Educational resources
We open doors — we don't sell packages
"Resources" is the most abused word in this industry. This page sets out which kinds we actually connect families to, how we vet them, and which costs go to someone other than us.
Types
What we vet and connect
For any given child, usually only one or two of these apply. Doing all of them is neither necessary nor possible to do well.
Coursework and academic support
Shoring up individual AP/IB subjects, writing instruction, advanced math and science, and targeted help with specific weak spots.
What we look at: Does it address a real weakness, rather than repeating what your child already knows?
Standardized test prep
Preparing for the SAT/ACT and English proficiency tests, including timing and choice of materials.
What we look at: Does the timing collide with course load, and is the return worth the effort?
Research and academic projects
Research opportunities in STEM and the social sciences. We assess whether research suits your child before anything else.
What we look at: Is the student genuinely doing the work rather than lending a name — and can they explain what they did?
Competitions and projects
Science and engineering competitions, subject olympiads and creative projects. This is an area where we run our own program.
What we look at: Does the track match the student's ability and interest — and is the work independently theirs?
Summer Program
Summer academic programs, major exploration and skills programs. Summer is the largest uninterrupted block of the year.
What we look at: Does it advance the direction already set, rather than add a line to a résumé?
Internships and community work
Practical opportunities tied to the student's direction. At high school level, an internship is worth exactly as much as the student's real involvement in it.
What we look at: Is there substantive work, and can the student explain what they were responsible for?
Vetting criteria
What makes us say something is worth the investment
When we recommend something, we explain why. Just as important: why we didn't recommend the alternative.
「Does it advance the direction this child has already set?」
If an opportunity has nothing to do with the student's main line, then however good it is on its own terms, it only splits attention. Consistency of direction is the first filter.
「Will the student genuinely take part, or just have their name on it?」
Name-only projects do close to nothing in an application, and sometimes actively hurt — a few specific questions in an interview and it shows.
「Does the time and money match what's likely to come out of it?」
Some programs charge a great deal and teach very little. We'll say so, even when it costs us a referral.
「Can your child actually handle it right now?」
When a project is far beyond a student's current ability, what usually happens is they fall behind and someone else finishes it — at which point the whole exercise is pointless.
About third-party costs
Our advisory fee covers judgment, planning, vetting, introductions, management and North American expertise. The cost of the opportunity itself is paid to a third party and is not included.
Included in our fee
- Vetting and judgment
- Fit assessment and the reasoning behind a recommendation
- Introductions and coordination
- Follow-up and a review of whether it worked
Billed separately (paid to third parties)
- Course and training fees
- Competition registration and specialist coaches
- Summer program and university course tuition
- Research platform fees, equipment and lab materials
- Travel, lodging and insurance
- Third-party internship program fees
Where third-party costs are involved, we set out the rough numbers before anyone commits, so nobody discovers halfway through that it can't be finished. We don't want anyone believing one package covers every education expense to come.
Why there's no list of specific providers here
Because the right opportunity depends entirely on the student. The same summer program can be genuinely valuable for a student with a clear direction and, for another, tens of thousands of yuan exchanged for a certificate. A "best resources" list detached from any particular child is, at bottom, a sales pitch.
The other reason is that we won't claim partnerships we don't actually have. This industry is full of "strategic partnerships" and "exclusive channels," and most don't survive a follow-up question. When we have real, verifiable relationships, we'll describe exactly what they are.