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Q&A with your Counselor – Jenny Bloom

We continue our Q&A series with Jenny Bloom, Insight counselor for 5 years and all-round awesome human! 

 

Where did you go to college?

I went to The University of Texas at Austin for my undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Sciences (go Longhorns!). Post college, I moved to Los Angeles to work with students at UCLA.  After doing that for three years I decided to pursue my Master’s degree at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in Early Childhood Education

 

What is your favorite memory of your college days?

There are so many memories that stand out to me from college it’s hard to choose just one.  I really love football so some of my favorite memories are from going to football games at UT.  I was at UT when we won the National Championship with Vince Young.  The games were exciting and the campus itself was so electrified and unified during that winning season.

Some of my best memories from undergrad are just the times I spent hanging out with my friends, making dinner, going to movies, playing intermural sports.  I made so many lifelong friendships during my four years of college and these memories of spending time with them are the foundation of our friendships.

 

What inspired you to become a college admissions counselor?

College admissions counseling really pulls together all of my strengths and life experiences.  I worked with students at UCLA post-college, and I have also been a community college instructor.  Now working with high school students and helping them figure out their goals and find their unique voice is something that really inspires me. Being able to be part of this specific portion a student’s journey is really joy-giving.

 

What is the best thing about being a college admissions counselor?

The best thing is working with young people as they are discovering what they are going to be excited about in life.  I really enjoy the times where I see a student’s face light up talking about something they are interested in—whether it’s an extracurricular activity, an academic subject, or even a really good book they are reading.

 

What is the most challenging thing about being a college admissions counselor?

One of the most challenging things is when one of my students faces a disappointment or setback.  It’s definitely a hard thing to experience as a teenager, but I also think that those are the growing moments. 

 

How long have you been with Insight? What is your favorite memory from this time?

I’ve been working at Insight Education since 2012 and one of my favorite moments is still from the first year I worked here.  A student didn’t know how to read her admissions decision and asked me to help her with the online portal.  We found out together with her mom she was accepted into her top choice school! She was jumping up and down and screaming, there were hugs all around; it was such a great moment!

 

Looking to the next 5 years at Insight, what are you most looking forward to?

In the next five years at Insight, I am most looking forward to meeting the new Freshmen that will develop into young adults and Seniors applying to college!

 

Tell us about your favorite restaurant close to home?

My favorite restaurant in the Bay Area is Doppio Zero in Mountain View.  I love their pizzas, and it’s a fun place to go and get a great meal with friends.

 

Who is your favorite sports team?

My favorite sports team is the Texas Longhorns.  I love watching sports in general and my time at UT really solidified my love of all things burnt orange. Hook ‘em! \m/

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time when I’m not taking care of my kiddos, I love to read and run.

 

If you could pick any 3 people in the world to invite to a dinner party, who would they be and why? 

I would invite Jane Austen because I love her books and I also know she was a bit tongue-in-cheek when she wrote about women and her leading heroines.  It would be interesting to meet the author behind the work.  I would also invite Rosa Parks and Indira Gandhi. Both of those women were important leaders in very pivotal times in history, so it would be nice to hear their experiences.

 

If you had to pick a motto to live by, what would it be?

Be kind and true to yourself.

 

What is your favorite weather season and why?

Fall, because my birthday is in the fall!  And also growing up in Texas, that is when the weather started cooling down, the leaves started changing color and it is so peaceful to me.

 

What is your favorite holiday or event to celebrate and why?

I love to celebrate summer… is that an event?  I really love being able to relax and enjoy time off doing whatever it is I want to do with no restrictions or guidelines.

 

If you weren’t a college admissions counselor, what would your dream job be?

My dream job would be teaching in some capacity.  Either as a professor or as an early childhood educator.

 

Where in the world would you love to travel?

I would love to travel to Italy and France.  Both places have so much history and great food to explore!

 

Any parting words of wisdom or advice to students?

High school is just one part of your life journey, so be present, be yourself, and be kind!

 

Learn more about Jenny in her Insight Interview

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What Are Insight Students & Parents saying?
  • I liked the structured method by which Zach approached the whole admission process. First, there was research into colleges to make a list, then a rigorous back and forth on […]

  • Priya was absolutely amazing to work with! We are thrilled that our son got into his top choice for college at LMU for the undergraduate business program. We couldn’t have […]

  • Thank you so much for helping me formulate my thoughts into words and help me write my essays. I got into Ut Austin for biology – still waiting for the […]

  • I just wanted to thank you again for your help during the college admission process. My family and I have been scrambling to figure out the process for years, and […]

  • I really couldn’t have gotten to Harvard without you. In shock. Thank you x10000000000000! I have the best college counselor in the world!

  • I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time out of your day to organize a meeting with me and help me in writing my summer program essays. […]

  • I just got my SAT scores on Friday, and I am happy to let you know that I scored an 800 on both the Biology-M and Math II tests. Thank […]

  • Our ACT instructor methods were so helpful and wonderful to have.

  • Zach, thank you so much for helping me become a confident and successful writer

  • We were extremely happy throughout the process – got much more than what we invested in Insight counseling.

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