Jake Pasternak

Independent Educational Consultant

About Jake

I am a dedicated educator, entrepreneur, and college counselor. As a dad with two children in college, I have taken it upon myself to become a “student of colleges.” I have taught economics and statistics at the University of Richmond and founded a company teaching personal finance to teenagers. I currently volunteer for ScholarMatch and Matchlighters, assisting low-income and first-generation families with college admissions and have completed the UCLA College Counseling Certificate program. I am a member of IECA and HECA, the top two professional organizations for college counseling.

Outside of counseling, I co-founded Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Care, a low-cost pet surgery center saving over 1,000 lives annually. Through Grateful College Counseling, I combine my expertise in education and entrepreneurship to help students find the right college fit while instilling values of kindness and gratitude.

 

My Background

Dr. Lori Pasternak

Essay Specialist

About Lori

I have always been an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, often devouring 4–6 books per month. Watching Jake guide our two kids through the college application process sparked my interest in a different career—one that allows me to embrace my love of reading while continuing to make a meaningful impact. Becoming an essay specialist has been an exciting and unexpected second career for me.

For 25 years, I worked as a veterinarian, including 10 years running my own hospital, which I sold in 2020. Owning and operating a business sharpened my leadership, mentoring, and recruiting skills—qualities that led to my role as an application reader for the University of Miami (FL). There, I received extensive training in evaluating essays and activity lists, gaining firsthand insight into what makes an application stand out. Through this experience, I have read and scored thousands of Common App and supplemental essays, as well as activity lists, and I now understand how to craft them for maximum impact. On top of my training through Miami, I have studied the WOW system, the PROMPT system, and the College Essay Guy’s extensive library of information.

Thank you for considering me as your essay coach! When you work with me, you’ll receive my personal attention - I won’t assign you to anyone else. Our work together will be specific to you, rather than follow a one-size-fits-all prescribed approach. As a retired veterinarian, it is naturally within me to be helpful, to do meaningful work and to make a difference in people’s lives. As an essay coach, I bring that same dedication, because it is just who I am, and now that work is a choice, simply, what I want to do. I look forward to helping you shape your story and launch into a bright future.

 

Recent College Visits


Questions? Let’s chat.

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