But not having that support is what shaped who I am today. And maybe that’s why I’ve spent the last two decades trying to be the person I once needed—so more students don’t have to navigate this journey alone, or blindly.

After earning both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in just four years (because I wanted to save money for my family), I followed what many parents considered the “successful” path: I worked in Merging & Acquisition at a U.S. investment bank. But in 2007, I made a bold decision to walk away—and start over. I realized it wasn’t the life I truly wanted.

I joined the education field through a Taiwanese company expanding into China. I had no formal training, but I was determined. I led teams, built systems, managed three branch offices across major cities, and guided hundreds of families. But one day, a student passed me and said warmly, “Hi, Fifi!” I smiled back—only to realize I couldn’t remember who she was.

That moment stopped me cold. I had become a machine—moving fast, scaling quickly, but forgetting why I started.

So I left a high-paying job. I paused. And I returned to the U.S. to begin again—this time the right way.

I enrolled in professional consultant training through the IECA Summer Training Institute at Swarthmore College, where I was introduced to a new level of professionalism: one rooted in ethics, student-centered advising, and real school knowledge. I realized how little most people truly understand about U.S. colleges in Asia that time—and how dangerous it is to advise students without firsthand experience.

Since then, I’ve visited over 200 U.S. colleges and boarding schools, had conversations with admissions officers, and developed deep insight into how institutions evaluate students. I became the first Chinese educational consultant to earn Professional Member status in the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a credential that required years of case experience, school visits, and commitment to ethics.

Still, I didn’t stop there. I earned a second master’s degree in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania, to better understand how learning systems are built. After that, I became Asia’s first Chinese consultant to earn the Certified Educational Planner (CEP) designation, held by fewer than 300 professionals worldwide. The exam alone took five hours to complete—and remains one of the most demanding certifications in our field worldwide.

Even now, I continue to attend education conferences every year. I keep visiting schools. I keep learning. Because in this profession, you cannot serve students well unless you’re truly ready—not just knowledgeable, but committed, ethical, and experienced.

Still, sometimes I ask myself: is it worth it?

I spend so much time, energy, and money visiting campuses, meeting admission officers, and attending conferences—while others simply cite rankings and win families over with ease.

It often feels like I’m doing the harder, less glamorous work. Work that few people see or even understand.

But I keep doing it—because students deserve more than shortcuts. They deserve honesty. They deserve depth. They deserve an educational consultant who doesn’t just follow trends, but walks the ground and sees the truth with her own eyes.

This may not be the easiest path. But it’s the right one.

Because I’m not just planning for college.

I’m planning for a young life that matters.

That’s what I want every family to know.

Today, families are overwhelmed by choices. Agents, former admissions officers, student graduates, influencers—even well-meaning parents, professors—all offer advice. But this is not a space for casual guidance. Students’ future are too important for guesswork.

At Umerica, we take that responsibility seriously.
We don’t work for schools.
We don’t push rankings.
We don’t process students like numbers.

We listen.
We ask deep questions.
We map long-term goals.
We find the school that truly fits them.
And we never forget that behind every transcript is a young person—with dreams, doubts, and infinite potential.

When I meet families now, I often see shadows of my 17-year-old self in their children—full of potential, but often unsure where to start. And every time, I’m reminded why I am here.

That’s why Umerica exists.

With sincerity,

Fifi Teng(CEP/M.S.Ed/M.A.)
Founder, Umerica Education
Certified Educational Planner (CEP)
IECA Professional Member Since 2013