How First-Gen Students Can Apply with Confidence

Background

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.

The Challenge

First Generation Student

Building College List

Application Essays & Narrative

Managing Timeline

As the oldest child of immigrant parents, Abigail was navigating the college admissions process largely on her own. With no family members to guide her, she often felt uncertain and overwhelmed about where to even begin. She wasn’t sure how to research schools that would be a strong academic and social fit, or how to develop a balanced college list. Writing her college essays felt especially daunting — she didn’t know how to frame her experiences in a way that showed her authentic self. On top of that, she struggled with describing her extracurricular activities in a way that highlighted their impact and value. The lack of clarity around the timeline, the steps involved, and how to present her passions made the application process feel intimidating. Abigail knew she needed structure, guidance, and mentorship to turn this uncertainty into a confident, compelling application.

The Strategy

The Dewey Smart team gave Abigail confidence from the very beginning. Alexandra and Emerson anticipated her questions and concerns, often addressing them before she could even bring them up. Together, they developed a clear timeline with milestones that broke the intimidating college process into manageable steps. This structure allowed Abigail to stay on track while reducing the stress of looming deadlines.

On the essay side, Alexandra guided her through every stage — from brainstorming and outlining ideas, to crafting drafts, to polishing her final pieces. She encouraged Abigail to explore sides of herself she hadn’t considered before, ensuring that her essays highlighted not just her academic strengths, but also her personality, values, and unique story as a first-generation student. Emerson provided complementary support, helping her frame extracurriculars in a way that showed leadership, initiative, and impact.

This combination of personalized essay feedback, strategic planning, and proactive mentorship helped Abigail approach her applications with clarity, confidence, and a stronger sense of her own voice.

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