A respected certificate in educational consulting and years of learning from one of the most celebrated college counselors of all-time is a pretty convincing background, but add to that years of marketing expertise and you’ve really got somebody who can help you make things happen for yourself. In fact, you’ve got Jodi Gershoni of College Unlimited.
How did you get into this field?
Helping young people find their path for happiness and success has always been a passion of mine. I had an 18-year career in marketing and public relations, primarily focusing on public education campaigns for early childhood development, education, and the impact of technology. During this time, my passion for working with young people never faltered. When the rise of social media hit our society, my skills in marketing needed to adapt in order to remain successful. Not loving working with social media, I had an opportunity to re-evaluate my career and make a change. At this time, a friend of mine introduced me to the field of educational consulting, and I dove head first. It was the perfect marriage of education and marketing. I immediately signed up for the University of California certificate course through IECA and found my fabulous mentor, Shirley Levin who took me under her wing and taught me everything she knows about college consulting. I have loved every day since I made this life-changing decision!
What do you love about the work?
I love how every student is different. Each has their own needs, goals, and interests, and I feel honored to be a part of helping them achieve their goals. I also love bringing education solutions to families that believe college us unattainable for various reasons. We all recognize the flaws and unfairness in college admissions, and I hope to be a part of changing the higher education world for the better.
Why do people hire you?
I believe that students find it easy to open up to me. I treat each student as a friend and love being a mentor to them during this daunting time.
How do you feel about study skills?
Study skills are crucial to being successful in the world of education. The world is so muddled with 24/7 stimulation. Students need to learn to focus and compartmentalize in order to be successful. It’s a hard nut to crack, but it is attainable.
What’s your favorite piece of advice to give students?
Put your blinders on! Don’t listen to others, just focus on you!