Sharon Olofsson, M.B.A. is an experienced college consultant known for her practical approach to college planning and her commitment to decreasing stress throughout the process. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S.E. from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and later earned her M.B.A. with honors from Tel Aviv University. Sharon completed her Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California Irvine.
She is a member of the College Consultant Consortium (C3), the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
Sharon continues to expand her professional knowledge and stay current with admissions trends by traveling extensively to visit colleges, meeting regularly with admissions officers, and attending professional conferences and workshops. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts with her husband and their four children.
PARENTS
"Sharon helped our daughter define her interests, strengths, preferences and then researched and presented the best college fits. Our daughter has already received acceptances to all of her top choices along with impressive merit scholarships. Applying for early action was Sharon's recommendation and we are so glad to have followed all of her advice. Honestly I don't think this entire process would have been so successful without Sharon's knowledge and guidance. Our heartfelt gratitude to Sharon!"
–V.C., parent of student attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
"I'm so glad we asked for your help. We are very happy with the outcome, and you have taken so much stress and parent-child strife out of the process.”
–J.D., parent of student attending Brandeis University
"Sharon has been an invaluable help in providing information about the college application process. She regularly comes up with new suggestions for our daughter, from a new college to consider, to summer programs that might interest her. Sharon is very knowledgeable and answers any questions we may have. She is also part of a big network of college consultants and professionals. This can help students connect with people in their field of interest to learn more about it and potentially get internships. Sharon guides us through our timeline and makes sure that we keep on track. She makes the whole experience much less stressful!"
–C. A., parent of student attending McGill University
“I had such a wonderful experience with Sharon at Gateway Educational Consulting. As my son was starting the college process she took the time to listen to him and really get to know him. Sharon asked clear questions and had very insightful ideas that helped point him in the right direction. She was attentive, responsive, and very understanding of the competitive college admission process."
–P. T., parent of student attending College of the Holy Cross
"Thank you very much for your guidance and advice through this process. We are thrilled with the outcome.”
–H.Z., parent of student attending Syracuse University
STUDENTS
"Oxford has literally been my dream since I was 3 and I still can’t believe it’s happening. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you (I didn’t even know what PPE was before you told me). Thank you so much for all of your help!
–S.G., student attending University of Oxford
"I really want to express how much I appreciated your kind help. You are an amazing source of support and guidance!”
–Y.Q., student from Japan attending University of Southern California (USC)
"Thank you so much for your help throughout the whole college process. You kept me on track by helping me revise and finish my essays and notifying me of all my deadlines. It reduced the stress knowing that I didn’t need to cram all of the essays last minute.”
–J.O., student attending Purdue University
"I just wanted to thank you for all the support I received from you throughout the entire college process. What was supposed to be a grueling and brutal process turned into something that seemed incredibly simple and even enjoyable thanks to your guidance. Above anything else, you were incredibly friendly and approachable throughout the process. When my parents introduced me to this process, I was nervous, but you were able to make me feel comfortable from our very first meeting. I think an underrated aspect of the college search process is that you find yourself in a way as you tour and write essays. I believe this is something you helped me with every time we met. You would inspire me to reflect on myself, which in turn helped me grow. I will forever be grateful for that opportunity."
–S.I., student attending New York University (NYU)
“Hi Sharon! I want to say thank you for all the help and guidance you’ve given me with the college process. Navigating the essays and school choices with you took a lot of the stress and anxiety off of it, and I’m so grateful for that.”
–H.K., student attending University of California San Diego
"Sharon was a tremendous help assisting me in crafting my personal statement. She provided clear feedback, which allowed me to present myself in the best possible light to the admissions committee."
–M. F., graduate school student at Boston University
"Thank you so much Sharon! Definitely could not have done this without your help."
–T.C., student accepted to Tufts University