This is personal.
We know this from the inside.
Two Careers. One Mission.
Between us, we've spent decades in classrooms, newsrooms, university marketing departments, and boarding school dormitories. We've taught writing, edited national magazines, launched university rebrands, and guided teenagers through some of the most defining moments of their lives.
We also know this process as parents. Our own kids' applications were humbling, instructive and ultimately rewarding, teaching us as much as thirty years of professional experience.
Next Exit exists because this process deserves better than a checklist. We help students figure out who they are, what they want to say—and how to say it in a way that opens doors.
Mel
Mel's 30 years of teaching humanities in top independent high schools throughout New England (and his Catholic alma mater in Chicago) ground him. He knows how to connect with teens. Turns out, his background in writing, editing and film studies help him see what's missing for so many kids on their way to college: Context.
Victoria
A journalist by training, Victoria moved from national magazines to corporate marketing. But running creative youth retreats showed her how much teens grow when we listen before trying to guide them. As a university marketing director, she knows what schools look for—and why. Good
storytelling is everything.
We'd love to meet you!
Every good trip starts with a first conversation. Book a free discovery call and let's figure out where you're headed.
Below you'll find us off the clock—kayaking, cycling and driving our Subaru through the Southeast, the Midwest and deep into the Maine woods. College visits are part of the mix, too. We believe in seeing things firsthand.
