Lisa Messineo
Owner and College Consultant
I am a mom, wife, high school counselor and lover of nature. I was raised in Westchester County, NY and currently reside in Fairfield County, CT.
I received my B.S. in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Scranton. I then completed my M.A. in Counselor Education at Fairfield University. Since 2008, I have been a certified professional counselor at a prestigious high school in Fairfield County.
My experiences and network of resources allow me to support my clients and their individual needs as they navigate their college process. I offer affordable pricing based on what my clients need and take on only a small number of clients at a time ensuring individualized attention.
Highlighted Services
Personalized College Planning
From a preliminary creation of a list of colleges to a simple application edit session, I’m here to help. Using my expertise and understanding of the process, clients receive individualized attention to help support their college planning goals. Get in touch to book a meeting.
Initial Consultation
The initial consultation allows the opportunity to get to know clients and help understand their individual needs. A review of the transcript, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities lend themselves to help with potential essay topics, future high school course planning and consideration of recommendation writers. An initial balanced college list will be researched and provided, taking careful thought of the client's needs.
Essay and Supplement Development
Some clients will have an essay nearly complete and just need minor revisions, some may not know where to begin. Having read countless essays, I help clients edit/develop an essay and supplemental essays at any point in the writing process that reflects who they are and what they want admissions counselors to know about them.
Resume Production and Editing
Resumes are an important part of the application process. I help my clients get started or put those finishing touches on their resume, helping highlight those significant activities done outside of the classroom.
Interview Preparation
Some colleges require/allow interviews that become another part of the application. I help clients become comfortable with the interview process and how to navigate possible interview questions.
Complete Application Review
The variety of college applications out there can be overwhelming. It's critical to be sure the applications get the attention they require to be completed efficiently and accurately. I work closely with my clients to streamline the process and cut down on undue stress.
Summer 2024 - Fairfield County, CT
2 Day College Application & Essay Workshops
In partnership with Darien Summer School & Enrichment *Register Here
Tues. July 16 & Thurs. July 18 - 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
In partnership with Ridgefield Recreation Center *Register Here
Sat. July 20 & Sun. July 21 - 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
This two day workshop is designed to allow busy rising seniors the opportunity to learn about what college admission counselors are looking for in an application and personal statement. We will read sample essays and applications of accepted students and brainstorm essay topics that will help them stand out in a crowded field of applicants. Students will have structured time to complete major components of their application(s) while receiving feedback from the instructors. The goal will be for students to leave this workshop with a substantial amount of the application and essay completed.
5 Day College Application Workshop
In partnership with Darien Summer School & Enrichment *Register Here
Monday-Friday July 15 - 19 - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
This course offers incoming seniors - no matter where they are in the college process, the opportunity to complete various components of their college application(s) with a skilled and seasoned counselor. During the 5 sessions, students will read sample applications of accepted students, learn what admission counselors are looking for within the application, complete an activity list/resume, and begin initial brainstorming exercises for approaching the essay and writing supplements as appropriate. By the end of the course, students should leave with a substantial amount of the application(s) complete and edited with a time line for completion.
Testimonials
“As the father of a graduating senior applying for college, while I’m a physician and my wife a CFA, we quickly realized we lacked the proper know-how to adequately help our son, as we are both a long way from when it was our time to apply. Add to that, we found it difficult as parents to push our own child to put his very best foot forward, knowing he doesn’t take direction well from us and, like many teenagers, can be a bit lazy at times. Help was needed. Then we found Messineo College Counseling and Lisa Messineo. From our very first conversation, it was quite evident that we had found the person we had been looking for all along. Working with young people every day, Lisa understands the way they think. She also has an appeal that is truly unique. So unique in fact, that our rather finicky son really liked her and began a steady and regular flow of reaching out to her himself. Lisa went to great lengths to get to know our son, his strengths and weaknesses, along with our own expectations. Then she set out methodically to make sure the basic logistical details were all in place before proceeding to the application. Literally side-by-side with our son, she began to dive in. Once those wheels were in motion, Lisa worked with our son on his college selections and mapping strategies and stratifying hierarchies of preference divided into those on-point selections, the “reaches”, and the “safeties”. She helped our son carefully consider each selection on his list and press him on each one, so everything came into proper logical alignment. Then it was off to making checklists of all the individual requirements for each institution, helping our son meet the demands of each of those, and finally working with him diligently week-in-and-week-out on constructing and reconstructing his essay until it was just right. The result was stupendous. Our son actually got into his first choice! With two other kids in the pipeline, make no mistake, Lisa will be helping them as well. Thank you Lisa!”
“I had a great experience working with Lisa when I was going through the college process. As a first generation college student, it was a great help for my family to have Lisa be there to guide me through my college list and the required essay. She took the time and consideration for what I wanted and needed in the process as well as my family. Lisa made the college process less stressful!”
Contact
Email: MessineoCollegeConsulting@gmail.com
Phone: 914.960.1075
In the news:
CPTV Special- College Bound: A Look into CT State Colleges & Universities(Spring 2018)