COLLEGE APPLICATION

ESSAY COURSE

Learn the skills to write the essay of your dreams

“...You get amazing lessons that are nothing

like I’ve had in school and I feel like I’ve learned

so much more from these.” — Lily H.

Featured on Everyday Northwest

July 6-9 and 13-16

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. PT

Zoom

$1295

  • The way the modules are structured really broke down the essay writing process. I learned so much from her and the course, and you can really tell all the time, effort, and care Sara put into it.

    —Meghna R.

Our Story

As the only teacher in the family, Sara Sebastian was asked to help her youngest sister with the college application essay. When Sara sat down with her, she was shocked at the advice given to her sister by others. “Let’s look at the subtext of that idea. Is that the impression you want to give off? Is that really who you are?”

What followed were mentoring and coaching sessions. Her sister was inspired to write three essays, picked her favorite, and was accepted to her first choice university.

A natural born leader and teacher, Sara was awarded teacher of the year at West Sylvan Middle School in Portland Public Schools during her second year as an educator. After six years of teaching, including redesigning the curriculum for 7th, 8th, and 9th grades at Eton School in Mexico City, Sara decided that her favorite subject to teach is English, her favorite subtopic is writing, and her absolute favorite genre is creative non-fiction.

In May 2020, Sara launched a weekly writing group for other professionals who have dreams of publishing, some of whom have since.

The current methods for teaching essay writing are dated, but it doesn’t have to be an arduous process. Who Am I? The Course creates a sense of play, encouraging creativity and self-expression. It’s a fresh, young, new take on essay writing.

Sara is more than qualified to do what she is most enthusiastic about: empowering high school students to find confidence in their writing and take actionable steps to complete work, so they can showcase essays they are proud of. This is the college application essay course where students find their voice. Nothing makes her happier than when a student declares, “I am a writer.”

About Sara:

  • West Linn High School alumna—Go Lions!

  • Author of We Call So Many Feelings Love, available at Powell’s and other bookstores.

  • Instructor of a college-level course for teachers, For the Love of Writing

  • Concurrent BA degrees from The University of Oregon (School of Journalism and Communication and College of Arts and Sciences, Journalism and History)

  • Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University Portland (Secondary English and Social Studies)

  • 5 Years Teaching Experience in Portland Public Schools

  • 2 Years Teaching Experience at Eton School in Mexico City, with one year as MYP English Leader

  • 2017-2018 West Sylvan Middle School Teacher of the Year

“Sara’s program is truly incredible. Her lessons are in-depth, consistent, and allow each student to challenge themself.”

— Cali Rose K.

Why High School Students Need This Course

Writing Fluency

Writing well takes practice in a safe and motivational environment with plenty of exercises.

Healthy Habits

Develop habits that increase your creativity and well-being. Sara uses these every day!

Self-Expression

We are taught to blend in, yet our magic shines when we stand out. Discover how to uncover yours.

Who Am I? The Course

Introduction

  • Materials needed

  • What to expect

  • Plan for success

Module 1: Expand

1.1 Habits 

Learn how to create healthy habits to improve well-being and creative flow. Sara uses these daily! You will look at a model personal essay with commentary broken down line by line, and then we will have our first quickwrite.

1.2 Emotional G

Discover the root of emotions and how to express yourself with three techniques, two exercises, two quickwrites, and a model essay for inspiration.

1.3 Get Curious

An extended activity to activate critical thinking and curiosity. Includes an example.

Module 2: Hurdles

2.1 Problem, Solution

Look at common habit problems and what to do about them, tackle mindset work, explore guilt and shame, and examine a model essay through the lens of the themes discussed in this lesson. Two exercises and one quickwrite.

2.2 The Mirror

Notice patterns and techniques in your and others’ writing. You will read two essays and discuss format, sentence structure, word choice, figurative language, and imagery — and then do a quickwrite to examine your work. 

2.3 100-Word Memoir, Seven Drafts

You will write your author bio, and then seven drafts of your 100-word memoir (idea from Kelly Gallagher). The seven drafts addition is from Sara.

Module 3: Voice and Vulnerability 

3.1 Go There

You will explore repressed and suppressed emotions and memories through four powerful exercises. Be sure you have no plans after this lesson.

3.2 Bring Others

How do we care about others’ stories? How do we get people to care about our own? Be confident others will with concrete strategies, a themed quickwrite, a model essay with commentary, and a brainstorm session. BONUS: the secret sauce will be revealed. 

3.3 Ideas

You will be brimming with ideas and decide on what your two essay topics will be. Featuring a series of fast quickwrites based on quotes, the Common App prompts, and an intensive idea funnel.

Module 4: Prepare

4.1 Format It 

Now that you have your ideas, let’s look at the many ways you can format it! You’ll check for additional writing requirements with ways to tackle them, read three model essays with commentary (and one with paragraph summaries), and go all in with outlines.

4.2 To The Point

Using five strategies, we will learn how to write better by writing concisely.

4.3 Grammar and Mechanics

The  tips and tricks with slides and exercises.

Module 5: It’s Time

5.1 Essay #1

Get pumped up and inspired before writing the first draft of your essay.

5.2 Essay #2

Write the first (or second or third) draft of your second essay.

5.3  R + R + R

You will read your essays, reflect (with specific questions) and learn about the art of meaningful rest — a must when you’re a creative genius.


Module 6: Who I Am

6.1 Beautify #1

We will look at common questions regarding format and audience, Sara will give feedback on a short piece, and then you will revise your first essay. Finally, you’ll learn how to edit your work. 

6.2 Beautify #2

Sara highlights more strategies for revising, and then you’ll revise and edit your second essay.

6.3 Big Asks

Before you submit your college and/or scholarship application, you will need courage for a few terrifying requests. This is the final challenge, you can do it!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes! Sara records an audio file reviewing your essay and gives feedback 1-4 weeks after the course ends.

  • For every ten students, a scholarship opportunity becomes available. Sign up to be notified here.

  • Not anymore. I have found that the final product is better when students take the course as opposed to working with me with something they have already drafted. Taking this course is the only way to work with me this year.

  • Yes! Sara will send you a pre-course PDF with some beneficial ideas.

  • No. Being able to think critically and write well is a vital personal and professional skill. We will not use AI to brainstorm, draft, or edit our work.

  • Possibly, but right now the only guaranteed course is the one in July.

“I have grown as a writer and student thanks to you . . . I can’t express how grateful I am to have been your student.”

—Paola C.

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