Getting in to your dream school is all about telling your story. Lets create a strategy to showcase the admissions team your story, what you will bring to the university, and figure out how to get you in!

I am a 2021 Wharton graduate, with 2 years of professional application coaching experience. During my MBA, I coached 15+ MBA students with career guidance, resume critiques, and interview prep. I first encountered coaching when I was applying to matriculate as an MBA in 2019. At that time, I realized how important an application coach could be, not only for the specialized toolset and knowledge base, but also for the encouragement during a high pressure application process. I am motivated to be that source of calm and focus during what can otherwise be a stressful application process. I am excited to dive into your background and help you uncover a narrative that will help you show you stand out to top programs.

With a background in admissions and coaching, I have helped numerous students successfully navigate the college application process. In my roles at New York University, Stanford University and The University of Texas at Austin, I gained valuable insights into the admissions process and effectively communicated the university's story to prospective students. Additionally, I founded my own coaching company, The Mel Baxter Group, LLC, where I empower women to achieve their goals. With my experience and expertise, I am dedicated to guiding students towards their dream colleges. Let's work together to create a personalized plan for your college application journey. Let's connect today!

I have helped students apply and be accepted to a number of prestigious undergraduate programs, including Ivy+ schools (e.g., Harvard, Columbia, Duke) and liberal arts colleges (e.g., Williams). I am deeply familiar with what these schools are looking for in candidates -- including what makes each institution unique. I also have excellent writing and storytelling skills which I will use to help you stand out from the crowd as an applicant. I am excited to help students from the planning phases (e.g., which clubs to join? which schools to apply to? how to position myself in an application?) all the way through execution (e.g., what should I focus on in my essay? how can I improve my first draft?), and with everything in between.

Admitted Harvard, Stanford, Wharton M&T | Coca-Cola Scholar, National Merit Scholar, Valedictorian

Navigating the transition from high school to college is an exhilarating journey, and having the right guide can make all the difference. Drawing from my diverse experiences in banking, tech consulting, and entrepreneurship, I've honed the skills to help students craft standout applications. What sets me apart isn't just my background, but the personal touch, empathy, and excitement I bring to the process. **My Approach:** - **Active Listening:** Truly understanding your aspirations, strengths, and stories is the foundation. - **Essay Mastery:** Leveraging expertise in writing, I'll assist in developing authentic and impactful essays. - **Discovering Uniqueness:** Together, we'll identify and amplify what sets you apart from thousands of applicants. - **Volunteer & Internship Guidance:** Offering strategies to secure meaningful opportunities that align with your goals. - **Compelling Narrative Design:** We’ll construct a cohesive application theme, ensuring every element resonates with your personal story. - **Individualized Approach:** Each student's journey is distinct. My commitment is to tailor strategies that highlight your unique potential. Together, we'll embark on a journey of self-discovery, strategic preparation, and application success. Your dream college awaits, and I'm excited to help pave the way!

I spent almost a decade working in different realms of higher education, serving as a Division 1 baseball coach, administrator, fundraiser, and admissions guide. I have extensive experience in what it takes to gain entry into some of the most selective public and private schools in the country and specialize in athletics and NCAA eligibility, having worked in coaching, administration, and admissions for athletics at the University of San Francisco, University of the Pacific, and the University of California, Berkeley.

As an Admissions Counselor, I provided guidance to hundreds of prospective students regarding admissions and academic success. This experience has afforded me a profound comprehension of the admissions process, encompassing universities' criteria for applicant evaluation, strategies for crafting compelling applications, and the academic routes that pave the way to achievement. In addition, my responsibilities involved advising potential students on admissions and academic achievement, and I also actively contributed to the admissions decision-making process, enriching my understanding of this critical aspect.

I am a graduate of BYU and Harvard University and a current student at Stanford Law School. I have been through countless application cycles throughout my educational path and have been admitted to some of the top universities in the country. I am also a published writer with a sense for detail as well as broader narrative. I love working with applicants to college to think through who they are and what they want out of their undergraduate experience--and then help them get into the schools that match those goals without falling into ultra-stressful, ultra-competitive race that college admissions can often turn into. I am happy to provide help in any way I can, including application input/editing, insights into various universities, and general advice on educational outlook as students take this transformative step in their lives.

In my ~5 years at BYU, I wrote hundreds of papers/articles/publications, and edited hundreds more for my major, personal interests, and role as Editor of the BYU Political Review. I have an intimate understanding of what good (and bad!) writing looks like. At Leland, I run our content engines and I've read everything there is to know about the college and graduate admissions process. I understand what the admissions committees are looking for and what you need to do to present a compelling case for acceptance. I believe anyone can make a great candidate for a school and it's about the way you tell your story that makes all the difference. I'd love to help you with your essays or the other parts of your application (resume, letters of recommendation, short answer questions, etc.)! Book a free intro call on my profile to get started.