Today we’d like to introduce you to Anjali Maazel.
Anjali, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When my son was applying, to college in 2014, I hired an independent consultant to work with him. I was satisfied with her knowledge of colleges but not happy with the strategy side or communications with parents. It left me feeling frustrated more about the process and the stress I experienced than the results themselves.
It wasn’t just that I had these feelings as a parent. I had a professional experience of the college admissions system as an alumna interviewer for Princeton who spoke to admissions staff frequently, as a college counseling volunteer at my son’s school where I helped his graduating class with college lists and applications and scholarships, as an English teacher who had written dozens of letters of recommendation for my students after helping them with their college essays. So… after my son’s experience, I decided I wanted to provide better advising to students than we had received, and I got training in college counseling and was mentored by a generous seasoned colleague. Then I began advising families as an independent consultant.
With a deeper understanding of the stress families face in the admissions process, I realized that there was a way to empower students instead of exhaust them. College admissions, I learned, could be an exciting journey of self-discovery which would set students up for long term success instead of a soul-crushing attempt to gain bragging rights because of a letter of acceptance. I myself had been through the toxic academic grind of a highly competitive New York City private high school as a teenager, which, despite my successes, had depleted me. I arrived in college somewhat burned out. So I made sure, when raising my son, that it would not happen to him or to the students I served. The result of these realizations was a Ted Talk where I proposed a fresh, evidence-based mindset and uplifting approach to tackle the admissions process.
I continued advising families one on one, and as demand grew, I hired and trained other consultants. We now have a small college advising company with 4 advisors that have been with us for the past 5 years.
Together, we have built a 10 year track record of happy clients who send their younger kids to us and refer us to friends and family. I think our many video testimonials and 75+ 5 star google reviews say it all. And… by staying small we ensure that our advisors are not taking on too many students. Unlike big college consulting companies that are run like factories, hiring 20 somethings just because they got into an Ivy or PhD students making some money on the side, our advisors are seasoned professionals in their 30s and 40s who are former admission officers and highly creative English teachers. I handpicked and trained them in our proven method, and they are truly gifted at what they do. They enjoy working with us, so they stay, and families enjoy working with them.
I am very proud of our team–their dedication to supporting students and parents through the college planning process, their support of one another, and their understanding of what makes a student stand out from the pack. It’s wonderful to work alongside them every day, knowing that we are striving together to innovate and make college more accessible to everyone through our growing focus on merit scholarships.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur is both exhilarating and terrifying—a daily dance between boundless possibility and profound uncertainty. One moment you’re fueled by the thrill of building something from nothing, the next you’re awake at 3 a.m. questioning every decision. The highs are electric: a breakthrough idea, a client who refers you to 10 more, a team that believes in your vision. But the lows cut deep—failed experiments, financial risks, and the weight of responsibility that never really lifts. It is like having a child–you are never off duty. Yet, it’s precisely this tension between fear and excitement that keeps me on my toes, learning every day, and determined to improve our process to serve our families better. Above all, knowing that what we have to offer changes lives and gives young people and their parents confidence and clarity at a pivotal juncture is deeply rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of Anja Education Consultants. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our focus at Anja Education Consultants now combines two key elements that reduce stress for families–purpose and affordability.
Why purpose? When we empower students to discover, develop, and demonstrate their talents–what I call the 3 Ds of talent development–in a way that is aligned with what matters most to them, we help them cultivate long term well-being alongside their achievements. Studies have shown that making purpose a central part of our lives protects us against chronic illness, both mental and physical. So we make sure that our students learn about themselves and the world through the amazing opportunities we match them with, like internships, research mentorships, and passion projects. The result? When they apply to college, they have more clarity about what they love and what they’re good at. Therefore, college becomes not a destination, but just one step in building a life of purpose and prosperity. That mindset changes everything for them both now and later on.
We also focus on affordability and giving families options they might not have been aware of. There are great hidden gem schools we have identified that offer outstanding outcomes for graduate school, internships, and employment at a fraction of the cost of schools with prestige but not necessarily better outcomes. This can be game-changing for families at all income levels, from those wanting to protect their retirement savings to those wanting to avoid debt.
Finally, understanding that paying for college is expensive enough, we have created a one of a kind group coaching program that is based on all the best practices we have developed in advising families one on one for over a decade, but at a fraction of the cost. It includes a cutting edge online platform and soon to be launched AI agent, as well as regular live support sessions.
My vision is to make top of the line college admissions consulting available to all students, which is especially important given that in public high schools in the US, the average number of students per counselor is 455:1. Students deserve personalized guidance at this key moment in their lives—so they can enter college confident in their direction, equipped for success in the new economy, and free from the burden of debt.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience and gratitude. Resetting after a failure, with clarity and determination to improve is crucial. And appreciating the contributions of others is a game-changer. Nelson Mandela once said that you either win or you learn. And it is my inspiring business partner Brian who repeats this to me in challenging times. That mindset is the compass that keeps the ship steady in the storm.
A note about Brian. Without him, I would not have had the courage to build the company. He is my anchor, my friend, and my mentor. And the minute I take him for granted is the minute I lose the best part of myself. I am deeply grateful to him and that gratitude is a source of strength in the darkest times.
Pricing:
- Our offerings run from a few hundred dollars to white glove service for multiple years of high school that are in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anjedu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjaeducation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anjaconsult
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjali-maazel-08843165/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AnjaEducation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueUCollegeAdmissions
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@anjaeducation
