Clarity. Confidence. College. Check!

Thoughtful guidance. Personal support. Real growth.

I help students navigate the college process with less stress, more clarity, and a story that’s truly their own.

"If we had to say what writing is, we would have to define it essentially as an act of courage." - Cynthia Ozick

Why I do what I do

At the heart of everything I do—whether as a college counselor, a community leader, or a volunteer—is a belief in the power of people and their stories. I help students feel seen, supported, and empowered to take the next step in their journey with clarity and confidence.

Between choosing courses, juggling extracurriculars, scheduling college visits, and writing seemingly endless essays, the college admissions process can feel overwhelming for students and their families. This rite of passage does not have to crush the spirit.

I believe the college admissions process can be a chance for students to understand themselves more deeply, take ownership of their future, and feel nurtured along the way.

I can help you calm the chaos, craft your story, and charge ahead.


Services

I provide calm, personalized guidance to help students navigate the college and grad school application process. I work to empower students to uncover their strengths and values, tell their unique story, and find the best-fit school—whether it's a popular choice or a hidden gem.

For the past 14 years, I’ve helped high schoolers (including many from Columbia High School) and grad school applicants find their voice, tell their unique stories, and move forward with confidence toward what’s next. Before starting my own practice, I spent 15 years as an attorney, and I bring that same attention to detail and thoughtful communication to my work with students.

My services include

  • Formulating a Game Plan for the High School Years

  • Application Strategy & Organization

  • Essay Development & Editing for Personal Statements & Supplements

  • Support for Common App, Letters of Recommendation, Interviews & More

Areas of Expertise

  • Application Strategy - Analyze student’s interests, strengths, skills, and academic and extracurricular goals. Develop a college game plan, including early application strategy. Keep the applicant on track throughout the application process through personalized project management.

  • College Search & College Match - Identify important factors in selecting schools; assess applicant’s academic and extracurricular standing in relation to schools of interest; create diversified school list 

  • Essay Development, Structuring, & Editing - From topic development & pre-writing through drafting and editing; for personal statement and school-specific supplemental essays and short answer questions 

  • Extracurricular Review and Refinement - Evaluate and construct list of extracurricular activities and resume 

  • Common App Support - Guidance on the completion of the Common App and other application portals.

  • Letter of Recommendation Selection and Strategy 

  • Interview Preparation, Practice, & Feedback 

  • Post-Application Support and Final College Selection

  • Law School Personal Statements & Application Strategy

  • Grad School Statements of Purpose in fields in the Humanities

Payment Options

I offer flexible hourly support or all-inclusive packages to guide you through every step.

Reach out today to help your student approach their journey with confidence and find the right path forward!

Member NACAC, National Association for College Admission Counseling

Yes, Mom! I opened an English store.

“In the end, we’ll

all become stories.”

Margaret Atwood

When I graduated from Princeton as an English major, my mom asked me what I was going to do with my degree. She wondered what was next—maybe opening an English store?

I may have taken a circuitous route—through law school, practicing law, legal journalism, and deep engagement in non-profits—but I can now confidently answer my mom’s query with an enthusiastic “YES!.” 

In my work as an educational consultant, I bring together skills developed as that English major at Princeton, as a Harvard-trained lawyer, and as a seasoned non-profit leader to help students discover and tell their stories in a compelling manner in the process of applying to schools. So, effectively, I’ve opened an English store.

I take on a lot of different roles in my work: I’m a listener, an advocate, a grammar nerd, a connector, a big-picture thinker and a details-person, a cheerleader, a researcher, an integrator, a bookworm, a changemaker, a truth-teller, and a problem solver.

I’ve gained these skills through a variety of paid and volunteer work, including a 15-year legal career, twice serving as PTA President at Jefferson School (now Delia Bolden), as a member of the SOMSD Presidents Council, and as a Board Member at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, NJ. As a Board Member of the Essex County Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW/Essex), a non-profit dedicated to striving for social justice by improving the quality of life of women, children, and families, I’ve worked on programs targeting the needs of children and families throughout Essex County and served as President from 2022-24, where I oversaw a board of more than 50 women, a volunteer base of 2700 members, a staff of 10, and a budget of $1.3 million. 

And, in my spare time, I still read a LOT of books, which I believe is another critical piece to running an English store. I’m happy to give recommendations, especially for romance novels (yes, really!).

At my core, I have a deep commitment to supporting growth—especially in young people—through calm leadership, strategic guidance, and a strong belief in each person’s unique value and potential.


Acceptances

I’ve worked with more than 170 students, who have been accepted into hundreds of schools at the college, law school, and grad school levels.

Here are just a few of them.

  • American University

  • Arizona State University

  • Auburn University

  • Bard College

  • Bates College

  • Bennington College

  • Bentley University

  • Boston College

  • Boston University

  • Brandeis University

  • Bryn Mawr College

  • Cal Poly University - SLO

  • Cardozo School of Law

  • Cardozo University

  • Case Western Reserve University

  • Catholic University

  • Chapman University

  • Claremont McKenna College

  • Clark University

  • Clemson University

  • Coastal Carolina University

  • Colby College

  • Colgate University

  • College of Charleston

  • College of William & Mary

  • College of Wooster

  • Columbia College Chicago

  • Columbia Law School

  • Columbia University

  • Connecticut College

  • Cornell University

  • Dartmouth College

  • Davidson College

  • Dickinson College

  • Drexel University

  • Duke University

  • Eckerd College

  • Elon University

  • Emerson College

  • Emory University School of Law

  • Fairfield University

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • Florida Southern College

  • Florida State University

  • Fordham Law School

  • Fordham University

  • Franklin & Marshall College

  • Furman University

  • George Mason University

  • George Washington University

  • Georgetown University

  • Georgetown University Law Center

  • Hamilton College

  • Harvard Kennedy School of Government

  • Harvard Law School

  • Hobart & William Smith Colleges

  • Hofstra University

  • Howard University

  • Hunter College

  • Iowa State University

  • Ithaca College

  • James Madison University

  • Kenyon College

  • Lafayette College

  • Louisiana State University

  • Loyola Marymount University

  • Loyola University Chicago

  • Loyola University Maryland

  • Marist University

  • Marquette University

  • Miami of Ohio

  • Michigan State University

  • Montclair State University

  • Morehouse College

  • Mt. Holyoke College

  • Muhlenberg College

  • New York Law School

  • New York University

  • North Carolina State University

  • Northeastern University School of Law

  • Northwestern University

  • Northwestern University School of Law

  • Occidental College

  • Ohio State University

  • University of Connecticut

  • University of Delaware

  • University of Florida

  • University of Georgia

  • University of Georgia School of Law

  • University of Illinois Urbana -Champaign

  • University of Indiana

  • University of Maine

  • University of Maryland

  • University of Massachusetts

  • University of Miami

  • University of Minnesota

  • University of New Hampshire

  • University of North Carolina Wilmington

  • University of Notre Dame

  • University of Notre Dame School of Law

  • University of Oklahoma

  • University of Oregon

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

  • University of Pittsburgh

  • University of Rhode Island

  • University of Richmond

  • University of Rochester

  • University of San Diego Law

  • University of Tampa

  • University of Tennessee

  • University of Texas Austin

  • University of Vermont

  • University of Virginia

  • University of Washington

  • University of Wisconsin Madison

  • US Naval Academy

  • USC Gould School of Law

  • Vanderbilt Law School

  • Vassar College

  • Villanova University

  • Virginia Tech

  • Wake Forest University

  • Washington & Lee University

  • Washington University

  • Western Washington University

  • Penn State

  • Penn State School of Law

  • Pepperdine University

  • Pomona College

  • Providence College

  • Purdue University

  • Rhodes College

  • Rutgers University

  • Salve Regina University

  • San Diego State University

  • Santa Clara University

  • Scripps College

  • Seton Hall University

  • Skidmore College

  • Smith College

  • St. Joseph's University

  • Stanford Law School

  • Stevens Institute of Technology

  • Suffolk University

  • SUNY Binghamton

  • SUNY Buffalo State

  • SUNY New Paltz

  • SUNY Purchase

  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Syracuse University

  • Texas A&M

  • The College of New Jersey

  • Trinity College

  • Tufts University

  • Tulane University

  • UC Berkeley School of Law

  • UC Davis

  • UC Irvine

  • UCLA School of Law

  • UCSD

  • Union College

  • University at Albany, SUNY

  • University at Buffalo, SUNY

  • University of Arizona

  • University of Central Florida

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Colorado, Boulder

  • University of Colorado Law School

What my clients say …

  • Jennie was the perfect match for our son. She is patient, diligent, super organized and very supportive of [him] and knew exactly where he needed to be pushed a little, and where he was able to lead the process. She helped him manage his expectations, create a schedule and a list of schools that were appealing to him. It's a difficult process, and one that has changed dramatically since I went to college, so having a professional to guide us through as expertly as Jennie did was priceless.

    Allison K., parent 


  • So grateful that you were a part of this process, Jennie. Your calm and guidance were a very valuable asset in our child’s discovery process as it helped them put a finer point on who they are becoming and where they want to be to shape that further.

    Thank you for being a steady hand in the process both for our child and for me.

    Meagan D., parent

  • Thank you so much for helping [our daughter]! From getting to know her, to helping her develop criteria to pick schools of interest, to your honest assessment of which schools made sense for her, to helping her develop topics for essays and finding her voice, to reviewing essays and offering guidance and recommendations, and finally to … submitting all of her applications - [we] are so grateful to you! And I'm sure there are other parts of the process and work you did that we're not aware of. In addition to all that, it's been a pleasure to see [our daughter] take full responsibility for her applications and to watch her pride and confidence grow throughout the process. Your encouragement, support, and guidance helped to make this a meaningful and valuable experience for [our daughter].

    Gary R., parent

  • Jennie, thank You so much for playing a big part in [our child’s] college process. We really appreciate your weekly calls and insights - [our child] never complained about you once! That's a good sign! You kept the ball rolling, were clear in what was needed, and offered good advice throughout. It was easy to work with you and it was a stress free process for us parents.

    Amy R., parent


  • Jennie served as not only a fantastic writing tutor, but also a mentor as I navigated through the transition from high school to college. I truly don’t feel as though I would be where I am without her kindness, patience, and guidance. 

    Jack K., student UCSD '27


  • We can’t thank you enough for your help on this. Your expertise and experience really made a huge difference, and [our child] felt very comfortable working with you. We appreciate the many hours you spent, the attention to details, and how available you were for them with the deadlines they had.

    Dawn Y., parent of PhD applicant


  • I just wanted to say finally and formally, thank you so much for getting me through the arduous college process! I just submitted my (hopefully) final application. I could never have done it without all your help and guidance, and I'm so glad to already be into schools and relatively unstressed for the rest of the year regarding colleges. And although it was annoying to have to write a million drafts of every essay, you definitely helped me to improve my writing skills, for which I'm very grateful. I'm sure you'll hear from me again every time I get into a new school, but until then, thanks one last time!

    Owen F., student, Boston College ‘27


  • A heartfelt thanks for all your assistance, support, encouragement and expertise. With your guidance, I think [our son’s] applications presented him in a way that maximized all his attributes and strengths and really made him a compelling candidate. We are very grateful. 

    Dave M., parent

  • I just wanted to thank you again for all the help you gave me on my essays and application in general, I could not have done it without you! I recently got a card from my admissions counselor at Chicago and he wrote about how [my essay] stood out to him! Thank you so much for all the work you did on that essay, because it definitely made all the difference!

    Vivian B., student, U Chicago ‘29


  • My experience with Jennie was great because she was able to help me consolidate all of my ideas into essays/responses that met all of the difficult needs of college prompts. The biggest win was getting into my dream school early decision, which I couldn’t have done without Jennie’s help with my responses and personal essay. She was patient and understanding but also was the only reason I managed to reach my deadlines. Seriously recommend a professional eye like Jennie’s on these personal essays because she really knows what colleges are looking for.

    Avery R., student, UVA ‘28


  • We wanted to thank you for all the support you’ve given [our daughter] over the last few months. Your suggestions about essay content kept her on the right track and your encouragement and regular check-ins kept her motivated through the whole process. We couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. Thanks for all your help along the way. 

    Emily C., parent


  • Choosing to work with Jennie Rothman was one of the most critical decisions in my graduate school application process. Her thoughtful approach to bringing my story to life helped me connect the dots between my professional background, lived experience, and my goals. Through constructive and clear feedback on all parts of my application, she made me feel incredibly confident in my application.

    Her guidance and encouragement helped me refine my writing while staying true to what makes my story unique. By asking all the right questions she helped me articulate why urban planning matters to me personally and professionally. 

    Getting accepted into my top choice program …  was thanks to her support, insight, and guidance. I would highly recommend Jennie Rothman to anyone applying to undergraduate or graduate school. She will help you bring your application to the next level, from refining your writing to make it clear and meaningful, to guiding you through the process itself, offering insight into what comes with each step. Her insights and support are invaluable. I would recommend her services to anyone at any stage in the process.

    Shane H., Masters of Urban Planning, Hunter College ‘27


  • I’ve always considered myself a solid writer but writing an essay that colleges find appealing requires a different style and a level of knowledge about the process that Jennie certainly provided. She supported me throughout the process by being available for any questions or concerns I had and made sure I was exploring options that were right for me. Writing all those essays and supplementals can be intimidating but Jennie provided strong support and guidance in making it all easier.

    Wyatt R., student, Wake Forest ‘27


  • Jennie helped me write my essays, fill out my Common App, answer any questions, and provided important information about the college application process. On top of that, she kept me on track with deadlines and submission dates. Jennie also kept everything very organized for me, making the whole process significantly easier. In particular, having constant feedback and suggestions for everything that I was working through was incredibly helpful. I would absolutely recommend Jennie! I give so much credit to her in my college application success, and I genuinely couldn't have done it without her.

    Grayson F., student Purdue ‘29


Resources for You

Work with Me

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly. I can’t wait to hear from you!