College admissions counseling
Build an application that reflects your student.
Work with a near-peer mentor on college choices, activities, essays, and deadlines. Explore our mentors and student stories to see what that support looks like.
Your free 25-minute consultation
A parent or guardian meets with a Dewey Smart advisor; students are welcome. Discuss your student’s goals, current challenges, and timeline. If there’s a fit, we’ll recommend the support and mentor profile to consider next.
What to expect & how booking worksMentor universities
Logos identify mentor universities, not partnerships or endorsements.
Rated by families everywhere
Results
Results that speak for themselves.
Free 25-minute call, no commitment
- Ivy League admits since 2024
- 24
- Top-25 admits since 2024
- 62
- Scholarships earned
- $3M+
These are past student outcomes, not a prediction for an individual applicant. Colleges make their own admissions decisions. Meet our mentors.
How it works
From interests to a finished application
Phase 1
Find the thread in your interests
A "spike" simply means an interest you have explored in depth. We help connect your activities, projects, and experiences so you can explain what matters to you.
Phase 2
Build a balanced college list
Discuss academic interests, school fit, and admissions data to build a balanced list of colleges.
Phase 3
Write and revise in your own voice
Brainstorm experiences, develop drafts, and use feedback to make your writing specific and clear.
Tracks
Specialized Tracks
Targeted strategies for high-stakes goals.
BS/MD & Pre-Med
Strategic planning for the most competitive accelerated medical programs.
Computer Science & Engineering
Building a portfolio of GitHub projects and Olympiads that stands out to MIT and CMU.
Business & Wharton/Stern Prep
Discuss business interests and experiences, and develop essays that explain what you have learned from them.
Pre-Law & Humanities
Developing the rhetorical skills, debate awards, and advocacy work that define the next generation of legal minds.
Arts & Portfolio Strategy
Plan how your portfolio or audition materials fit with the rest of your application.
Exploratory & Find the thread in your interests
Unsure of your major? Talk through the subjects and activities you enjoy, then explore how to develop those interests further.
Scenarios
Specialized Application Scenarios
Expert guidance for unique admission paths.
Transfer Applications
Transferring is harder than applying as a freshman. We help you craft the specific "Why Transfer" narrative and maintain the college GPA required to switch to your dream school.
Waitlist & Deferral Management
Get help writing a letter of continued interest and deciding which updates to share, following each college’s instructions. An updated application does not guarantee admission.
Reviews
Rated by families who've worked with us
Verified reviews from families on Google, Trustpilot, and Thumbtack.
“Dewey Smart has been a fantastic partner in our child's academic journey. We began with AP course tutoring and added college counseling. Both coaches have been exceptional — their academic expertise, professionalism, and genuine dedication truly stand out.”
Donald
“As the first-born child of immigrants, it has meant a great deal to have guidance from someone who understands this process. Applying for research felt intimidating, but our counselor's support, explanations, and tips have made the experience feel much more manageable.”
Carla
“They are very responsive. We had the opportunity to meet more than one college counselor to find the best fit for my son. We're optimistic our counselor will help him prepare his applications over the summer.”
Amy
“We are absolutely delighted with the services provided by the team at Dewey Smart. Their kindness, professionalism, and genuine care have made a significant difference. They're always on top of everything for my daughter — we're incredibly thankful.”
Mandy
“We've been working with Dewey Smart for my son's SAT prep. His instructor is very knowledgeable and has been guiding him effectively — always punctual and never reschedules. We've seen a significant improvement in his scores. We highly recommend Dewey Smart.”
Pinar
“Dewey Smart is an amazing source of tutoring. As a teenager, their lessons have made my school life so much easier. I meet up for a lesson once or twice a week and work on homework and material from school, and also work on the SAT.”
Audriana
“Our tutor is wonderful, knowledgeable, and patient. My son is finally understanding the material.”
Wilmarie
“My tutor has been incredibly helpful over the past couple of weeks. Extremely knowledgeable about a variety of subjects and a huge help as I navigate my statistics and AP Calculus.”
Anika
“She is very engaging and helpful. I learn a lot from her and retain the information better through the way she teaches.”
Niko
Student stories
“I find Sarah helpful and engaging; every meeting has been productive and valuable. Sarah has been very informative about how I should be pacing things and giving help in areas that I need. She is also straightforward to talk to and understands and can relate to my background.”
Joshua Do
12th Grader College Admissions
1 / 3
Case study
Don't just take our word for it.
See how Aanya got into Princeton.
Questions
Common Questions from Families
What makes Dewey Smart different from traditional counselors?
Traditional counselors are often decades removed from the process. We use a "Near-Peer" model, matching you with mentors currently at Ivy League schools who navigated the exact same competitive landscape you are facing right now.
When should we start admissions counseling?
We recommend starting in Grade 9 or 10 for profile development (choosing the right extracurriculars and narrative). By Grade 11, we shift focus to specific application strategy and college lists.
Do you help with the Digital SAT?
Yes. Standardized testing is often part of our comprehensive roadmap. Our tutors scored in the 99th percentile and can integrate test prep seamlessly into your admissions timeline.
Free consultation
Ready to get matched?
Talk with an advisor about your student’s application priorities, timeline, and the support to consider next.
Your free 25-minute consultation
A parent or guardian meets with a Dewey Smart advisor; students are welcome. Discuss your student’s goals, current challenges, and timeline. If there’s a fit, we’ll recommend the support and mentor profile to consider next.
What to expect & how booking worksPrefer we reach out?
Questions about college admissions?
Tell us about your student and an advisor will map out the path, usually within one business day. Prefer to talk now?
Book my free consult