Zinjenzo

JENNIFER SCHOEN

 

Experienced College Admissions professional passionate about serving college bound students and the colleges and universities who educate them. Relevant background includes:

• Uniquely qualified to use presentation, collaboration and organization skills to facilitate excellent recruiting, admissions and retention programs.
• Success working with small and large groups of students, guidance counselors, teachers, parents, professors, and other adults--to support and encourage students to attend and complete college.
• Extensive experience with diverse student populations, including teens who are first-generation to apply to college, high school students from low-income families, or students in foster care. 

ADMISSIONS EXPERIENCE

Consultant and Founder, 2007 - Present

ZINJENZO, Boston, MA

• Direct comprehensive, one-on-one programs with college and high school applicants to demystify the application process and encourage teens to communicate their best selves during the process.
• Develop and lead interactive workshops on:
• Writing the college admissions personal statement, for high school students
• Communicating in teams, for undergraduates and alumni
• Identifying unique qualifications in job applications, for executives
• Help adults discover strengths and learning styles by administering the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator.
• Facilitate 4-part career seminar with career specialist for professionals covering resumes, LinkedIn profile, and interview strategies.

 

Coordinator, Student Outreach and Pre-College Programs, 2001 - 2011

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA

Recruiting and Admissions

• Collaborated with the College Success Foundation to provide application workshops to more than 6,000 students over 10 years.
• Delivered admissions information sessions at 35 high schools and 4 local service agencies working with foster youth to prepare students to apply and family and agency staff to support students.
• Managed the schedule of on-campus tours, student panels and admissions presentations for more than 80 groups of elementary, middle, high school, and community college students, and their families.
• Created and facilitated workshops for over 250 guidance counselors on guidance tips for their students to select programs, write admissions personal statements and submit activity lists.
• Coordinated student outreach and pre-college programs for recipients of three scholarship programs with more than 5,500 students annually.

Scholarships

• Reviewed and scored scholarship applications for College Success Foundation scholarships from 2002-2011.
• Reviewed scholarship applications for the University of Washington 2006-2011, recommended candidates.
• Reviewed scholarships for Washington state legislative districts 2004-2006.
  

Assistant Director of Admissions           

SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY                  Selinsgrove, PA

• Traveled to recruit at 100+ high schools in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
• Interviewed students for admissions.
  
• Coordinated open house programs for prospective students, admitted students, and families.
  
• Selected and trained tour guides and supervised tour scheduling.
• Created and implemented the Alumni Parent Admissions Network. Recruited and trained alumni and parents to assist with college fairs and college nights and to host summer events for first-year students.                                                     

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Sought-after speaker for students on writing the college essay and the college admissions process, and for practitioners seeking to enhance outreach and increase retention for underrepresented students.

College Applications                                                                                                                                                                 

• The Zinjenzo Guide to a Great Application - Self-published guide, 2011
• The Fantastic Four: Tips for a Great College Essay - Washington State Gear-Up staff workshop; Gear-Up programs at 7 high schools; regional conference presentation; UW Guidance Counselor Day presentation
• The Importance of the College Essay - NACAC National College Fair, Seattle (5 years)
• The Champions Program: Outreach and Retention for Foster Youth - Washington State Passport to College Conference        

Minority Recruiting & Retention

• Recruiting and Retaining Low-income Students  - NASPA Conference
• Needs of First-Generation College Students  - NCAN Conference panelist
• Recruitment and Retention of Foster Care Alumni in College  - ACPA Conference
• Chapter author: A developmental framework for new student orientation to address the needs of diverse populations. In Designing Successful Transitions: A Guide for Orienting Students to College. 2010

 

EDUCATION

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Coursework in Higher Education                                                                                                                             

 

The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 

Master of Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration                 

 

Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA

Bachelor of Arts, English and Political Science, Cum Laude