20+ years advising families
Private, boarding, and college admissions
High-touch one-on-one guidance
As Seen On
Private School Admissions Consulting
At the most selective private and boarding schools, every candidate arrives with strong grades and impressive activities. What separates the students who get in is harder to quantify: how they think, how they communicate, and how clearly they understand themselves.
That’s exactly what Cardinal Education develops intentionally, and over time. Our consultants work closely with each student to build genuine character and confidence, not as a performance for admissions committees, but as a foundation for the years ahead.
- Private School Admissions Consulting
- Interview Preparation
- Private Tutoring
- Academic Coaching
- ISEE Practice Test
- HSPT Practice Test
- SSAT Practice Test
- Proctored Writing Sample
TWO DECADES
of guiding families through the most selective admissions cycles.
Top Private Schools Our Students Get Into
Bay Area
The Nueva School
The Harker School
Castilleja School
Menlo School
The College Preparatory School
Crystal Springs Uplands School
St. Ignatius College Preparatory School
Head-Royce School
Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton
Lick-Wilmerding High School
Stanford Online High School
Bellarmine Preparatory School
Woodside Priory School
Pinewood School
Kehillah School
New Hampshire
Phillips Exeter Academy
Boarding School Admissions Consulting
The decision to pursue boarding school is about finding the environment where your child will genuinely thrive intellectually, socially, and personally.
We bring deep institutional knowledge of the most selective boarding schools in the U.S., and we begin with your child. Before building a school list, we invest time understanding who they are, what drives them, and where they’re headed. That understanding shapes everything: the essays, the interviews, the visits, and the fit.
Boarding School Guides
How To Get Into Phillips Andover
How To Get Into Choate Rosemary Hall
College Admissions Consulting
College admissions is not just about where a student applies. It is about the decisions made over time. We guide students and families with honesty and experience, helping them set clear goals, stay aligned, and navigate complex choices with certainty and conviction.
Our goal is simple. Help students find the right fit and prepare them for what comes next.
01
Long-Term College Planning
College admissions is a journey that begins well before senior year. We partner with students and families to build a long-term plan, one that shapes course selection, activities, and personal growth into a cohesive, compelling story that reflects who your child truly is.
02
Application Support
We help students craft essays, prepare for interviews, and align every application component into a clear, cohesive story, while guiding families through deadlines and decisions with calm, experienced support.
Who we are
Who is Cardinal Education?
Many firms focus on strategy. We focus on character.
For more than two decades, Cardinal Education has provided admissions consulting to guide students and families through some of the most consequential decisions in a young person’s life. Our approach has always been the same: lead with honesty, invest in the individual, and measure success not just by admissions outcomes, but by how prepared a student feels when they walk through the door on their first day.
We work with families who expect more — more transparency, more personalization, and more genuine investment in their child’s long-term growth. From the first consultation to the final decision, we are a steady, experienced presence beside you.
Featured interview
Watch Cardinal Education founder and CEO Allen Koh.
testimonials
What Families Say
The Cardinal Education Difference
What Sets Us Apart
Cardinal Education is a boutique firm. We work with a limited number of families each year, and every student gets direct access to experienced consultants and tutors who understand them and their goals.
Expert Tutors & Near-Peer Mentors
Our tutors do more than cover material. They close the gaps that hold students back. Working one-on-one in flexible in-person or online sessions, they build the executive function, independent study habits, and subject mastery that translate into lasting academic performance.
Dedicated Consultants
Our consultants take the time to understand what your family actually values, not just which schools are ranked highest. That means honest advice, proactive communication, and a strategy built around your child’s genuine strengths and long-term aspirations.
Our Admissions Consulting Results
A 98% top-three placement rate reflects something deeper than good strategy. It reflects the trust families place in us, and the care we put into every student we work with. From Bay Area private schools to Ivy League universities and the most selective boarding schools in the country, our outcomes speak for themselves.
The Right Fit Starts With a Conversation
We will talk about your child’s situation, your goals, and decide whether Cardinal Education is the right fit. We’ll be honest about what’s realistic and what the right approach looks like for your family.
We take on a limited number of new families each admission cycle. If you’re considering working with us, reach out now to check availability.
Contact Us
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