“We trust Melissa completely. Chris was accepted into almost every school he applied to and has decided to attend Princeton in the fall.”

— Dana, mother of high school senior, NJ

During the past decade, Melissa Walsh has served as a writing tutor to elementary, middle, and high school students and to adult students and professionals.

As a writing tutor, Melissa’s main goal is to help students see writing as a communication tool that can be used to develop an academic edge and to express their unique thoughts and ideas. With young students, Melissa works to ensure present levels of proficiency are maintained and advanced. With adults, she works to improve and refine writing skills so that professional and personal goals are met.

As an academic and creative writing tutor, Melissa always places the individual student’s interests and learning style at the forefront of her instruction. She approaches each student with their writing strengths in mind, as she works to build confidence and writing skills. Melissa excels at getting her students to express their thoughts by breaking down the writing process into manageable tasks. She patiently works with each student writer until personal confidence, independence, and academic excellence are achieved.

“All writing instruction should be personal, designed with the individual student’s needs in mind.”

Melissa also works with college-bound ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders to help them hone the kind of personal writing skills they need to write compelling and memorable college application essays. When working with LD and neuroatypical college applicants, she excels at helping students turn perceived weaknesses into strengths.

“When I work with students applying to college, I want to accomplish two things: First, I want to make sure they get into the top school on their lists. Second, I want them to end the process recognizing their value as young scholars and thinkers.”

As an admissions expert, Melissa guides students and families through all aspects of the college admissions process. This includes helping students write admission-winning college application essays, strategize college lists, and compose stand-out supplemental essays. In her role as college counselor and college application essay writing specialist, she also works with students right from the start of their high school careers to help them develop their all-important independent extracurricular capstone projects (a.k.a. “passion project”). She also creates organizational tools that help students manage the added workload of applying to college, strategize course choices, and develop strong extracurricular profiles.

“An outstanding college application essay tells a compelling story that makes the admissions officers want to know more about you.”

Under Melissa’s guidance, college applicants have been awarded admission to top colleges in the country including: Princeton University, Embry Riddle, NYU, UT Austin, Penn State, Baylor, Barnard, UC Irvine, UNC Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins, and many others.

Melissa is a certified general and special education teacher dedicated to supporting her district’s Child Study and Intervention and Referral Services team. Melissa’s vast knowledge of special education and learning disabilities make her an excellent resource for students, parents, and colleagues. Melissa’s expertise helps parents decipher IEPs and 504 plans, and she works with families to develop strategic and implementable accommodations. In addition, she excels at approaching learning differences with creative solutions and patience. Melissa’s writing instruction for students with learning differences is tailored specifically for them so she can build on the foundation of their existing strengths.

Also an expert on the impact of psychological trauma on learning and writing, she frequently speaks to educators and parents about the need to incorporate social and emotional learning into all aspects of educational systems. She has also contributed to the Self-Regulation Versus Self-Control chapter of Whole School Health Through Psychosocial Emotional Learning, authored multiple blog posts about teaching, learning, and health for special education law firms, and presented at statewide conferences on education, communication, and technology.

Melissa is also a talented voice actor who has given voice to key educational projects for the University of Maryland’s Institute for Innovation and Implementation.

“I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping Charlie with his college essay. It was because of your great direction and guidance that Charlie has been so successful in his college application process.”

— Ashley J., mother of high school senior, IL

“I use a skill Melissa taught me everyday in college, both when writing and in general. I am forever grateful for the impact Melissa has had in my life.”

–Claudia, college freshman, Class of 2027

“I’m very thankful our daughter has connected with you. It has allowed her to grow in her writing and feel so much more confident.”

–Becky, mother of college freshman, IN

“Melissa takes the stress out of applying to college. We will certainly use her again when our younger children apply.”

—James, father of high school senior, CA

“My daughter has benefited from writing tutorials, & capstone seminar help, and we couldn’t be happier with the level of support she’s received from Melissa.”

— Lena, parent of high school senior, IL