Are You the Parent of a High School Junior or Senior?

Are you wondering how you will survive the daunting college identification, application and selection process with your child?

Are you unsure how to even get started?

Are You the Parent of a High School Senior who is about to start college?

Do you want to ensure that he/she will successfully acclimate to college life?

Would he/she benefit from extra support (i.e. time/task management, organization, adjusting to independent living, and self-advocacy) in making this transition?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you have come to the right place.

Hello, I’m Gay Melnick, Owner of Melnick Coaching and Consulting.

I have over 30+ years of public school experience as a teacher, counselor, and principal. In addition, I’m an experienced College Counselor and College Transition Coach.

I’m on a mission to instill hope and confidence in parents and their children who are applying to colleges and/or transitioning to college life, by providing the following services:

  1. College Counseling for high school juniors and seniors
  2. College Transition Coaching for students entering college

Services

College Counseling

I bring extensive professional and personal experience to the college admissions work I conduct with my students.

I believe in my students more than they believe in themselves. I see their potential rather than their limitations.

I customize the application process based on each of my student’s individual needs.

There is a college for every student regardless of circumstances.

My college admissions work is done in conjunction with Magellan College Counseling.

Let’s discuss how I can help you and your child with the college admissions process. Sign up here for a free 30-minute consultation.

Visit Magellan College Counseling

College Transition Coaching

The primary goal of College Transition Coaching is to ensure that your child will successfully acclimate to college life.

Transitioning to college is complicated!

During our weekly or bi-weekly zoom meetings, I will support your child with the following:

  • Managing time/tasks and staying organized
  • Transitioning from living at home to independent living
  • Self-advocacy and self-care
  • Balancing academic/social life

The result is a more confident and self-reliant college student!

Let’s discuss how I can help your child transition to college. Sign up here for a free 30-minute consultation.

Testimonials

My journey from navigating the complexities of middle school to mastering the challenges of high school was guided by the unwavering support and mentorship of my teacher/counselor, Mrs. Melnick. She helped me navigate through the pressures of being a new student, a minority, and a child of divorced parents. Her dedication, encouragement, and belief in my potential not only shaped my academic success but instilled in me a lifelong passion for learning. Fast forward to the present, as a pharmacist, homeowner, and a wife- I reflect on the profound impact she has had on my life. Beyond the classroom, her role transcended into a forever cherished friendship, marked by milestones like celebrating my pharmacy school graduation and officiating my wedding. Mrs. Melnick is not just an educator, but a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the profound influence a teacher can have on shaping futures of us and our children.

I can’t begin to describe what Mrs. Gay Melnick has done for me both as a person and a professional.  Her greatest strength as a leader is that she listens, and she cares about your personal and professional growth.  After having a conversation with her, you know she has your best interests at heart. She is a leader you can TRUST and count on.

Mrs. Melnick is the sole reason I came back to education after saying I would never return to the classroom.  After being out of education for well over 10 years, I had an opportunity to be a substitute teacher at her school.  She saw my potential and abilities.  Her belief in me gave me even more confidence in my abilities to do the job. She was always fair and honest.  She told me, “This is a tough job, and it will take you time to learn, but you can do it.”   When I struggled, she never made me feel inadequate.  Her open-door policy allowed me to talk often and honestly about the areas where I needed to improve.

Mrs. Melnick cultivated a school environment that fostered trust amongst fellow teachers and staff.  People felt safe, appreciated, and respected.  It was evident by the way people within the school treated each other.

I would not be where I am today as an educator if it wasn’t for Gay Melnick. She changed my life.  I am forever grateful to have her as both my professional and life coach.  Look no further, Gay Melnick is the best coach you will find.

If you’re looking for an edge, or some help, or someone to save you from the nightmare that is the college application process, I cannot recommend Magellan College Counseling enough! What the incomparable Gaye Melnick did for Brady is nothing short of remarkable. She is currently building her 2026 clientele and has a couple of spots left, and I’ve already locked her in for Cooper in 2027. I can’t thank Evelyn Jerome-Alexander enough for connecting us with Gaye. From the summer college essay writing bootcamps, to the time she spent with Brady understanding and honing his school target list, to the scheduling and assisting of submitting his applications, she patiently walked Brady through each and every step. I didn’t think I’d survive this process after going it alone with Keegan in round one. This time around has been a breath of fresh air and has saved me and Brady from killing each other! The acceptances are still rolling in, CU Boulder, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Quinnipiac, UVM, Maine, BSU, Coastal Carolina, UConn, and Oregon so we have some great adventures upcoming to check out all these fantastic programs and campuses, but I don’t think any of this would have been possible without Evelyn, Gaye, and the team at Magellan. You guys are the best and Cooper can’t wait to get started. Thank you!!!!! If you have questions about reaching out to them or this process in general feel free to reach out and I’m happy to connect you.

PreviousNext

FAQ

Here’s why:

  • She has a Master’s degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University and is a former principal, school counselor, and teacher.
  • She is the mother of two grown sons who are college graduates. She knows first-hand how stressful it is when you are going through the college admissions & college transition process.
  • She is a member of the Independent Education Consultants Association (IECA).
  • She has a certificate in Executive Functioning from the National Institute of Learning Development (NILD).

Most importantly, she loves what she does.

She believes in her students more than they often believe in themselves.

Typically, in each coaching session, you, as the client, choose the focus of conversation, while I will listen and contribute observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and helps you move into action.

Coaching accelerates your progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice.

Coaching concentrates on where you are now and what you are willing to do — and who you are willing to be — to get where you want to be in the future.

My role as Coach is to challenge you and take the time to find out what success in life means to you. I am your partner in living the life you know you can accomplish, personally and professionally. It can be difficult to reach our fullest potential alone. Athletes and performers understand this. They know they need someone else — a trained professional — to help set goals, discover real needs, and work effectively toward ultimate goals of excellence. So, they hire a coach to further their development. You can too.

Unlike business consultants who are hired to provide solutions, I believe the solutions lie within you. They may be hidden or stuck, but they’re in there! My job is to draw out, provide support, and enhance the skills, resources and creativity that are within you so that you can achieve your goals.
No. Coaching is not therapy. Coaches don’t work with mental illness, focus on the past, or deal much with dissecting personality.

Coaching is about envisioning and creating goals for a better future and working in partnership toward those new possibilities.

Let’s work together!

Send me a note through this form and I will get back to you soon.

Name(Required)
Topic of Interest:(Required)
Interested in a complimentary 30-minute consultation?(Required)