After three decades of sitting with students at a pivotal moment in their lives–searching for and applying to college–Melissa knows two things for certain. There are lots of “right fit” colleges out there, and when it comes to the application essay, every teenager has a story worth telling. Melissa loves working with students who are quietly remarkable–kids who say "I don't know what to write about, my life is pretty boring"–and helping them discover that the opposite is true. Working collaboratively and hands-on, she generates writing in real time with students, helping them think things through out loud until they find the essay topic that reveals something genuinely core about who they are. The result isn't just a strong application. It's an authentic, joyful celebration of who that student is right now.

This approach is grounded in an unusually deep understanding of teenagers. In addition to her nearly 30 years in Oakwood School's college counseling program–where she guided hundreds of students and families through the college search and application process–Melissa led and taught in Oakwood's Human Development program for nearly two decades and provided social-emotional support through the school's advisory program. She didn't just help students with their college search process. She helped them mature into themselves.

After 33 years at Oakwood, Melissa is working differently–with a smaller, carefully chosen group of students. She founded her consulting business to channel her expertise and care into something more intimate and focused, bringing that same commitment to families from around the country.