Malissa Takacs, M.Ed., MSSA, LSW

As a licensed counselor and social worker, Malissa has worked for two decades in the field of college counseling and admissions. From 2015 - 2023, Malissa worked in private international schools in Switzerland and Singapore and has practiced as an independent college consultant since 2020. She previously served for eight years as Director of College Counseling at a therapeutic college preparatory boarding school in Virginia.

Malissa has worked closely with over 1,600 students, overseeing all aspects of the college and post-graduate counseling and application processes. Her students have applied to a range of institutions of higher education as well as boarding, other secondary schools, and community colleges. Her area of expertise is in guiding students who have overcome personal and academic challenges or have taken non-traditional pathways to high school completion. Some have attended wilderness therapy programs, therapeutic schools, other treatment programs, and alternative pathways.

Malissa is also a Senior Application Reviewer for Northeastern University's Undergraduate Office of Admissions which allows her to evaluate over 1,200 applications annually for a university that admits less than 10% of its applicants. She has visited over 200 universities worldwide and she maintains a current understanding of university application systems globally. Malissa received NACAC's Rising Star Award (2022) for her creation and implementation of a global professional mentorship program, and was recognized as Member of the Year (2024) by International Association of College Admission Counseling.

Malissa is deeply committed to helping students realize their full potential. She mentors them through a process of self-discovery to promote the version of themselves that feels most authentic. Her goal is to be available to students and parents in a way that ensures the least amount of stress and the most amount of excitement about future opportunities.