How to Get Into Princeton With a 36 ACT and a Compelling Personal Story

Background

Aanya Shah, Class of 2024, worked with Dewey Smart for counseling, test prep, and support to build a strong college list and craft the personal narrative that led her to Princeton University.

The Challenge

Building College List

Application Essays & Narrative

Before joining Dewey Smart, Aanya felt lost about where to start in the college application process. She wasn’t sure how to identify schools that would truly fit her goals, values, and future ambitions. The idea of finalizing a balanced college list was intimidating, and writing her personal statement felt even more overwhelming. Aanya knew that to present the best version of herself to admissions committees, she needed guidance on both the strategy — where to apply and why — and the storytelling — how to make her application reflect who she was beyond numbers.

Goals

• Discover and apply to her dream school
• Finalize a strong, balanced college list
• Write a compelling, authentic personal statement
• Gain clarity and confidence in her application strategy

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The Strategy

The Dewey Smart team started by helping Aanya clarify her academic goals, career aspirations, and personal values to identify schools that would truly be the right fit. Together with her counselor, she built a comprehensive college list that included reach, match, and safety schools — all aligned with her long-term ambitions.

On the essay front, Aanya worked one-on-one with her counselor to brainstorm themes and identify her most authentic story. Through multiple drafting and revision cycles, she refined a personal narrative that highlighted her strengths and passions, while also showing her unique perspective. Dewey Smart’s approach ensured that every word felt true to who she was, not just what she had accomplished.

By combining structured planning, timeline accountability, and essay guidance, Aanya gained confidence in her applications and clarity about her future path.

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