Melissa Harrington

Melissa is passionate about helping every student understand their “why” and share their story. Having worked with hundreds of students, with a vast range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds, applying to and navigating college, she understands the importance of self-reflection and personal and academic exploration in the college planning process. Melissa firmly believes that identifying schools that “fit” academically, socially/emotionally, and financially is essential to admission, retention, and graduation-and most importantly finding a place where a student will be happy and thrive.

Melissa takes pride in helping students and families develop and implement a college plan with clear and healthy expectations and boundaries. As the parent of high school and college-age children, she understands the process can be fraught with emotion and differing goals and values. Melissa emphasizes a “student-driven” process while recognizing parents provide valuable input and support. Her goal is to make planning for college a positive experience and adventure, instead of a pressure-filled competition.

Years of collaboration with college admissions and financial aid offices, high school counselors and teachers, higher education associations, community-based organizations, and national scholarship and bridge programs have informed Melissa’s understanding of college admissions, higher education policy, and the cost and value of a college degree. Her experience has taught her that it is never too late to apply to college, there are many paths to a college education, and what a student does when they get to college is more important than where they attend college.

As part of her practice, Melissa is dedicated to serving students and families with limited resources by offering workshops and advising for groups and programs that support first-generation and underrepresented students. For far too long circumstances have dictated opportunity.

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (Economics, Political Science, and Communications) and a Master of Arts in Education, Student Personnel Services from Virginia Tech. She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) as well as an active volunteer with Alexandria City Public Schools and community-based organizations with a lens on “life after high school”. A Pittsburgh native, Melissa has lived in the DC region since 1997. Melissa resides in Alexandria City with her husband (also a Hokie), high school-age son, daughter (when she is home from college), and dog, Roscoe.