT, OR SERVICES. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY SHALL APPLY TO PREVENT RECOVERY OF DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THESE TOU, THE AGREEMENTS OR POLICIES REFERENCED HEREIN, OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY EVEN IF LANTERN HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states or other jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.
d. Indemnity. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Lantern and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents and suppliers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, and/or costs (including, but not limited to, fees, costs and other expenses of attorneys and expert witnesses) arising out of or related to: (i) your use of the Lantern Sites or Services; (ii) any violation of these TOU or applicable law by you in connection with your use of the Lantern Sites or Services; (iii) any actual or alleged infringement by you, or any person accessing the Lantern Sites or Services using your Account Information, of any intellectual property or privacy or other right of any third party; or (iv) any unauthorized use of the Lantern Sites or Services utilizing your Account Information, whether or not known or authorized by you.
e. Limitation of Actions; Arbitration.
Nothing in these TOU shall limit or deprive Lantern of the benefit of any applicable statutes or laws of the United States of America or any other country, or any international convention providing for release from, or limitation of, liability. In the event multiple statutes, laws or conventions may apply, Lantern shall be entitled to any or all such limitations unless there is a conflict between such statutes, laws or conventions, in which case Lantern shall be entitled to invoke the limitation which provides the most favorable limitation to Lantern.
(i) Small Claims under $7,000.
Any and all disputes, claims, or controversies whatsoever whether brought based on contract, tort, statutory, constitutional or other legal rights, including but not limited to alleged violation of civil rights, discrimination, consumer or privacy laws, or for any losses, damages or expenses, relating to or in any way arising out of, related to, or connected with these TOU, Consulting Services Agreements, or the Services, no matter how described, pleaded or styled, in which User or any other claimant asserts damages of less than seven thousand U.S. dollars ($7,000) (excluding attorney fees, costs, and interest, which are not included to determine the amount at issue) must be litigated, if at all, before a small claims court located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, to the exclusion of the courts of any other county, state or country. User hereby consents to such exclusive jurisdiction and waives any jurisdictional, venue or other objection that may be otherwise available.
(ii) Arbitration of All Claims Over $7,000.
ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICES, THESE TOU, OR THE CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENTS, OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION, ENFORCEMENT, INTERPRETATION OR VALIDITY THEREOF, INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE SCOPE OR APPLICABILITY OF THESE TOU, THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE, SHALL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING ARBITRATION IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BEFORE A SINGLE ARBITRATOR. Such arbitration shall be conducted in the English language. THE ARBITRATION SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY JAMS PURSUANT TO JAMS'S STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES. JUDGMENT ON THE AWARD MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION. Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties.
(iii) Class Action Waiver
User hereby agrees that these TOU provide for the exclusive resolution of disputes through individual legal action on its and their behalf rather than any class, collective or representative action. User may only bring claims against Lantern in User's individual capacity. Even if the applicable law provides otherwise, User agrees that any arbitration or lawsuit against Lantern whatsoever shall be litigated by User individually and not as a member of any class or as part of a class or a representative of a class, and User expressly waives any law entitling User to participate in a class action. If User’s claim is subject to arbitration as provided above, the arbitrator shall have no authority to arbitrate claims on a class action basis. User agrees that this section shall not be severable under any circumstances from the arbitration clause set forth above, and if for any reason this class action waiver is unenforceable as to any particular claim, then and only then such claim shall not be subject to arbitration. The validity and effect of this class action waiver may be determined only by a judge or court of law and not by an arbitrator. User agrees that Lantern may receive immediate judicial assistance to enforce this class action waiver.
(iv) Jurisdiction, Venue and Jury Trial Waiver.
In the event the above-referenced arbitration clause is ruled unenforceable by a court of law, User and Lantern agree that all disputes and matters whatsoever related to, arising under, in connection with or incident to these TOU or the Services shall be litigated, if at all, before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts or, as to those lawsuits to which the federal courts of the United States lack subject matter jurisdiction, before a court located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts U.S.A. to the exclusion of the courts of any other county, state or country. User hereby consents to such exclusive jurisdiction; waives any jurisdictional, venue or other objection that may be available; and waives any right to a jury trial in any such court.
f. Force Majeure. Under no circumstances shall Lantern, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or licensors be held liable for any delay or failure in performance resulting directly or indirectly from acts of nature, forces, or causes beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, internet failures, computer equipment failures, telecommunication equipment failures, other equipment failures, loss of data, electrical power failures, strikes, labor disputes, riots, insurrections, civil disturbances, shortages of labor or materials, fires, floods, storms, explosions, acts of God, war, governmental actions, orders of domestic or foreign courts or tribunals, or non-performance of third parties.
g. Entire Agreement; Waiver; Severability; Assignment. These TOU and the agreements and policies referenced herein constitute the entire agreement between you and Lantern with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding such subject matter. Any failure by Lantern to enforce a provision of these TOU is not a waiver of its right to do so later. If for any reason, any provision or portion of the TOU is found to be unenforceable, the remainder of the TOU will continue in full force and effect. You may not assign or delegate any rights or obligations hereunder. Lantern may assign and/or delegate all of its rights and/or duties at its sole discretion to any third party.