Crafting the college essay that only YOU can write.

I help students create compelling college essays that reflect their unique voices and experiences by tapping into their creativity and treating them like the main character of their own story.

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My Approach to College Application Essays

I firmly believe that a student’s own voice is what should come through in their writing, not mine or any other adult’s. My goal is to help teens compose essays that only they could write. The student’s character drives the story, describing moments of change and self-reflection, demonstrating their growth as a person and their maturity and readiness for a university setting.

Together, we mine their own experiences for potential essay topics and shape them into unique and memorable personal statements that will allow admissions committees to view your child as a human being rather than a data set of grades, extracurriculars, and test scores.

What this looks like: 

  • interviewing a student to draw out the specific details necessary to make an essay pop

  • providing constructive feedback on grammar and composition

  • taking a big-picture view of the application and the narrative it tells about the student

About Me

I am an award-winning writer with an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, as well as an undergraduate degree in Radio/TV/Film and History from Northwestern University.

I have over a decade of college admissions experience: mentoring teens during their college applications process through nonprofit Minds Matter NYC, reviewing applications under consideration for undergraduate admissions as a reader for NYU, and working as a college admissions consultant.

Concurrent with and beyond my time at VCFA, I worked as a writing instructor for Writopia, an NYC-based nonprofit that teaches creative and essay writing to children and teens, and taught Hebrew school at several Manhattan synagogues. My extensive teaching experience, my masters degree specifically aimed at writing for children & young adults, and my admissions work both inside and outside universities make me uniquely suited to help teens with their college essays, and to work with children of all ages on their creative and essay writing skills.

What I Offer

I am available for one-on-one Zoom sessions across the country, and for in-person sessions in Manhattan. 

We can work for one hour to polish a draft, or for as many hours as it takes to get an essay or a story into shape. We can determine a set number of hours for a project and expand if necessary. We can also do ongoing coaching where we work on homework or creative writing and continue to build skills like organization, grammar, voice, tone, self-editing, and more.

Ultimately, it’s up to you and your child’s needs. Please feel free to book a consultation to discuss further.

Not ready to pursue 1-on-1 tutoring? Try my guide to writing the character-driven college essay. This guide is designed to help you brainstorm ideas and produce a draft on your own. If you require further help, please reach out.

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What Clients are Saying

Some of the schools I have helped students gain acceptance to include Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Duke, GW, Indiana, Washington University in St. Louis, NYU, Emerson, UCLA, UC Irvine, and Trinity.

  • Working with Melissa made a huge difference! While I had ideas about what stories I wanted to tell in my business school applications, she helped me draw out the qualities I was trying to demonstrate from my internship and work experience to show schools what kind of person I am, and what kind of student/classmate I would be. Her edits clarified my initial ideas and showed me in the best possible light as someone who would benefit from a business school education.

    - Zach S., student

    Melissa’s services allowed me to properly articulate my experiences in my UC application essays and got me into UC Irvine. She was particularly helpful in organizing my essays. She helped me understand how to structure the essays in a way that demonstrates good character and focuses my experiences on myself. I personally had Melissa help me transfer after not successfully entering university by myself as a freshman, so the difference in application results is a testament to the value of what she does.

    - Eddie S., student

  • Melissa was fundamental in my college application process. Her writing advice and guidance allowed me to curate an essay that was both personal and strategic. The essay gave insight into my maturity and growth through hardships, while effortless bringing key points full circle throughout. My time spent with Melissa was incredibly helpful and I couldn’t recommend her more to other college applicants writing their college essays!

    - McKayla P., student

    I'm so grateful for your assistance in this stressful process. You have helped me transform my essay from a place where I was okay with it to one where I am satisfied, and now I am honestly really excited and happy with it!

    - Zack L., student

  • I cannot recommend Melissa highly enough! Her expertise in crafting compelling essays was invaluable during my application process for Physician Assistant school. From our very first meeting, she was incredibly supportive and attentive, taking the time to understand my background and aspirations.

    Her guidance transformed my initial ideas into a powerful narrative that truly showcased my passion and dedication to the field. She provided insightful feedback and helped me refine my writing, ensuring every word resonated with the admissions committee. Her encouragement kept me motivated, and her genuine belief in my potential boosted my confidence.

    Thanks to her meticulous approach and unwavering support, I submitted an essay that I was truly proud of. I’m thrilled to say that I was accepted into the program! If you’re looking for an adviser who is not only knowledgeable but also deeply committed to your success, look no further. She’s an absolute gem in the college application process!

    - Jillian R., student

  • 10+ Years of Experience

    Dedicated to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals

  • Community Advocate

    Passionate about empowering young voices and fostering educational equity

  • 200+ Students Served

    Guiding each one to express their unique story and achieve their college dreams

Get in Touch!

I’d love to chat with you about how I can help with your college essays. Book a free 1:1 consultation, and we’ll go over your goals and see how my coaching can support you.

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FAQ

  • It depends on the goal. For essay generation, early sessions can feel like an interview, drawing out details and anecdotes that might be useful for topics and brainstorming. Later it will involve helping shape writing into a coherent narrative. Finally, once the story is clear, we can focus on grammar and polishing writing to complete a draft.

  • My focus is on the essays and making your student’s voice shine through.

  • AI may churn out a generic essay, but it will have no life in it. The secret sauce in these essays is your child’s personal, one-of-a-kind life experience. Authenticity and individualization are what makes essays memorable. And that needs to come from them.

  • Commensurate with my experience, I charge $300 an hour for college application essay work. For younger students, creative writing, and homework assignments, I charge $150 an hour. For small groups, we can discuss pricing that makes sense for all involved.