Melissa Ryan
College consultant
ABOUT ME
Melissa Ryan, M.A., is a seasoned educational counseling professional with 27 years of experience as an educational, college, and career counselor. Melissa has worked in both the high school setting as a secondary school counselor and in a post-secondary setting as an academic and career counselor as well as Director of the WIA Youth Success Program.
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YOU need a GUIDE who can help you demystify the process and equip you with the toolkit for success. I am a trusted educational consultant who believes that finding the right college fit is one of the most important decisions for students and their families. College is a major financial investment in many cases. Therefore, you want to be armed with the best, most sound information. Making the right choice enhances the overall educational, social, and career experiences in life. Finding that right fit can be an overwhelming task, and this is where I can help.
How I Can Help You
Academic
Coaching
Learn skills that will enhance your academic performance
College
Advising
One-on-one assistance with the college admissions process
Career
Planning
Develop a roadmap by aligning your academic and career goals
Financial Aid - Scholarships
Review of Federal Financial Aid and scholarship opportunities
TESTIMONIALS
"Melissa is an excellent resource for college bound students who hope to maximize their potential. She guides students, (and parents) through what can become an inherently stressful college application process with an amazing level of knowledge, experience and compassion. Through the entire course of standardized testing preparation, scholarship applications, college visits, and interviews, Melissa allows students to take ownership of their journey while providing very streamlined, straight forward, individualized, and on point guidance. Melissa’s contribution to my son’s and their college acceptances went beyond my highest expectations."
Mom of : Coca Cola Scholar, Duke University acceptance, UNC- Chapel Hill Honors College Acceptance, University of Alabama Presidential Scholar, Birmingham Southern College Distinguished Scholar
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“Having worked with hundreds of high school counselors, I do not know of anyone who is more committed to her students or to the profession than Melissa. She KNOWS her students by name, she knows their stories; she knows their families; and she knows their strengths and weaknesses. She observes them; she listens to them; she laughs with them; she cries with them; and she is committed to help each student be his/her best self. If it means staying late, working weekends or holidays, or helping them secure some of their basic necessities, she does it. And, she does it with a smile on her face. Melissa is 100% committed to her students. She is committed to their academic, social, and emotional well-being.
Always available with an open ear, an open hand, and an open heart, Melissa’s genuine spirit of love, compassion, and concern are ever present. Trustworthy, reliable, dependable, and committed are terms that describe Melissa both personally and professionally. She is someone you want in your corner and on your team. Both personally and professionally her reputation is stellar.”
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Kim Mauldin
Director of Admissions Emeriti
Coordinator of Admissions
University of North Alabama
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“As the Superintendent of Alexander City Schools and previous Superintendent of Sheffield City Schools, I have had an abundance of interactions with highly trained, motivated, and committed school counselors. Mrs. Ryan definitely stands out as the top counselor I have been associated with in my 22 years of public education. Her tremendous drive and selfless service for her students and faculty is exhibited in her passion for promoting and establishing programs that center around social/emotional development, college and career activities, building of self-confidence, raising expectations, and empowering her students to reach their full potential for continued success.”
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Dr. Keith Lankford
Superintendent
Alexander City Schools
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