How we work

Services

Two packages — one for first-year applications, one for transfers — each running from planning through to the final essay, adjusted to the student's timeline and targets.

U.S. undergraduate package

One application season from start to finish: settle the direction and the school list first, then write the main essay and every supplement.

Fee
Quoted by number of schools
Who it's for

High school students and families applying to U.S. undergraduate programs

What's included
  • Planning — a full background interview: academics, activities, upbringing, interests
  • Planning — positioning: deciding what this application should make a reader remember
  • Planning — school and subject discussion, ending in a tiered list
  • Planning — timeline and document checklist
  • Essays — the Common App personal essay: topic, structure and successive drafts
  • Essays — supplements for the agreed list of schools, with no per-essay cap
  • Essays — activity list and award descriptions rewritten in idiomatic English
  • Essays — a final read across everything: what repeats, what reinforces
How it runs

One-to-one online sessions of 60–90 minutes, with document comments and email in between. I do all of the work myself; nothing is handed to an associate.

U.S. transfer package

A transfer application has to answer two questions honestly: why leave, and why this school. Planning through to every transfer essay.

Fee
Quoted by number of schools
Who it's for

Current university students moving into U.S. undergraduate programs — community college to four-year, between four-year schools, or from a Chinese university

What's included
  • Planning — where things stand: courses, grades, credits and activities so far
  • Planning — the reason for transferring, which is what the whole application rests on
  • Planning — school and major fit, weighing credit transfer against admission odds
  • Planning — the transfer timeline and each school's requirements
  • Essays — the Common App transfer essay: topic, structure and successive drafts
  • Essays — school-specific transfer prompts, including Why Transfer and Why Us
  • Essays — CV and activity descriptions rewritten in idiomatic English
  • Essays — a final read across everything before submission
How it runs

The same as the freshman package: one-to-one sessions with written feedback. Transfer timelines are usually tighter, so we set the schedule around the deadlines first.

About the intro call

The intro call is for checking fit, not for working on essays. Length and fee will be confirmed here.

  • Length To be confirmed (20–30 minutes suggested)
  • Fee To be confirmed
  • How it runs To be confirmed (WeChat, Tencent Meeting or Zoom)
  • What to bring A transcript or current year of study, a list of activities and experience, and any schools or subjects in mind. Bring what you have; none of it is required.

How I take students

I work with a limited number of students. We normally start with a short introductory call to check the fit, and I will say plainly when I am not the right person for a particular case.

Start with a conversation

Tell me the student's year, the type of application and what is hardest right now, and I will come back with specifics.