Melissa Royal, College Counselor
Over the course of more than 17 years working in college counseling, academic advising, and student support services, Melissa has assisted thousands of students on their path to higher education. She pairs that expertise with experience on the admissions side of the desk, having served as an application reader at UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and USF, in addition to taking on admissions roles at University of Washington and Cal State Fullerton. Her students have been admitted to hundreds of colleges and universities worldwide—at least 300-400 different institutions—including Ivy League schools like Harvard, Columbia, and UPenn; highly selective public universities such as all the UCs, University of Michigan, and UT Austin; prestigious liberal arts colleges like Pomona, Barnard, Haverford, and Swarthmore; and international institutions including University of St. Andrews, King's College London, University of Toronto, and Temple University Japan.
Melissa’s experience on both sides of the desk—as a college counselor and an admissions professional—allows her to bring a balanced, strategic, and deeply human perspective to the counseling process. She strives to be not only an advisor, but also a coach, advocate, and cheerleader, creating a sense of calm, clarity, and optimism for students and families as they navigate this pivotal chapter in their lives.
As one parent recently shared:
From the very beginning, Melissa demonstrated a deep level of compassion and dedication to my son's success. She truly cares about her students, taking the time to get to know them personally, understanding their aspirations, and guiding them toward the best college fit.
Melissa feels most in her element when she's connected with a student or family on a deeper level beyond just traditional college counseling. Whether it's building a friendship with a parent, bonding with a student over shared interests, or creating a safe space for them to share their struggles, these moments remind her that her impact extends far beyond college results. Her expertise has been recognized through invitations to speak at local and international professional conferences, including selective counselor fly-ins to American University of Rome, Temple University Japan, and the Study in Wales Counselor Conference. At NACAC 2023, she co-presented a session titled "More applications and shrinking staffs: how an outside reader program benefits both sides of the desk," and she most recently supported a Collegewise webinar entitled, "Ask Me Anything about UC Admissions."
Outside of counseling students, Melissa is a fitness buff who spends significant time at her local gym and on her Peloton bike. Never one to embrace imbalance, Melissa also enjoys frequenting local Dim Sum restaurants with her two daughters (that's what all the workouts are for, after all).
Education & Experience
Hawaii Pacific University, B.S.
University of Washington, M.Ed.
Former Admission Reader: UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, USC, and USF
University and Academic Counselor, EF Academy Pasadena
Director of College Counseling, Alverno Heights Academy
Director of College Guidance, YULA Girls High School
Program Director – Transfer Student Center, UCLA
Professional Organization Memberships
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC)
Ready to tackle the admissions process?
AS SEEN IN
