Jen earned her Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, M.A. in Psychology from Boston University, and B.A. from Bucknell University (major in Psychology, minor in English). She also completed her Independent Educational Consultant Certificate from the University of California, Irvine.
After some years spent in the field of psychology, Jen found her true passion counseling students and their families on all aspects of the college admissions process. As colleges and universities have become increasingly more selective, it is hard to avoid the feelings of stress and anxiety that can often accompany the application process. Jen brings her training as an educational consultant and psychologist to her families, which allows her to provide technical and emotional support throughout the process. Each student is unique and it is the goal of Academic Bridges Consulting to match every student with a college/university that is a good academic, social, and financial fit. A resident of Westfield, New Jersey, Jen is a dedicated school and community volunteer. She enjoys sports, baking, reading contemporary fiction, and spending time with her husband, Ross, and their two daughters.
Carrie Sumas
Carrie is passionate about education and believes it is the key ingredient that can provide all young people with the opportunity to thrive and be successful. With that in mind, Carrie serves as an independent college counselor helping students and parents navigate the seemingly complex college admissions process making higher education within reach. She carefully assesses the student’s strengths, interests and goals in order to provide a detailed list of potential colleges that would fit his or her academic, social and financial needs. She also assists during the application process, helps the student brainstorm about topics for a personal statement, proofreads essays, and, in general, works to reduce the stress felt by families during this time.
Carrie has learned the in’s and out’s of college admissions through experience with students, earning an Independent Educational Consultant Certificate through the University of California, Irvine, as well as regular visits to colleges and universities.
Carrie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Lafayette College and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut where she was a member of the the Law Review. Carrie also earned her LLM in Tax Law from New York University. She practiced trust and estate law for several years. In this field, she would listen carefully to the details of her clients’ history and goals in order to devise a plan that would better their lives and the lives of their families. This attention to detail and focus on planning would later prove invaluable to Carrie as an independent college counselor.
Carrie lives in Westfield, New Jersey with her husband and three children. Currently she is not taking new clients because she is serving as college counselor on a not-for-profit basis.
