Application Season Advising
Every application-season call gets a North American read
For students in or about to enter application season. This tier isn't about long-term building — there isn't time. It's about making the most of what's already there: how to structure the school list, how to tell the story, and who checks the materials.
At a glance
- Best for
- Grades 11–12 · Students in or about to enter application season
- Duration
- About 8–18 months
- Fee
- RMB 80,000–160,000reference price
Reference price. Actual scope depends on the student.
First, check the fit
Who this service is for
Buying the wrong tier wastes more than buying nothing. Read both columns side by side.
A good fit if
- Grades 11–12, in or about to enter application season
- The profile is largely set; what's needed is strategy, not planning
- You want key materials checked from a North American perspective
- You never did long-term planning and now need someone to organize what exists
Consider a different tier if
- Grade 10 or below — there's still time to build something real, and Long-Term Guidance or the Annual Plan is better value
- You want the essays written for you — we don't do that; the student writes them
What it solves
The questions it answers
「Given where we are, how do we choose schools?」
Built on an honest competitiveness assessment: a tiered school list that holds up to scrutiny.
「How should we actually use ED and EA?」
Weighing what your family wants against admissions reality to set an early strategy and a fallback.
「The essay won't come, or what comes out falls flat.」
Mentors ask questions until the student finds an angle that's genuinely theirs, then give feedback on structure and expression. They don't write it.
What's included
What you get
- Competitiveness assessment and school portfolio
- College list with ED/EA/RD strategy
- Intended major and activities list
- Common App, essay strategy and supplemental essays
- Recommendation strategy and interview preparation
- Deadline management across the season
Deliverables
What you walk away with
- Competitiveness assessment
- A college list with the reasoning behind each choice
- An ED / EA / RD strategy
- Activities List
- Round-by-round feedback on the personal statement and supplements
- Recommendation strategy
- Interview preparation
- A complete deadline calendar
Process
How it runs, start to finish
Every step has a specific question to answer and something concrete to show for it — not a vague promise of "ongoing communication."
- 01
Competitiveness assessment
An honest read on where the student currently stands.
- 02
College List
A tiered school list with a stated reason for every tier.
- 03
Early strategy
How ED, EA and RD combine, and on what timeline.
- 04
Choosing a major
Settle the intended major and keep every document consistent with it.
- 05
Activities List
Turn existing experience into a clear, focused activities list.
- 06
Essay Strategy
Settle the angle for the personal statement. The student writes; the mentor responds.
- 07
Supplement Essays
Strategy and round-by-round feedback on each school's supplemental essays.
- 08
Recommendation strategy
Choosing recommenders and advice on approaching them.
- 09
Interview preparation
Mock interviews and preparation for the questions that come up.
- 10
Deadline management
Deadline tracking across the whole process, so nothing gets missed.
North American involvement
What our North American practitioners do at this tier
Key materials are reviewed by North American practitioners. On essays we ask questions and give feedback — we don't write them.
Competitiveness assessment
A North American read on where the student actually sits in the applicant pool.
School list and strategy
A professional opinion on the college list and early strategy.
Essay Review
Questions and feedback on the essays, helping the student write it well themselves. No ghostwriting.
Final checks
North American review of key materials before submission.
Timeline
Roughly how it paces out
The real pace adjusts to the student. What's below is a typical arrangement.
Assessment and school list
Months 1–2Competitiveness assessment and a first-draft college list.
Materials
Summer after Grade 11 – Grade 12 fallEssays, activities list and recommendations move in parallel.
Early submissions
Grade 12 fallED and EA materials completed and submitted.
Regular round and interviews
Grade 12 winter–springRD submissions, interview prep, and working through the results.
FAQ
About Application Season Advising
If this tier isn't the right fit
You may be looking for one of these.
Not sure this is the right tier? Let's talk first.
The first conversation is free. We'll learn about your child, then tell you which tier fits — including when the answer is "you don't need the expensive one."
We promise no admissions outcome. What we take responsibility for is judgment, process management and professional support.