U.S. Pathway Assessment
See the road clearly before deciding how to walk it
This is our entry point and the first step we recommend to most families. The purpose isn't to sell you into a longer engagement — it's to establish whether this path holds up for this particular child. When it's done, you're free to take the report and run with it yourself.
At a glance
- Best for
- Grades 7–11 · Families still deciding whether and how to pursue the U.S. path
- Duration
- About 2–4 weeks
- Fee
- ¥8,000–20,000reference price
Reference price. Actual scope depends on the student, and part of this fee can be credited toward a longer engagement later.
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
- You're still deciding whether to pursue the U.S. path and want an outside professional read
- You have a rough direction but aren't sure the current profile supports it, or whether the target is realistic
- You've heard plenty of advice — start early, grind competitions, do research — and don't know which of it applies to your child
- You're about to commit serious money over several years and want to check the direction first
- Grades 7–11 all work; Grades 8–10 leave the most room
You can skip this if
- Your child is already in Grade 12 application season — Application Season Advising fits better
- You only want a science or engineering competition project, not overall planning — go to the STEM track
- You already have a clear plan in motion and just want someone to run it
What it solves
The questions it answers
「Can my child actually study in the U.S.?」
Starting from the curriculum, the grade trend, English ability, and the time and resources your family has, we assess whether this path holds up — and at what tier.
「There's so much advice online. Which of it applies to my child?」
We replace general advice with judgment about this specific child: what to do, what to skip, and what won't move the needle either way.
「What should we actually do over the next year or two?」
A ranked set of priorities for the next 12–24 months, not a checklist of everything imaginable.
What's included
What you get
- Student and family interviews
- A clear picture of grades, coursework, English and current interests
- Assessment of realistic school tier and path feasibility
- Gap analysis and the main risks worth flagging
- Priorities for the next 12–24 months
- A written U.S. Pathway Assessment report
Deliverables
What you walk away with
- A written U.S. Pathway Assessment report
- A judgment on feasibility and realistic tier
- Gap analysis and a list of the main risks
- Ranked priorities for the next 12–24 months
- A full walkthrough session on the report
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
Gather materials
Transcripts, course schedule, test status, activities. You don't need to have it perfectly organized beforehand.
- 02
Student interview
A conversation with your child alone: interests, how they learn, what they actually think. This step usually tells us the most.
- 03
Family interview
Understanding your goals, your timeline, what you can commit, and what worries you.
- 04
North American read
North American practitioners weigh in on feasibility, realistic tier and the main risks.
- 05
Gap analysis
Specifically what separates where your child is from where they want to be — and which gaps are worth closing versus too costly to try.
- 06
Report and walkthrough
We deliver the written assessment and walk through every conclusion in a live session.
North American involvement
What our North American practitioners do at this tier
North American practitioners weigh in on whether the path is feasible and the target reasonable.
Path feasibility
Judging feasibility from inside the system, rather than inferring how U.S. admissions works from experience in China.
Realistic tier
Given the student's actual profile, which tier of school is a reasonable range to be discussing.
Risk flags
Calling out risks that get overlooked — course rigor, scheduling conflicts, a direction that doesn't match the intended major.
Timeline
Roughly how it paces out
The real pace adjusts to the student. What's below is a typical arrangement.
Materials and interviews
Week 1Collect materials and complete the student and family interviews.
Analysis and North American review
Weeks 2–3Internal analysis, with North American practitioners giving their read.
Report and walkthrough
Weeks 3–4Deliver the report and hold the walkthrough session.
FAQ
About U.S. Pathway Assessment
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.