About Sebastian

Hi! I’m Sebastian, a graduate of Harvard Law School, a PhD student in Sociology at Harvard, and a judicial clerk. I’ve worked at an education policy non-profit, advised a congressional campaign, taught Harvard undergrads, written academic articles on inequality in incarceration, and worked on cutting-edge climate change litigation. Now, I’d like to help you achieve your goals. Here is how my own journey has taught me about how to navigate the admissions process: 1. Take the path that’s right for you I went to college after 10th grade. For two-and-a-half years, I attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock, a full-time, residential program in Western Massachusetts. My friends in high school thought I was crazy for doing it. This isn’t the standard path. But it was mine. I absolutely loved Simon’s Rock: the professors, the Great Books, the small class sizes, the intense academic environment. Simon’s Rock is where I found my love for sociology, and developed my writing craft. I’m grateful for the education it provided. Even though for most high schoolers, moving away from home two years early to start college doesn’t make sense, it’s what I needed. As a mentor, it’s your goals that matter. Not mine. Not the rankings. Not what Reddit tells you. I start by asking you what you’re hoping to get out of your degree. Then, let’s find a program that will help you attain that, and a path to getting into that program. 2. Do what you love I enjoyed law school. I enjoy clerking. But as I did my internships throughout law school, I could tell something was missing. I craved the autonomy and intellectual excitement of being a professor. So, I pivoted. It was April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, and I found myself one night Googling sociology journals. It was then that I rediscovered my first love, sociology. I knew I needed to change course, and get a PhD. I couldn’t sleep that night; this would be one of the riskiest decisions I’ve ever made. But it was the right one. My years working full-time on the PhD were the best of my life, and I am thrilled to be able to combine both my legal and sociological training in academia. I mentor because I enjoy helping others achieve goals they didn’t think possible. I’ve given advice to countless students and applicants considering law school, PhD programs, other graduate degrees, and undergraduate programs. I’ve read over personal statements and edited resumes. I’ve compiled lists of schools and tried to figure out which would be most welcoming for international students. And I want to work with you to put you on a path that you will love as well. 3. Be ready to fail The first time I applied to law school, I completely struck out. When I applied for the PhD, I was expecting the same. It was during Covid; I wasn’t even sure my dream program was going to have any slots until a month before the admissions deadline. And I still needed to produce a writing sample! It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to aim high and strike out. The key is to be prepared. When I was applying for law school, I aimed high, knowing that if it didn’t work out, I could take the LSAT again and reapply the next cycle. And so I did. With the PhD applications, I did all I could to put together an application, knowing I would probably apply again the next year to a broader range of schools. My writing sample turned out better than expected, and I ended up only needing to apply once for the PhD. It can pay off to take a risk. As a mentor, I want to work with you as you reach your goals. It’s okay if that takes time, or if there are a few shots in the dark, as long as it’s all part of a reasonable strategy. Let’s build one together.