Malissa Takacs is an international college counselor who has worked in the field of college admissions and counseling for two decades, most recently at schools in Switzerland and Singapore. She serves as a Senior Application Reviewer for the Office of Admissions at Northeastern University, in which capacity she evaluates 1500 applications annually. Previously, Malissa served as Director of College Counseling at a college preparatory boarding school, as a university admissions officer, and as a school-based therapist.

Malissa holds a Master of Education from the University of Virginia, a Master of Social Work from Case Western Reserve University (focusing on children, youth, and families), and a Certificate of College Counseling from the University of California at Los Angeles. Malissa was awarded the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) Rising Star Award (2022) in recognition of her work to create and implement a formal mentorship program that spans the globe; she was granted the 2024 Member of the Year Award by the International Association for College Admission Counseling for this same program.

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.

Advice: The power of not knowing what you don't know when you enter college means that your university -- especially the people who surround you -- will serve as guides to help you figure it out! It's all about relationships.