At Dewey Smart, we understand that every student's college journey is unique. Our personalized college selection process goes far beyond generic college lists, diving deep into each student's academic interests, career aspirations, and personal preferences to identify institutions where they'll truly thrive.
Our comprehensive approach includes:
In-Depth College Research: We evaluate academic programs, campus culture, size, location, and available resources to match students with their ideal learning environments.
Strategic List Building: Creating balanced college lists with reach, match, and safety schools that maximize admission opportunities while ensuring excellent backup options.
Campus Visit Optimization: Providing guidance on making the most of campus visits and virtual tours, including strategic questions to ask and key aspects to evaluate.
Specialized Program Identification: For students with specific interests in engineering, arts, business, or research, we identify colleges with exceptional programs and unique opportunities like co-ops, internships, and undergraduate research.
Our application strategy development ensures students present their strongest possible candidacy to each target institution.
Early Decision/Early Action Planning: We provide strategic advice on using ED and EA applications effectively, helping students determine which options align with their goals and enhance admission chances.
Regular Decision Strategy: For students applying through Regular Decision, we develop comprehensive timelines ensuring all applications meet the highest standards well before deadlines.
Multi-Application Management: We provide sophisticated tools and strategies for managing multiple applications, ensuring each is tailored to specific institutional requirements and culture.
Deferral and Waitlist Navigation: When students face deferrals or waitlist placement, we guide them through effective response strategies, including letters of continued interest and strategic updates.
Our essay guidance represents one of our most comprehensive services, addressing the full spectrum of college application writing requirements.
Common Application Mastery: We guide students through crafting compelling 650-word personal statements that capture their unique voice and experiences, ensuring essays stand out among thousands of applications.
UC Personal Insight Questions Expertise: Our specialized support for UC applications includes strategic prompt selection, structured response development, and ensuring essays meet UC admissions committee expectations.
Independent College Applications: For highly selective institutions like MIT and Georgetown, we provide tailored guidance that reflects each school's specific character and values:
Supplemental Essay Strategy: We ensure each supplemental essay complements the overall application while addressing specific institutional values and expectations.
Dewey Smart goes beyond traditional counseling by actively helping students develop impressive extracurricular profiles that demonstrate genuine passion and leadership.
Volunteer Opportunity Placement: We assist students in identifying and securing volunteer positions that align with their interests while making meaningful community contributions.
Passion Project Development: Our counselors guide students in conceptualizing, planning, and executing independent projects that showcase creativity, initiative, and sustained commitment.
Pre-College Program Selection: We help students identify and apply to competitive summer programs that offer academic enrichment, skill development, and valuable networking opportunities.
Certification Guidance: For students interested in gaining relevant certifications in coding, languages, or leadership, we provide program recommendations and application support.
Research and Publication Support: We assist students in securing research opportunities and provide guidance on conducting effective research, including exploring publication possibilities.
Competition Preparation: We help students identify relevant academic and creative competitions, providing preparation support and submission guidance.
Our comprehensive financial aid counseling ensures families optimize their educational investment while minimizing financial stress.
FAFSA and CSS Profile Excellence: We guide families through complex financial aid applications, ensuring accurate submissions that maximize potential awards.
Strategic Scholarship Identification: Our team identifies scholarships matching students' achievements, involvement, and background, providing application support throughout the process.
Financial Aid Package Analysis: We help families understand and compare financial aid offers, providing clear analysis of grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.
Appeals and Negotiation Support: When families believe they deserve additional aid, we provide guidance on effective appeals and negotiation strategies.
Our interview preparation services ensure students feel confident and prepared for any admissions interview scenario.
Tailored Mock Interviews: We conduct realistic interview sessions specific to target schools, followed by detailed feedback on communication skills, body language, and overall presentation.
Strategic Response Development: Students learn effective strategies for answering common and challenging questions while articulating their goals and interests compellingly.
Virtual Interview Excellence: With increasing virtual interviews, we ensure students master online platform navigation and maintain strong camera presence.
Dewey Smart's commitment extends throughout the entire admissions process and beyond.
Comprehensive Application Reviews: Our counselors conduct thorough pre-submission reviews, ensuring applications are complete, accurate, and strategically aligned.
Deadline Management Systems: We provide sophisticated tracking and reminder systems ensuring no deadlines are missed for applications, financial aid, or scholarships.
Post-Admission Decision Support: Once decisions arrive, we assist with option evaluation, financial aid package comparison, and final college selection.
College Transition Preparation: Our support continues with guidance on course selection, time management, and maximizing campus resources during the crucial first year.
Our counselors understand regional admissions landscapes while maintaining comprehensive knowledge of national opportunities:
What sets Dewey Smart apart is our commitment to personalized, comprehensive support that addresses every aspect of the college admissions journey. We don't just help students get into college – we help them find where they'll thrive and succeed.
The college admissions journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming or impersonal. With the right guidance, students can move beyond generic lists and one-size-fits-all strategies to discover the schools, programs, and opportunities that are genuinely the best fit.
Ready to take the guesswork out of college planning?
Here’s what to explore next:
✅ Schedule a free consultation with one of our college counseling experts
📅 Join our upcoming webinar to learn how we turn potential into acceptance
📘 Need help building a personalized college strategy?
Dewey Smart’s full-service counseling team provides step-by-step guidance on college selection, essay writing, financial aid, and more. Let us help your student find the right path forward—with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
