PrepNow Tutor - Karen W.
Karen earned her BA in psychology with a minor in management from Binghamton University. She earned her MS in industrial/organizational psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and began her career as a training and development/organization development manager in the banking and transportation industries.
When she felt a pull to the world of education, Karen says, "I thought being a school counselor would draw on my previous experience as a change agent and facilitator in the corporate world." She earned her MS in education, school counseling, from Hofstra University.
Now a certified school counselor in New York and New Jersey, Karen has worked as a college counselor for 12 years in a private high school in New York and currently works in a public school in New Jersey. She is also the author of CliffsNotes Roadmap to College: Navigating Your Way to College Admission Success.
Karen says, "I love admissions counseling because I can utilize all of my knowledge and skills to help students navigate an often stressful and overwhelming process and successfully transition into college students."
Karen has worked with students pursuing specialty programs such as art school and BA/MD programs. She has also worked with students with learning disabilities and special needs, and says, "I love the challenge of working with students when other professionals have told them they wouldn't be a viable candidate for a school." She particularly remembers a valedictorian who wanted to attend Princeton but was told that her SAT/ACT scores were not high enough. "I worked with her to create an outstanding application highlighting her strengths," Karen says. "She was deferred from early action, continued to express her interest and followed my suggested strategies. She was accepted regular decision to Princeton, where she has done extremely well."
Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time with family, reading, playing Words with Friends, and home decorating.
