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U.S. College Admissions Consulting for Swiss Families
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Whether you’re aiming for the Ivy League, Stanford, or top liberal arts colleges, Cardinal Education provides expert insight and personalized strategies to help Swiss-based students gain admission to the most competitive universities in the United States.
For over 20 years, we’ve helped students not only reach their goals but also discover ambitions they never imagined. From international families navigating Matura and IB transcripts to bilingual students balancing multiple school systems, our mission is the same: to guide Swiss families through the U.S. college admissions process with clarity, precision, and care.
We know how to turn strong applicants into standout ones. Our bespoke services include building a balanced college list, planning extracurriculars that resonate with U.S. values, SAT/ACT preparation, essay coaching, and interview support—all tailored for students applying from Switzerland.
If you’re based in Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, or anywhere in between, and your sights are set on top U.S. colleges, we’re here to walk that journey with you. Whether you’re planning early or catching up fast, we’ll help turn your vision into results. Reach out today and let’s begin.
Families from Switzerland’s Top Schools Trust Our Expertise
We’re proud to be a trusted partner for families across Switzerland. Our experienced team of admissions consultants, academic coaches, and expert tutors understands the unique challenges Swiss students face when applying to U.S. colleges. We’ve worked closely with students from some of the country’s most respected schools, including:
Institut Le Rosey
Zurich International School (ZIS)
TASIS – The American School in Switzerland
International School of Geneva
Collège du Léman
Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz …and many more
Ready to cross the pond and make a splash? We help translate their academic achievements and extracurricular experiences into compelling U.S. applications. Book a consultation today and let’s get started on your child’s next big adventure.
Our Services
Cardinal Education offers personalized strategies tailored to the unique needs and ambitions of families in Switzerland. Our holistic approach to U.S. college counseling supports students throughout their academic journey—whether they’re pursuing the Matura, IB, French Bac, or a bilingual curriculum—helping them grow, thrive, and stand out in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape.
College Admissions Consulting
Our customized admissions strategies help Swiss students gain entry to the best-fit U.S. colleges and universities.
Interview Preparation
Be confident, be authentic, and present your best self in interviews that count.
DSAT Practice Tests
Master the Digital SAT with smart strategies and personalized practice tailored to international students.
ACT Practice Tests
Understand the format, fine-tune your timing, and identify areas for growth with our guided ACT prep.
Admissions Essay Help
Craft thoughtful, compelling essays that tell your story—and leave a lasting impression.
Extracurricular Activity Planning
Discover and develop meaningful activities that show initiative, leadership, and character.
Project Mentorship
Bring your passions to life through creative, impactful projects that reflect your values and vision.
Application Assistance
Polish every part of your application—from personal info to final submission—so nothing falls through the cracks.
Tutoring
Boost your academic performance and strengthen your transcript with expert, targeted support.
Academic Coaching
Build executive function skills, time management habits, and confidence to succeed in and out of the classroom.
Avail Our Personalized Services
Cardinal Education provides bespoke strategies tailored to the specific needs of Switzerland-based families. Our expert college counseling empowers students throughout their journey, helping them navigate the U.S. admissions process with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it too late to start college consulting if my child is already a junior or senior?
It’s not too late—unless the Common App deadline is in the next 10 minutes. If your child is in their final year of Gymnasium, IB, or Matura studies and just now thinking about U.S. colleges, take a deep breath. You’re not the first Swiss family to feel behind. We’ve helped students pull together brilliant applications from scratch with just weeks to spare. While starting earlier is ideal (and far less stressful), we’re experts at fast-tracking a strong plan, identifying schools that still accept applications, and bringing essays and recommendation strategies together quickly and thoughtfully.
Students in Switzerland face unique challenges: grading systems that don’t translate directly, school reports that need context, and timelines that don’t align with U.S. deadlines. That’s where we come in. We specialize in turning “Can we still do this?” into “We absolutely did.” So yes, there’s still time—and we’re ready when you are.
- How early should we start planning for college admissions with Cardinal Education?
If the words “apply to the U.S.” have even crossed your mind, that’s a great time to start. Ideally, Swiss students should begin working with us in Grade 9 or 10. Why? Because U.S. college admissions isn’t just about what you’ve done in your final year—it’s about the full arc of your academic and personal journey. Starting early gives us time to shape a cohesive narrative, choose subjects that align with U.S. academic expectations, and build extracurricular experiences that show leadership, initiative, and intellectual curiosity.
Whether your child is pursuing the Matura, IB, or French Bac, early planning allows us to guide course selection, identify summer opportunities, and recommend strategic standardized testing timelines. But if you’re late to the party? Don’t worry. We work with students at all stages—and we’re really good at helping things come together quickly. The earlier we start, the smoother the journey. But there’s no wrong time to get serious about success.
- Does Cardinal Education help with building college lists?
Absolutely. And not just a list that sounds good at dinner parties. A great college list is part research project, part personality test, and part strategic puzzle—and we love putting it together. We don’t just hand you a list of Ivy League names. We get to know your child: what motivates them, what kind of environment they’ll thrive in, and what they actually want from their college experience. Then we build a mix of reach, match, and safety schools tailored to their academic background and personal vision.
For students in Switzerland, this also means translating Matura or IB credentials into formats U.S. admissions officers understand, factoring in standardized testing requirements, and addressing visa considerations. We look at location, academic strengths, campus culture, and even dining halls (yes, really). The result? A list that’s ambitious but realistic, diverse but focused, and inspiring without being overwhelming. No darts, no guessing—just data-backed, student-driven recommendations.
- Do you help students from Switzerland compete with applicants from other countries?
Yes—and we’re exceptional at it. Students from Switzerland are up against top-tier applicants from across the U.S., Asia, and the rest of Europe. Many of those students have had years of U.S.-specific preparation or are coming from schools with dedicated college counselors fluent in Common App lingo. Swiss students often have amazing profiles—multilingual fluency, academic rigor, global experiences—but don’t always know how to package it for an American audience. That’s where we come in.
We help translate the Matura, IB, or French Bac into something that speaks to U.S. admissions officers. We turn local experiences—like Swiss Youth Parliament, bilingual debate teams, or international ski competitions—into standout application elements. And because we work globally, we know what a top applicant from Boston looks like, and we help you meet—and exceed—that standard. With Cardinal Education, Swiss students don’t just keep up. They stand out.
Find the key to long-term success with Cardinal Education!
DISCLAIMER
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any private school, including those mentioned on this website. All school names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here for descriptive purposes only.