Sarah Stiemsma joined Marks Education in 2021 and has found that college and essay advising is a perfect fit for her experience in educating, writing, and mentoring. Sarah’s approach to college advising is strategic, thoughtful, and intentional. She brings her love of research to her job as an advisor, spending countless hours analyzing the college admissions landscape to understand the best strategy for each student’s unique background and goals. 

Sarah helps students establish effective study skills, manage their time, and develop their own plan through high school and beyond. Her goal is to use her expertise and knowledge to guide students, so they stay motivated and understand what to expect through the application process. Sarah has created strategic checkpoints for students at each stage in their academic journey so they can feel assured that they are spending time and effort on the things that matter and make the best decisions to help them achieve their goals. 

Sarah particularly enjoys helping students with their college and graduate school application essays, and her hope is that writing can be an opportunity for students to learn something about themselves. Sarah’s expertise is in helping students translate their life experiences into essays that paint a vivid and genuine picture of their life experiences, values, and future goals.   

As a mom of five (including current college students), Sarah understands the busy lives of students and works with them to establish an achievable plan that highlights their strengths. In addition to spending time with her family, Sarah enjoys taking long walks with her husband and their dog Argos, reading great stories, and drinking a good cup of coffee. 

Sarah is an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). She is available to work with students virtually.

Education/Training:

• Calvin University, B.A. Business/Spanish/Psychology