-
I. Ideate
We’ve all had the experience of staring at a blank screen, paralyzed by writer’s block. Sagebrush Scholars seeks to avoid this trap by getting you away from the screen and into nature where you can truly cultivate your inner sage. Ashley will provide direct guidance on how to harness the awe-inspiring effect of the natural world while reflecting on personalized reflective prompts designed to illicit greater self-awareness and spark the inspiration needed for you to write a meaningful and unique college essay.
-
II. Draft
Now that you’ve tapped the well of inspiration and are more grounded in what makes you tick, it is time to get as many ideas on the table as possible. Whether we’re working together on your personal statement for the Common App alone, or writing supplemental essays as well, you’ll not only come away from this phase confident you’re choosing the best topic and approach for the essay at hand, but you’ll also learn a process for writing that will translate to future writing endeavors.
-
III. Refine
Finally, we’ll work together to refine your essay(s), ensuring that your writing is mechanically flawless, engaging, and representative of your best work. From here, it’s up to you to click, “send” to the colleges of your dreams!
Why Choose Sagebrush Scholars?
Ashley has been working with high school students from diverse backgrounds and in diverse settings for over 20 years. From the Humanities classroom, to wilderness settings, what has mattered most to her is developing authentic relationships with students to support them in achieving their goals. She is an avid writer herself, and has taught the college essay to 12th graders at Animas High School for five years. Her work in outdoor education and her passion for wild places has taught her that in order to be our most inspired and present selves, time in nature is the best guide.
Sagebrush Scholars doesn’t aim to serve the most students possible. In fact, Ashley does this work in addition to working full-time as a high school Dean of Experiential Education. What matters to Sagebrush Scholars is helping a few students gain more self-awareness and confidence in themselves and their writing, while also learning an approach to writing that will enable them to not only shine in the college application process, but to develop a lifelong writing practice that will serve them well beyond their college years.
