Before working with Dewey Smart, Hannah felt overwhelmed by the college application process. She hadn’t finalized her college list, didn’t know what parts of her story to highlight, and found essay writing daunting. “I began my summer with uncertainty (and a little fear),” she recalled. She struggled to find direction, both in creating a strategy and in writing essays that truly represented her. Without a clear path forward, the process felt intimidating and unstructured.
Hannah’s main goals were to receive guidance on her essays — from idea generation to writing — and to navigate the overall admissions process with clarity. She wanted personalized support to help her present her strengths effectively and make her application as competitive as possible.
Working with her mentor Chase, Hannah received tailored guidance every step of the way. Chase supported her in college selection, essay brainstorming, and refining her writing. “He gave me the encouragement and confidence to REA to Stanford (best decision ever),” Hannah said. With personalized recommendations and essay feedback, Chase helped demystify the application process and gave her the confidence to apply ambitiously. The one-on-one mentorship, combined with the responsiveness and knowledge of the entire Dewey Smart team, ensured Hannah felt supported at every step.
With Chase’s mentorship and Dewey Smart’s structured support, Hannah submitted strong applications with a clear story. Her hard work and strategic preparation paid off: she earned admission to Stanford University. Alongside this remarkable achievement, Hannah also built an impressive academic profile, achieving a 1590 SAT score and perfect 5s on multiple AP exams.
Beyond academics, Hannah distinguished herself in both the arts and mathematics. She was recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards with a National American Visions award (painting), a Gold Medal (poetry), and three Silver Medals (painting). She also qualified for AIME, earned multiple AMC12 Certificates of Excellence, and even became Indiana AIM State Shoot champion in her category.
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“My overall experience with Dewey Smart was great! All of the team members were very friendly, responsive, and helpful, as well as extremely knowledgeable and well-qualified. I had a great experience with my counselor Chase as well, and I truly couldn't have done it without him.” Hannah’s journey reflects how personalized guidance and encouragement can transform uncertainty into success — and lead to extraordinary outcomes.
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.
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