Hi! I’m Melissa.
I know the college application process can be a stressful time for many students, and I’m here to help. As an MIT alum and former admissions officer, I’ve read more than 6000 domestic and international applications and participated in admissions committee discussions. I also worked closely with the 4000+ global alumni interviewer network at MIT, giving me a firsthand look at how essays, extracurriculars, the interview, academics, and personal context come together to shape an admissions reader's understanding of a student.
Today, I work with MIT undergraduates as an academic advisor and volunteer with Minds Matter Boston, where I mentor high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds through the college process. These experiences have shown me all sides of the application process, from the early high school years to the senior year application madness and even to college life after the application.
Many students find the college essay intimidating because they think they have to write what the admissions committee wants to hear, but what they are really looking for is who you are as a person and what you will contribute to campus. As an essay coach, my goal is to help you figure out what that story is and how best to express it in conjunction with the other parts of your application, but also to make sure that each student leaves feeling like they’ve gained more clarity on who they are and where they’re going. College is an important step, but the skills you gain and the reflection you do for the application help prepare you not only for a higher education program but also for life beyond.
Book an intro callWHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE
- Getting to know the studentIn the first call, we’ll talk about where you currently are in the application process and what you are hoping to get out of working together. I’d also like to get to know more about you specifically: your background, interests, experiences, and goals, and how that connects to the schools and programs you’re interested in applying to.
- Brainstorming and first draftsWe brainstorm ideas and moments you think would be meaningful to write about, and the general themes you’d like the admissions committee to take away from reading your application. If you have already started writing drafts, we’ll dive into those and identify what the story is that you want to tell and how we can make it stronger in conjunction with the rest of your application.
- Developing the draftsAs we continue through the process, I help you further refine drafts to make them more effective.
- Reviewing it like an admissions readerI review the application for final edits and finishing touches on the essays, making sure that your voice and story come through clearly.
What past students are saying
Narrative shaping & essay revision
Melissa is truly a gem! You can count on her to be honest, brainstorm, and draft with you. From editing to shaping your narrative, she makes sure your voice stands out throughout and your logic flows. She knows where to expand an acronym, add an anecdote or detail, and smooth out transitions so the paragraphs connect seamlessly without losing the bigger picture!
Graduate SOP and personal statement
Melissa helped me turn my statement of purpose and personal statement into a much clearer story about why statistics, why graduate school, and why this next step made sense. She pushed me to connect my technical interests with the experiences that shaped them, and her feedback made my writing feel more focused, personal, and confident.
Common App personal statement
When I started my Common App essay, I honestly felt really stuck. I had ideas, but I didn't know what my story was supposed to be or how to make it sound like me. Melissa helped me talk through my experiences and figure out what I actually wanted colleges to know about me. She made the whole process feel way less overwhelming.