Cardinal Education
Cardinal Education — Admissions Consulting & Tutoring for Private School, Boarding School, and College
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Private School Admissions Consulting
Strategic placement for elite private schools.
At the most selective private and boarding schools, admissions consulting makes clear that every candidate arrives with strong grades and impressive activities. What separates the students who are admitted is something less quantifiable — how they think, how they communicate, and how clearly they understand themselves.
At Cardinal Education, we develop those qualities intentionally. Our consultants work closely with each student to build genuine clarity, character, and confidence — not as a performance for admissions committees, but as a foundation for the years ahead. The process becomes more focused, more manageable, and ultimately more successful for the whole family.
- 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 Through Expert Admissions Consulting
Our admissions consulting program has helped students gain acceptance to the most selective private schools across the country. These outcomes reflect the depth of preparation, personalized strategy, and expert guidance we bring to every family.
- Stevenson Upper School
- Crystal Springs Uplands High School
- Castilleja School
- The Nueva Upper School
- The College Preparatory School
- Sacred Heart School / Sacred Heart Prep
- Harvard Westlake Upper School
- Polytechnic School
- Flintridge Preparatory School
- The Branson School
- Menlo School
- Sidwell Friends School
- Ransom Everglades School
- Phillips Academy Andover
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- Avenues: The World School
- Horace Mann School
- Dalton School
- The Hockaday School
- St. Mark’s School of Texas
- St. John’s School
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
- Lakeside School
- The Overlake School
Boarding School Admissions
An exacting approach for boarding school success.
Building an elite boarding school profile through admissions consulting asks for more than transcripts. We help define who your student is becoming, then align narrative, visits, and interviews with schools where character and ambition are the right fit.
From your first list draft through essays and dialogue with admission teams we stay beside you, with judgment shaped by institutional knowledge and respect for fit ahead of pedigree alone.
How To Get Into Phillips Exeter
How To Get Into Phillips Andover
How To Get Into Choate Rosemary Hall
How To Get Into Deerfield Academy
How To Get Into Lawrenceville
How To Get Into Hotchkiss
College Admissions Consulting
A compelling narrative for top-tier universities.
College admissions consulting 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 confidence.
Our goal is simple. Help students find the right fit and prepare them for what comes next.
Long-Term College Admissions Consulting & 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.
Learn moreSenior Year Application Support Through Admissions Consulting
Senior year is when every choice, experience, and ambition converges. We help students craft essays, prepare for interviews, and align every application component into a clear, confident story, while guiding families through deadlines and decisions with calm, experienced support.
Learn moreWho 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
Hear from Cardinal Education founder and CEO Allen Koh on why character development is at the heart of everything we do.
Trusted by Families Who Expect More
Trusted by families who expect more from admissions consulting.
Families choose Cardinal Education for admissions consulting that is honest, personalized, and deeply invested in their child’s success. The stories below reflect the trust parents and students place in us throughout the admissions journey.
“ What stood out to us was how much time they invested in getting to know our son. This was not just about building an application. They helped him think more clearly about his direction and stay consistent over time. The guidance felt thoughtful, not pressured. ”
01 / 05 — Parent of a High School Senior
“ I came in thinking this would just be about essays, but it was more about how I think and communicate. They helped me organize my ideas and feel more confident in interviews and writing. By the time I submitted my applications, I felt prepared in a way I didn't expect. ”
02 / 05 — Student Admitted to Stanford
“ Applying to private schools felt overwhelming at first. Cardinal Education brought structure to the process and helped our daughter understand how to present herself with confidence. We always knew what to focus on next, and that clarity made a big difference for our family. ”
03 / 05 — Parent of 8th Grade Applicant
“ As an international family, we were not familiar with the U.S. admissions process. Cardinal Education helped us understand what schools were really looking for and guided us through each step with patience and clarity. We felt supported the entire way. ”
04 / 05 — Parent from Singapore
“ Cardinal Education was direct when it mattered and thoughtful in how they worked with our children. They understood both our expectations and the standards of the schools we were targeting. ”
05 / 05 — Parent from the Bay Area
The Cardinal Education Difference
What sets Cardinal Education apart isn’t just our results.
It’s the depth of care, expertise, and personal investment we bring to every student and family through our admissions consulting services.
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 99% acceptance 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.