About Pathways for College
BACKGROUND
Carolyn is an independent educational consultant and the founder of the Westchester, New York based Pathways for College. She is committed to helping students identify colleges that are the right fit. Her goal is to empower students and reduce their stress levels by providing them with information and expert guidance throughout the selection and application process. Carolyn regularly conducts workshops and writes about college admissions, essay writing and financial aid topics. She travels extensively to college campuses across the country to stay abreast of admissions trends and developments.
Carolyn holds a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and completed the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) intensive Summer Training Institute. She is an active professional member of IECA and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). Carolyn received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Florida and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.
Carolyn Cohen founded Pathways for College after a 22-year legal career that included positions as Vice President and Senior Associate Counsel at a major Fortune 500 company and General Counsel to a real estate development firm. As an attorney and certified mediator, Carolyn mentored young professionals, provided counseling and mediation services, and coached team members on developing analytical skills and effective written expression, and delivering oral presentations. She has also worked with college students serving as a crisis intervention counselor. Today, she draws upon her expertise to help students identify and achieve their college objectives.
PHILOSOPHY
Pathways for College partners with students to offer them the optimum balance of support, responsibility and challenge to achieve their goals. We first concentrate on getting to know each individual through in-depth assessments and interviews, and then identifying the educational institutions that are the right fit for him or her. We guide the student through the entire selection and application process in a way that supports self-reflection and exploration. We are there to cheer them on and celebrate their successes and empathize with their frustration. We help students develop applications that speak to their essence and highlight the unique strengths and achievements that set them apart in the applicant pool. Our goal is acceptance to the school that provides the academic, cultural and social environment best suited to his or her learning style and personal goals, offering the best promise for a rewarding college experience.
“Carolyn took time to understand my daughter and to understand our perspective as parents going into the process. She spent a long time searching schools and building a balanced college list that met my daughter’s criteria. As a resulte, my daughter was accepted to each school she applied to (12 in total)! This never would have happened without Carolyn’s guidance throughout the process.”