Case Study
Aanya Shah
:

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

Student Profile
Background
G 12 Student
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.
Challenges Faced
Building College List
Writing Personal Statement

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

Consultation Process
Strategies

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.

Key Results
We’re proud to share
Aanya Shah
's results:

With strong applications and a powerful personal statement, Aanya was admitted to her dream school: Princeton University. She also earned acceptances from several other prestigious universities, confirming that her hard work and strategy paid off.

Princeton University
Johns Hopkins University
Rutgers University Honors College
Reflections & Testimonials
Aanya's journey to her dream school

“I found working with Dewey Smart to be very rewarding. The whole team was kind, patient, and always prompt in responding to my questions. My counselor guided me through creating a personal narrative that felt authentic and powerful. If given the opportunity, I would definitely choose Dewey Smart again!”

Aanya Shah
Hannah Gao
’s Case
From Uncertainty to Stanford: How Hannah Crafted a Winning Application

Hannah Gao started her college journey uncertain about her applications, but with Dewey Smart’s support, she refined her strategy and essays — earning admission to her dream school, Stanford University

View Case Study
Abigail He
’s Case
How First-Gen Students Can Apply with Confidence

Abigail He, a G-12 student in the Class of 2025, worked with Alexandra (Yale University) and Emerson at Dewey Smart to build a structured plan that brought clarity and confidence to her college applications.

View Case Study
Aanya Shah
’s Case
How to Get Into Princeton With a 36 ACT and a Compelling Personal Story

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.

View Case Study
Hari Narayanan
’s Case
How Consistent Tutoring Support Turned English Struggles Into Honors-Level Success

Hari Narayanan, a Class of 2026 student, has been working with Dewey Smart since 8th grade. With the guidance of his tutor Rachel, he developed stronger grammar and essay writing skills that helped him excel in his English Honors class.

View Case Study
Teen Getting Help with College Admissions
Parents can get their teen connected with tutors at top, Ivy League colleges.

Ready for Your Success Story?

We offer FREE 30-Minute Consultations for students and parents, offering step-by-step advice on how to achieve your admissions dreams!