GJ Education Consulting

Personalized education consulting services for students and their families.

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Happy ClientStudent
Gweneth Johnsen

Independent Education Consultant

Hi, I’m Gweneth Johnsen. I welcome the opportunity to discuss your goals in higher education with you, and I encourage you to read about my work below to find out whether you’re a good fit for the services I offer.

I started GJ Education Consulting as an outgrowth of my experience working as a test prep coach, when many of my clients and their families began asking me for advice on higher education opportunities in the US, the UK and the EU.

Over time, I recognized a widespread and unmet need for comprehensive guidance through the college application process, a challenging experience that can be particularly arduous for non-native English speakers.

I’m extremely passionate about collaborating with students and their families in developing highly individualized solutions that get my clients one step closer to their dreams. Most rewarding is when I work with students who are not currently realizing their full academic potential, or who feel uncertain about their future educational goals.

What drives us?

Our Mission Statement.

Our mission is to ensure that each student, regardless of previous academic success, is optimally placed in an institution of higher education where the student can thrive both academically and socially.

Every great story has a beginning. This is where we come from.

Born in Madrid, Spain of expatriate American parents, I am bicultural and fully bilingual in English and Spanish. I received a BA in English from Grinnell College in Des Moines, Iowa, and an MBA in Finance from Thunderbird Global School of Management in Phoenix, Arizona.

Previous to starting this venture, I worked in Spain for leading international companies in Auditing, Finance and Executive Recruitment. Due to my real-world experience outside of academia, I bring a unique problem-solving ability to my work that I believe forms the foundation of my success.

Creating and delivering effective solutions tailored to you.

Learn More
College Admissions Consulting

We work with you every step of the way to develop a highly tailored, effective application to the college of your choice.

Essay Development

We help you craft powerful college essays and personal statements that capture who you are, and what your goals are.

Standard Testing Preparation

Our thorough and experience-tested preparation techniques arm students with the confidence and skills needed to succeed on test day.

Admission Interviews & College Visits

We walk students through the process of completing a successful campus visit and admissions interview, essential stages in the college selection process.

Summer Experience & Gap Year Assistance

We help you plan your time out of class wisely in order to further your academic goals and enhance your college application.

Graduate School Admissions Consulting

We apply the same rigorous process we bring to bear on undergraduate admissions to the graduate school application process.

Personalized education
consulting you can trust.

Our services are designed as modules that work in tandem with one another but can also be taken independently. Some families seek comprehensive guidance, while others may only want help with developing the student’s college application, essay writing, or prep for standardized tests. Our pricing structures adapt to each family’s requirements.

How we can help
you succeed:

College Admission Consulting | Essay Development | Standardized Testing Preparation | Admissions Interviews & College Visits | Summer Experience & Gap Year Assistance | Graduate School Admissions Consulting

College Admissions Consulting
  • In-depth interview involving student and family to determine interests, strengths, academic goals, requirements, and financial parameters
  • In-depth interview involving student and family to determine interests, strengths, academic goals, requirements, and financial parameters.
  • Creation of target college list based on onboarding interview.
  • Complete debriefing on the college application process.
  • Development and presentation of a detailed action plan.
  • Guidance in the development of all application materials, and review prior to submission.
  • Assistance with final college selection.
Essay Development
  • Individual or group brainstorming, review sessions.
  • Identification of essay topics that best showcase the student’s unique character and interests.
  • Assistance in finding a personal, genuine writer’s voice.
Standardized Testing Preparation
  • Individual or group coaching sessions.
  • Focus on standardized tests required for admission (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS).
Admissions Interviews & College Visits
  • Coaching on interview techniques and performance of mock interviews.
  • Review of visit options, setting of expectations, and determining desired outcomes.
  • Identification of faculty, coaches, or student representatives in specific interest areas for supporting meetings.
Summer Experience & Gap Year Assistance
  • Identification of suitable summer and gap year programs.
  • Assistance with extracurricular program applications.
  • Counseling throughout summer break or gap year, as needed.
Graduate School Admissions Consulting
  • All services included in the undergraduate admissions process, customized toward the graduate student’s specific needs.
  • Coaching for standardized tests required for admission (GRE, GMAT).

Why Us?

We provide personalized international education consulting services to students and their families.

 

Our mission is to ensure that each student, regardless of previous academic success, is optimally placed in an institution of higher education where they can thrive academically, personally, and socially.

Applying to a US, UK, or European institution of higher learning, whether undergraduate or graduate, is a daunting undertaking even for native English speakers. We work to make the experience as clear, smooth, and effective as possible.

Our method involves close collaboration with students and their families to help them navigate the college application process end to end, from identifying academic interests and goals through to making the final school selection.

We also work with pre-college-age students as a long-term strategy to enhancing their eventual college application. Our services in this area include guidance on extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and summer and gap year programs throughout the students’ high school years.

In all of our services, we strive to make the process as smooth, stress-free, and adaptive to the student’s needs as possible. We work in English or Spanish, face to face or virtually. And we take pride in answering all questions clearly and thoroughly.

100
Total Students
90
Applications Approved
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Hi! We'd love to meet you.

    Get ready to stand out.

    Together we can make the college admissions process an enriching experience.