Jessie
Former Associate Director of Admissions at Yale University
Description
Jessie specializes in students interested in gaining admission to highly selective colleges as well as those seeking to study the liberal arts, STEM and pre-med students, transfer students, recruited athletes, and those who are undecided about their college major or goals.
Jessie’s aim as a college admissions counselor is to understand what gets her students excited and turn those interests into assets that will help them embody and present the very best version of themselves inside and outside of the classroom and in their college applications.
Jessie is a former Associate Director of Admissions at Yale University, and the former Dean of one of Yale’s undergraduate colleges, with nearly 20 years of direct experience in highly selective admissions. She has evaluated many thousands of applications and served in admissions committees from every geographic area.
In her role as Dean, she provided academic and personal advising to college students and directed the first-year advising program. Prior to assuming the deanship, Jessie spent eight years as associate director of admissions for Yale, directing the campus interviewing program and building resources to increase DEI. Jessie has taught writing in Yale’s English Department for a decade and presented on writing college essays at national education conferences
Her favorite part of working with students is helping them get to know themselves better. The college prep process isn’t just about building a strong profile and college application, but also about guiding her students to develop a strong sense of self and empowering them to reach their personal and educational goals. A key component to Jessie’s work with students is promoting self-awareness and emotional maturity. She values getting to know students on a granular level to learn about their life experiences and identify key themes that inform who they are as people.
Because of her experience in admissions, Jessie knows the kinds of questions that are asked in committee and how admissions officers are seeking authenticity in applications. She uses that background knowledge to help her students build authentic profiles and show it most effectively in their applications.
As the mother of a college student and high school student, Jessie understands both personally and professionally the dynamics at play for families in navigating these tender transitions. She approaches her work with students and parents with transparency and compassion, serving as a trusted guide for everyone involved. And one tactic that has helped in all cases, along with structure and support: levity and humor!
Jessie graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College with a B.A. in History and holds an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Prior to academia, Jessie worked as a journalist with National Public Radio and as an arts editor. An avid cycling and fitness enthusiast, Jessie is actively engaged with Yale Athletics, cheering on the Bulldogs at basketball games, alongside her daughters. Identifying a need for more targeted support for college varsity athletes, Jessie founded the SAMs, a student-athlete mentor program. She is also passionate about theater and music and sings actively in a church choir.
Additional information
| Admissions Expertise | |
|---|---|
| Level | |
| Admissions Experience | |
| Location | |
| Specialty: Undergraduate | Athletics, Highly Selective Admissions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Political Science & International Relations, Pre-Med, STEM, Transfer, Undecided |
Master College Admissions Counselor
Admissions ExperienceYale UniversityLocationNY MetroSpecialty: Undergraduate
Jessie
Master College Admissions Counselor
PROFILE
Jessie specializes in students interested in gaining admission to highly selective colleges as well as those seeking to study the liberal arts, STEM and pre-med students, transfer students, recruited athletes, and those who are undecided about their college major or goals.
Jessie’s aim as a college admissions counselor is to understand what gets her students excited and turn those interests into assets that will help them embody and present the very best version of themselves inside and outside of the classroom and in their college applications.
Jessie is a former Associate Director of Admissions at Yale University, and the former Dean of one of Yale’s undergraduate colleges, with nearly 20 years of direct experience in highly selective admissions. She has evaluated many thousands of applications and served in admissions committees from every geographic area.
In her role as Dean, she provided academic and personal advising to college students and directed the first-year advising program. Prior to assuming the deanship, Jessie spent eight years as associate director of admissions for Yale, directing the campus interviewing program and building resources to increase DEI. Jessie has taught writing in Yale’s English Department for a decade and presented on writing college essays at national education conferences
Her favorite part of working with students is helping them get to know themselves better. The college prep process isn’t just about building a strong profile and college application, but also about guiding her students to develop a strong sense of self and empowering them to reach their personal and educational goals. A key component to Jessie’s work with students is promoting self-awareness and emotional maturity. She values getting to know students on a granular level to learn about their life experiences and identify key themes that inform who they are as people.
Because of her experience in admissions, Jessie knows the kinds of questions that are asked in committee and how admissions officers are seeking authenticity in applications. She uses that background knowledge to help her students build authentic profiles and show it most effectively in their applications.
As the mother of a college student and high school student, Jessie understands both personally and professionally the dynamics at play for families in navigating these tender transitions. She approaches her work with students and parents with transparency and compassion, serving as a trusted guide for everyone involved. And one tactic that has helped in all cases, along with structure and support: levity and humor!
Jessie graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College with a B.A. in History and holds an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Prior to academia, Jessie worked as a journalist with National Public Radio and as an arts editor. An avid cycling and fitness enthusiast, Jessie is actively engaged with Yale Athletics, cheering on the Bulldogs at basketball games, alongside her daughters. Identifying a need for more targeted support for college varsity athletes, Jessie founded the SAMs, a student-athlete mentor program. She is also passionate about theater and music and sings actively in a church choir.