Outschool
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Log In

Conquering the College Essay: Cut the Wordiness and Emphasize Your Message

In this one time class students will learn how to eliminate the wordiness of their college application essay, decide which voice to use, and stand out from the crowd!
Phyllis Bixler - Just Help Me Learn, LLC
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(346)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours
Assessment
Informal Assessment

Class Experience

College essays can be SCARY!!  During this interactive class students will learn how to stop avoiding those college essays, and feel more confident about the dreaded writing piece of that process. 

Class will include the following skills and objectives:

How to format an essay
Various essay approaches
Writing skills that help shape your voice
Emphasize your strengths
Stand out from other applicants
Successful college essay samples

This class will be taught using a combination of lecture, slide show, student interaction, and writing practice.  Students will be encouraged to take notes on tips they may find helpful on their quest to draft an amazing college essay, but the magic comes from the interaction and writing activities that get students thinking about what to include in their essays. Follow up questions are welcome beyond the class.

**********PLEASE READ*************
Outschool has recently changed its policy regarding class cancellations. We know how disappointing canceled classes can be for learners, so we too are amending our policy.  In the past we have waited for late enrollees, of which we have had MANY!  Unfortunately we can no longer do that. 

Instead we will evaluate class enrollment for ongoing classes on teach Sunday at 5pm Eastern.  IF enrollment falls below 3 students, we will push the class back a week.  When other sections are available students will have the option to transfer to another class.  Full refunds will be provided for learners who cannot attend the newly scheduled class time.  All other refunds will be provided as per the Outschool Limited Refund policy (see below).  If for any reason the class does not meet your expectation, you have the confidence of knowing that Outschool has a Happiness Guarantee and will provide a refund upon request via their Customer Support. 

Transfer requests within 24 hours of a scheduled class will NOT be approved.  At that point it is too late to reschedule the class, and it is unfair to other families who may have enrolled thinking there were multiple learners enrolled. Instead students will be encouraged to watch the video of the class.
 
Thank you for understanding, and for your loyalty.

Learning Goals

The final outcome is a better understanding of how to overcome writer's block and format an effective essay.
learning goal

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined September, 2020
4.8
346reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Ohio Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Phyllis Bixler, M.Ed., NBCT
Master's Degree in Education from Lourdes College
Phyllis Bixler, M.Ed., NBCT
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Auburn University
Tina Kaye Houston
Just Help Me Learn empower and educates learners from around the globe with a focus on English literature, writing and grammar, study skills and history.  However the variety of classes will grow as our organization evolves, with the intention to bring STEM classes, foreign languages and more in the coming months!

Just Help Me Learn was established during the global pandemic of 2020-21, in direct reaction to the changes in which children and families sought primary and supplemental sources for education.  Initially Mrs. Bixler envisioned using her education and experience as an English teacher to help learners who struggled with reading and writing.  But with the challenges created by the pandemic she discovered the Outschool and chose to share her talents and passions with their global community.  Six months later the demand for grammar, study skills and mythology classes became more than one teacher could teach while still leading a balanced life with her family, and Just Help Me Learn was repurposed!  

When you enroll your learner in a class offered by Just Help Me Learn, you can be assured that a teacher is assigned to the entire section.  What does this mean?  If your learner is in an ongoing, multi-day, or camp class they will see the same teacher for every class, except in cases of emergency, illness or vacation for ongoing classes.  Your learner will have the opportunity to bond with a teacher, just as they would in a traditional classroom. 

Our teachers are compassionate professionals who LOVE the learning process. We have sought out educators who believe that all students can learn, and that it is our job to facilitate the learning process. Students are the future leaders of our world, and as teachers it is our role to help empower and educate those future leaders through critical thinking/writing, experiencing literature, culture, history, and more, and providing a well-rounded educational experience via our classes where learners collaborate as equals and learn from one another.  

Today we are a collaborative cohort of educators who support one another in the education of your students. 

Meet our teachers:

Mrs. Phyllis Bixler brings  20 years of teaching experience from middle school to university, a National Board Certification, multiple graduate degrees, and a passion for helping academically challenged learners discover the joys of learning. Her experience and passion for literature, grammar, writing, history and the acquisition of study skills stems from a learning disabled father who only completed grade 9 of school, a sibling who struggled with undiagnosed learning challenges, and a dyslexic daughter who completed her college education with degrees in Spanish, Hospitality/Tourism, and International Business.  Her life experience lends to the core belief that EVERY student is capable of learning.  Thus, Phyllis seeks educators who have similar beliefs about learning to help her reach as many learners as possible with Just Help Me Learn. 

Mrs. Tina Kaye Houston acquired her undergraduate degree in elementary education, and has used that knowledge in the home school education of her own children.  She teaches several art classes and camps on Outschool as "Teacher Tina" and has been a member of the Outschool community for more than 3 years.  Mrs. Houston joins our team to work with our struggling learners on their study skills, as well as  grammar classes. Welcome Teacher Tina!


Ms Gabi Houston is a passionate college student who loves literature and learning.  While attending university, she has also been working multiple jobs that involve serving others...mostly students, youth and children.  As a student who learns differently, Gabi understands the challenges that come with academia.  She has personally worked to overcome those challenges.  Gabi recently joined our team of teachers to support our struggling learners, and to guide them with some of the strategies she has found most helpful on her academic journey. Gabi will also share her love of literature via novel discussions with guided notes created by the English teachers on our team, and supplement or substitute in the other classes as needed.  We are excited about all that Gabi has to offer our team, and the learners in the Outschool community!!

Mrs. Diane Sullivan has 40+ years of classroom and virtual teaching experience with English and Theater.  She has taught via Outschool and VIP Kid for several years, and is extremely skilled at one-on-one instruction.  Mrs. Sullivan is an incredible literature instructor, our resident Percy Jackson and mythology expert, and a regular substitute teacher when necessary. 
 
While Just Help Me Learn offers academic classes, we are excited to encourage our educators to create FUN classes that reflect their interests and hobbies too!  Keep checking back for new classes, new teachers, and share your class suggestions with us too!

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
Share

$15

per class
Meets once
55 min

Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
3-9 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyYour Privacy ChoicesTerms
Financial Assistance
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2025 Outschool