The ThinkSTEP Difference

Thinking deeply, expressing opinions, and persuading others result in greater school and life success.

The ThinkSTEP Philosophy

After teaching in Taipei for many years, ThinkSTEP Founder Michael Sedwick began identifying patterns in his students’ behavior. They worked hard yet feared mistakes and looked for Michael’s permission before writing each sentence. They also had no idea what they wanted to study in university and lacked key critical thinking skills for AP and IB exams.

To solve this dilemma, ThinkSTEP teaches students to be in charge of their own learning and life success by transforming them into independent and analytical young adults.

Based on the university seminar format and inspired by Harvard’s freshman writing courses, our educational pedagogy revolves around three core ThinkSTEP Study Skills:

Read / Analyze / Communicate

Are you prepared to think quickly AND analytically? English and history essays require persuasive analysis of 2 to 8 sources in a short amount of time. Are you ready for the challenge?

Our Harvard-Inspired Format

Every Harvard undergraduate student must take Expos 10 and 20, essay writing courses that promote “a hands-on and intensive approach to writing and that emphasizes both individual and collaborative work.” Students meet in around 10 students per section and in individual conferences with their professor.

At ThinkSTEP, we have shrunk the classroom even further, with 6 students per section, allowing even greater inter-student learning and more time for individual conferences with their teacher.

ThinkSTEP emulates Harvard’s Writing Program by:

  • Combining group work with 1-on-1
  • Practicing writing at sentence, paragraph, and essay levels
  • Writing multiple essays about multiple topics
  • Implementing a clear, multi-step writing process
  • Building writer’s confidence
  • Teaching students to conduct original essay research
  • Showing how to differentiate between good and poor sources
  • Practicing oral presentations
  • Encouraging peer review amongst classmates
Discover ThinkSTEP

Testimonials & Case Studies

Articles & Resources

All ThinkSTEP Programs

ThinkSTEP Graduates

  • Columbia University (Top 3)
  • Yale University (Top 3)
  • Stanford University (Top 6)
  • University of Chicago (Top 6)
  • UPenn (Top 8)
  • Northwestern University (Top 9)
  • Duke University (Top 10)
  • Brown University (Top 14)
  • Notre Dame (Top 15)
  • Cornell University (Top 16)
  • UCLA (Top 19)
  • Washington U. St. Louis (Top 19)
  • UC-Berkeley (Top 22)
  • Carnegie Mellon (Top 25)
  • University of Virginia (Top 25)
  • University of Michigan (Top 27)
  • Tufts University (Top 27)
  • New York University (Top 30)
  • UC Irvine (Top 33)
  • University of Florida (Top 34)
  • UC Davis (Top 38)
  • UCSD (Top 41)
  • Boston University (Top 42)
  • Case Western Reserve U. (Top 42)
  • Northeastern University (Top 44)
  • University of Illinois (Top 46)
  • U. of Wisconsin-Madison (Top 49)
  • Leigh University (Top 50)
  • Penn State (Top 50)
  • UW Seattle (Top 62)

Academic Calendar

2020 Spring Schedule ---3 to 6 Students Per Class

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1730 - 1930 AP English Lang 1-on-1 1-on-1 1-on-1 AP Microecon
1930 - 2130 1-on-1 1-on-1 Study STEPs 3 1-on-1 (8-10) AP Macro
1730 - 1930 1930 - 2130
Mon AP English Lang 1-on-1
Tue 1-on-1 1-on-1
Wed 1-on-1 Study STEPs 3
Thu 1-on-1 1-on-1
Fri AP Microecon (8-10) AP Macro
Sat Sun
0800 - 1000 1-on-1 1-on-1
1030 - 1230 Study STEPs 1 AP US History
1300 - 1500 Study STEPs 2 AP English Lit
1500 - 1700 IB Business IB English
1800 - 2000 1-on-1 IB History
Holidays
No Class Makeup Date
Pricing
  • Study STEPs $58,500 15 Classes
  • AP/IB $70,000 15 Classes