By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Kelsea Schafer
As one flies by his mile marker goals, it is his first accomplishment–mile marker one–waving back proudly in the rearview mirror, cheering him on to the finish line. In a way, college guidance counselors have the privilege of seeing their students progress from awkward, acne-ridden freshman to strong, confident seniors, ready to graduate and make their mark on the world.
With the right counselor in his corner, any student can achieve his dreams. Often, he just needs a bit of encouragement from one who will believe in his goals, too.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Ginger Mayfield went on to earn her Master’s in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham before following in her father’s footsteps as a college guidance counselor. Ginger worked in several high schools before branching out on her own in 2018, founding Mayfield College Advising (MCA).
“Everyone is going through the college admissions process, but everyone’s needs are very different,” Ginger says. “It’s a collective process for a high school class to go through, but it’s also a really personal, individual family process as well.”
Tailoring to the needs of individual students allowed Ginger to further fulfill her passion outside of the classroom–meeting students one-on-one, working with each to achieve his collegiate goals. Six years after launching, MCA has grown to include four staff members, who assist no more than 20 students per graduating class in grades nine through 12.
MCA offers four different “college packages” and hourly appointments for students and their families. The Upperclassman Package, for example, is prioritized for high school juniors and seniors, and students receive up to 40 hours of one-on-one assistance in applying for colleges, building resumes, writing essays and more.
The College Prep Package, which is MCA’s most popular option that offers up to 48 hours of individualized guidance, is available to 10th through 12th-grade students. This package allows students to receive counseling on high school course selection, summer planning and standardized testing.
The Comprehensive Package includes up to 56 hours of support and is the ideal choice for families who are looking for ongoing guidance on course selection, summer planning, standardized testing, college applications, project management and more. If students only need help writing their college essays, they are always welcome to try the Essay Only Package, which is spearheaded by MCA’s Director of Operations and Essay Specialist Meredith Robinson.
As MCA was expanding, Ginger hired Meredith to assist students in writing their admission essays. Not only does Meredith have both her Master’s and PhD in French Literature and Film Studies, but she has also traveled the globe, teaching writing and working in academic counseling in several different countries.
“I come from an education background, and I’ve always loved working with students,” Meredith says. “I think that whenever they’re able to articulate themselves, this becomes a real tool for them and helps them shine in their applications. I look forward to the essay season and the progress that each of them make.”
Having immigrated from Tamil Nadu, India, Mithun Rameshkumar–a Gadsden City High School graduate and MCA alumni–says his parents did not know much about the U.S. college system when he was growing up. Mithun reached out to Ginger during his freshman year and began working with her on how to create a competitive resume.
Ginger encouraged Mithun to begin prioritizing a well-rounded approach to his high school career, helping him to focus not just on grades, but also on extracurriculars, community service and work experience. Slowly, Mithun began preparing for college four years early, and because of it, he got into his number-one school, Dartmouth College.
“It really laid out a path for my college applications as I was applying to so many schools,” Mithun says. “Having Meredith there paced me through it. I was able to write without being worried if I was good enough. Ginger helped me with the Common App, writing about myself, helping me use words to describe myself in the best light.”
Gayarthri Kandasamy, Mithun’s mother, says him being a stellar student academically was just not enough for him to stand out in the college application process. However, thanks to Ginger and Meredith, Mithun learned how to become a strong applicant for his dream school.
Most importantly, Mithun learned through his writing how to sell colleges on why he was worth not just their acceptance, but also why he would one day leave a great impact on the world.
“Students often feel as though they’re wading in a cement ocean of competition and possibility whenever they look at those questions because they can be open-ended, and it’s hard to get specific,” Meredith says. “That’s what I try to draw out of them–individuality and specificity–so they do tell their story.”
Megan Harris, who recently graduated from Homewood High School and will soon attend the University of California, Berkeley, says she originally never would have thought of applying to a college so far away from home. She played the alto saxophone in the Homewood Patriot Marching Band and was heavily involved with extracurriculars including Key Club, the Heritage Panel and her church, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, while in high school.
When helping Megan choose the right college, Ginger assessed her desires for an academically rigorous school that also focused on personal passions such as music and community involvement. Ginger presented Berkeley as an option to Megan, who now says the school is her “dream come true.”
“All of the UC schools are test blind, and they don’t take letters of recommendation either,” Megan says. “The essays made a big difference in standing out in the application process. I didn’t really think about [applying], but Ginger and Meredith identified [my needs] and thought it would be a good match for me.”
One of the ways MCA differs from other college counseling programs is that the advisors will specifically tailor to their students’ needs. By working with a small number of students each year, MCA’s advisors are able to maximize one-on-one results.
“Being a part of the essay process is a really personal moment for students because they’re really bringing life to their application,” Meredith says. “What they have to present to an application committee can seem pretty black and white, but essays are a way that adds so much color and dimension. Because of that, it becomes an opportunity for students to open up and imagine themselves talking to their reader and show what’s compelling about their backgrounds.”
As one of the most saturated undergraduate programs in the U.S., nursing is quite a difficult major to pursue. Spain Park High School graduate Cecelia Daigel understood this as a freshman.
Cecelia took health science academy classes all throughout high school and even attended the Riverchase Career Connection Center during her senior year, in order to intern at Grandview Medical Center. Being able to see nurses in action–advocating for patients’ rights, administering life-giving care–proved to her that she was born to become a nurse.
Similarly to Megan, Cecelia did not initially think of applying to one of Ginger’s first options, the University of South Carolina; however, when Ginger encouraged Cecelia to tour the school, she knew she found her home away from home.
“From talking to her throughout high school, [Ginger] helped me know what is important,” Cecelia says. “I remember going through the whole Common App with her, and she helped me revise it. She didn’t change any of my writing, but she rearranged the paragraphs to make more of a story. She helped me go where I wanted to go, and I got a scholarship.”
Although Ginger and Meredith both work with students sometimes for several years before they graduate, their attention to detail and care for their students doesn’t stop at college acceptance.
“[Ginger] kept up even after I got admitted and reached out to people that she knew lived out in that area,” Megan says. “Because I didn’t know anybody, she made sure that I had some connections out there. That was a big difference–it didn’t stop at acceptance. A lot of counselors care about results, but [Mayfield College Advising] cares about if you’re going to be happy there.”
Over the course of their careers, Ginger and Meredith have seen hundreds of students go on to attend some of the top universities in the nation–including nearly every one of the Ivy Leagues. They both believe they have found their calling, helping young people not only believe in their innate abilities, but also see the fruits of their labor as they pursue their dreams post high school.
From mile marker one–an initial college counseling session–to the final mile marker at graduation, Ginger and Meredith say the best part of their jobs is building relationships with the next generation of wavemakers.
“It is really rewarding to be in a multi-year relationship with a student and their family and see how much the students grow, change and mature,” Ginger says. “It’s incredible to be a part of their journey to whoever they will become.”
Mayfield College Advising is located at 3 Office Park Circle in Mountain Brook. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit mayfieldcollegeadvising.com.
With Gratitude
“I would definitely recommend Mayfield College Advising. I would credit Ginger for me ending up where I am. I am really grateful for it. My life is not what I pictured at all–it’s so much better. It’s been such a fun adventure.”
-Cecelia Daigel
Career Highlights
“The nature of the essays themselves lends itself to conversations that can be really meaningful. Because of this, you’re drawn into the student’s story and want to see them put their best foot forward and succeed in their applications. It happens every single time I meet with a student, and it keeps me engaged in this line of work.”
-Meredith Robinson
