What this thread is for / 这个讨论串适合用来做什么
Use this thread when you are stuck on this topic and need quick comparisons, real timelines, or examples from other applicants and students.
如果你现在就卡在这个问题上，想快速对比时间线、学校做法或他人的真实经历，就用这个讨论串。
Add these details / 建议补充这些信息
country, target schools, deadline pressure, and what part of the process feels hardest
if you used an agency, what they charged and what they actually handled
Quick prompts / 可以直接这样发问
What was worth paying for, and what was not?
If you did it again, would you still use an agency?