PrepNow Tutor - Gerene K.
An admissions consultant who has worked in higher education since 1994, Gerene holds a BA in communications from Loyola University, an MS in counseling from Loyola University, and a certificate in college counseling from the University of California, San Diego. She is a member of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Independent Educational Consultants Association. As a college counselor, Gerene has conducted hundreds of mock interviews and has extensive experience editing essays, searching for scholarships, and working with students in their college and graduate planning.
Gerene was first exposed to admissions work as a volunteer in college. She directed all campus tours and was known as "Gerene, Gerene, the campus tour Queen.” Gerene eventually transitioned to the role of Associate Director of the Admissions Student Network, which led her to other various positions, such as an admissions counselor, graduate advisor, registrar, and eventually Independent Educational Consultant. “I love watching the growth and progression of the students and seeing the ah-ha moment,” Gerene says. “I also love helping students find their best fit. Often students are set on two to three schools and I let them know there are over four thousand schools to choose from, to cast a wide net. Watching them explore schools they'd never considered and craft essays that show both grit and vulnerability never gets old.”
When consulting, Gerene develops and maintains excellent relationships with her students, which allows her to adeptly evaluate and guide them through the aggressive admissions process. She’s assisted students in navigating a diverse range of schools, from state universities to Ivy League colleges. Gerene was inspired to work as an admissions consultant because there was so little guidance for anyone who had learning challenges when she went to school. “I had to knock on doors and be persistent,” she says. “There is an abundance of support now, you just need to seek it out.” One of her students was recently awarded the Levine Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “I was proud of her effort and the work we put into seeing that to fruition,” Gerene says.
Gerene loves to read and participates in two local book clubs. She also enjoys traveling, dining, and raising her toy poodle, Rosie Roux. Gerene speaks Spanish and volunteers for two national admissions organizations, Service to School and Scholarmatch, providing guidance to the underserved.
