Questions we hear most often.
If something isn't answered here, reach out — we're happy to talk through your specific situation.
What does the process look like from start to finish?
It starts with a free 30-minute introductory call to understand your student's situation — grade level, current course load, goals, and any concerns. From there, we agree on a scope and start building a plan together.
For students we work with long-term (starting in 9th or 10th grade), the engagement covers four phases: academic planning, self-discovery and activity strategy, college list building using our matching engine, and finally the application itself — essays, supplements, and interview prep.
For students who come to us later (11th or 12th grade), we focus the work on what matters most given the time available.
What happens after I fill out the contact form?
Haech will reply within 1–2 business days to schedule a free introductory call. The call is 30 minutes, completely informal, and there's no commitment involved — it's just a conversation to see whether Authent Ed is a good fit for what your family needs.
When is the right time to start?
The earlier, the better — but it's never too late. Starting in 9th or 10th grade gives us the most room to shape a student's high school trajectory: course selection, activity strategy, and positioning for their target schools. The decisions made in 9th grade have real consequences by 12th.
That said, we regularly work with 11th and 12th graders who are focused on the application itself. The scope is just different — more targeted, faster-paced.
How often do we meet, and how?
Meeting frequency depends on the phase of work and the student's needs. During active periods — essay season, for example — sessions are more frequent. During planning phases they're lighter. All sessions are conducted online over video call, which works well for our students across time zones.
Between sessions, students have access to the student portal to track progress, view deadlines, and message Haech directly.
Will I always work directly with Haech?
Yes, always. Authent Ed deliberately keeps a small roster precisely so every student works directly with Haech — not an assistant, not a junior consultant. The quality of the relationship is the whole point.
What grade levels do you work with?
We work with students from 9th grade through 12th grade. We also support students already in college who want help with transfer applications or graduate school planning.
Do you work with IB students, AP students, or both?
Both. Haech has taught IB and AP Math, Biology, and Chemistry for years and knows how US admissions offices evaluate IB and AP coursework. Whether your student is at an IB school, an AP school, or a mixed curriculum, we understand the landscape.
Do you work with students outside of Korea?
Yes. All sessions are online, and we work with students and families in multiple countries. Our background — spanning India, Poland, Korea, and the US — means we understand the international student experience from the inside.
What is the student portal?
Every Authent Ed student gets a private portal where everything related to their consulting work lives in one place: their college list with reach/match/likely breakdown, 4-year course plan, activity tracker, deadline calendar, service request history, and a direct message thread with Haech.
It keeps the work organized and gives students (and parents, where appropriate) visibility into where things stand at any time.
How much does consulting cost?
Pricing depends on the scope of work — grade level, how long the engagement runs, and which services are included. We'll outline a clear package recommendation during the introductory call based on your student's specific situation.
Reach out for a free consultation and we'll walk through the options with you.
Still have questions?
Every family's situation is different. Send us a message and we'll answer directly.
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