Two flat, public tiers. Paid only by you — zero university commission, ever.
The full decision portal, built for your exact situation. Up to 12 programmes deep-compared, screened from 120+ — the top of the 5–12 list counselors actually recommend you apply to.
For decisions that cross countries, careers, or family stakeholders — when the question itself needs work before the answer does.
Traditional agents charge USD 7,000+ for feedback over a few 1:1 calls. Both tiers are flat, public prices — with zero university commission, ever.
We're not the right choice for everyone. Here's the factual difference — judge it yourself.
| Guide to Uni | Traditional agent | Doing it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who they work for | ✓You — and only you | —The universities that pay the commission | ✓You |
| Programmes compared | ✓Up to 12 deep-compared, screened from 120+ | —The schools on their contract list | —As many as your evenings allow |
| Evidence & sources | ✓Every claim linked to a primary source | —Rarely shown; take their word for it | —Forums, rankings, hearsay — quality varies |
| Cost transparency | ✓Flat, public pricing on this page | —Opaque, negotiable, per-school | ✓Free — except your time |
| Time you spend | ✓A 10-minute intake; the guide is ready in days | —Months of meetings and follow-ups | —Hundreds of hours, no second pair of eyes |
| Guarantee of independence | ✓Paid only by you; will say "don't go" | —Will never advise against enrolling | ✓Independent — but unchecked |
A traditional agent can work for "free" or cheap because the university pays them — typically 10–15% of your first-year tuition — for delivering you. That money is already in your fees, and it quietly decides which schools you're shown.
We take no commission from any university, so our fee is the whole fee: flat, public, and paid only by you. You pay less than the hidden commission would have cost — and you keep the one thing an agent can't sell you back: advice with no side to it.
No fine print, no negotiation. Three lines, the same ones in our terms.
Full refund, no questions asked, if you change your mind before we begin work on your guide.
Half back if you withdraw after research has started but before anything is delivered.
Once your guide is delivered, the work is done and no refund applies. We'd rather be clear than flexible.
This matches our terms word for word — read the full terms.
Agents aren't free — the university pays them a commission on your tuition, which means their advice serves the schools on their contract, not you. You fund that commission through your fees either way. Our fee is smaller than a typical commission, it's visible, and it buys advice with no school on the other side of it.
Often that's when it's most useful. We pressure-test the list you have: true all-in cost, real admission odds, where graduates actually go, and whether a programme you haven't considered beats one you have. If your list survives, you proceed with evidence instead of hope — and a full application plan for it.
The intake questionnaire takes about 10 minutes. A Complete Guide is typically ready in about 48 hours; Bespoke Guides take longer because of the custom analyses and live sessions — we confirm the timeline at consultation. You'll see build progress in your account throughout.
Yes. Every guide is delivered in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese — the same content, one shared link. Many of our clients are the parents: they check the figures themselves and read the guide together as a family before deciding.
Scope, not quality. The Complete Guide deep-compares up to 12 programmes — enough for almost every focused decision. Bespoke is for genuinely complex situations: 30+ programmes, multi-country trade-offs, custom scenario and funding analyses, two live expert sessions, a parents' briefing pack, and a 12-month refresh of key figures. If you're unsure, start with Complete — most families need exactly that.
No — and be wary of anyone who does; "guaranteed admission" is the oldest red flag in this industry. We're an advisory service: we give you an honest read on your real odds, the evidence behind it, and a plan. The applications, the essays, and the decision stay yours. We never ghostwrite and we never promise outcomes.
A 10-minute questionnaire starts it. An honest, fully-sourced answer ends it.