Insights

Where we stand on the questions we get asked

You won't find a list here of what you must do to get into a selective school. These pieces exist so you know a little more about how things actually work before you decide — including the parts that don't apply to your child.

Paths and readinessAbout 6 min read · updated 2026-08-10

Can my child actually study in the U.S.?

This is the question we get most. It sounds like a yes-or-no, but two very different questions are buried inside it — and as long as they stay tangled, the conversation goes nowhere.

Read the article →

This article covers

Separate the questions first
Five things determine whether the path holds up
When we say we don't recommend this path

When to startAbout 5 min read

Is Grade 8 too early to start planning?

It isn't — but this stage isn't for grinding competitions. Grades 7 and 8 are about habits, language, exploration, and judging whether this path fits.

G7G8Early planning

Read the article →

When to startAbout 5 min read

What should Grade 9 look like?

This is the year GPA starts counting. The priority is a solid academic foundation, while narrowing the broad experimentation that came before.

G9GPACourse selection

Read the article →

When to startAbout 6 min read

We're starting in Grade 11. Is there still time?

Yes, but the focus shifts from building to making the most of what exists. At this stage an honest read is worth more than an optimistic promise.

G11Application prepShort timeline

Read the article →

Coursework and testingAbout 5 min read

How should we choose AP courses?

More AP courses isn't better. Three things decide the choice: fit with your direction, what the student can genuinely carry, and what the school actually offers.

APCourse selectionCourse rigor

Read the article →

Activities and researchAbout 7 min read

Is research actually worth doing?

Research genuinely helps only certain students in certain directions. The test isn't whether it exists, but whether the student did it and can explain it.

ResearchActivity valueProfile building

Read the article →

STEM CompetitionsAbout 8 min read

How do you prepare for a science fair?

The hard part of a science or engineering competition isn't running the experiment. It's narrowing a vague interest into a question that can be tested.

Science FairISEFProject method

Read the article →

There aren't many pieces yet. We'd rather publish a few worth reading than fill the page with generated filler.Topics covered so far: Paths and readiness · When to start · Coursework and testing · Activities and research · STEM Competitions。

What an article can't answer is what your child should do

General advice only goes so far. A real judgment requires knowing this particular child.

Book a pathway assessment