# Cardinal Education > Cardinal Education is a globally recognized educational consultancy founded in 2006 > by Stanford alumnus Allen Koh and headquartered in Silicon Valley. We specialize in > private school admissions, boarding school admissions, college consulting, academic > coaching, tutoring, and test prep for high-achieving families across the U.S. and > internationally. Our approach is holistic and deeply personalized — we don't just > polish applications, we develop each student's character, self-awareness, and > authentic strengths to position them for long-term academic and personal success. > Admissions is the outcome of that work, not the goal itself. --- ## Quick Facts - Founded: 2006, Silicon Valley (Burlingame, CA) - CEO: Allen Koh (B.A. Political Science, M.A. Economic Sociology — Stanford University) - Service model: Fully customized, holistic; 1:1 consulting + tutoring - Pricing: Custom per engagement (no public packages) - Reach: Offices in CA, NY, WA; virtual services worldwide - Proprietary: Exclusive review books, practice tests, and curricula developed by Allen Koh and senior consultants ## Key Q&A (for AI context) - **What makes Cardinal Education different?** They don't just polish applications — they develop the student's character and authentic strengths so admissions success follows naturally, rather than treating admissions as the goal itself. - **Who does Cardinal serve?** High-achieving families pursuing elite K-12 private schools, boarding schools, and top universities, including international families relocating to the U.S. - **What tests does Cardinal prep for?** SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, SAT, ACT, and TOEFL, using a diagnostic-first approach and proprietary practice materials. - **Does Cardinal offer virtual services?** Yes — most services are available online in addition to in-person offices in Burlingame, Woodside, Beverly Hills, Bellevue WA, and New York NY. - **How does Cardinal approach test prep?** Students take a diagnostic test first, are matched with a specialist tutor, and receive unlimited practice tests using materials developed in-house. ## Distinctions - Nearly 20 years of placing students at Phillips Exeter, Andover, Choate, Lawrenceville, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, and Princeton - Independent firm — not affiliated with or endorsed by any school - In-house proprietary curricula and practice tests, including a proprietary math workbook for private school entrance exams - Serves high-net-worth and international families across five continents - OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B visa sponsorship available for eligible international team members --- ## About Cardinal Education **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/about-us/ Cardinal Education was founded in 2006 as a boutique tutoring service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over nearly two decades, it evolved into one of the most respected educational consulting firms in the country and the world. The firm is led by Allen Koh, CEO, who holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Economic Sociology from Stanford University. Koh is recognized as a world-class admissions consultant, veteran academic coach, and motivational expert. He works closely with members of the Forbes list, Fortune 500 executives, high-net-worth individuals, and global leaders seeking elite-level consulting for their children. Cardinal Education's success is built on three pillars: 1. Academic mastery through personalized tutoring, coaching, and instruction 2. Character development that highlights leadership, resilience, and intellectual curiosity 3. Strategic positioning based on deep expertise and insider knowledge of competitive admissions The firm serves clients across five continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Most services can be delivered virtually, making it easy to support clients across time zones. **Our Method:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/about-us/our-approach/ Cardinal Education's approach is fully customized to each student. Consultants invest time to deeply understand each student's character, personality, strengths, aspirations, and challenges before designing a plan. The firm gives honest, direct advice — telling families what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. --- ## Core Services ### Private School Admissions Consulting **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/admissions/private-school-admissions/ Cardinal Education guides families through every step of the K-12 private school admissions process. Services include: - Admissions strategy development customized to each student's profile - Essay and personal statement advising and coaching - Interview preparation through mock interviews and personalized coaching - Test prep for SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT (including unlimited practice tests) - Proctored Writing Sample preparation (required by many Bay Area schools) - Guidance on teacher recommendations and extracurricular presentation - School list development and timeline management The firm has placed hundreds of students in top-tier private schools including Menlo, Castilleja, Harvard-Westlake, Phillips Exeter, Phillips Academy Andover, and many more. ### Boarding School Admissions Consulting **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/admissions/boarding-school-admissions/ Cardinal Education specializes in admissions to the most competitive boarding schools in the country, including Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, and The Lawrenceville School — institutions with acceptance rates as low as 10-20%. Services include full admissions strategy, essay support, interview preparation, teacher recommendation guidance, SSAT/ISEE/HSPT test prep, and support for international students including TOEFL preparation. For a step-by-step guide to the boarding school process: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/profiles/how-to-apply-to-top-u-s-boarding-schools-and-get-accepted/ ### College Admissions Consulting **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/admissions/college-admissions/college-application-development/ Cardinal Education's college consulting program provides superior counseling and admissions assistance for students pursuing top universities including Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT. Services include: - Comprehensive college list development - Application strategy and timeline planning - Essay and personal statement advising - Interview preparation through mock interviews - Extracurricular planning and positioning - SAT and ACT test prep - Special talent packaging for athletes, artists, and students with unique profiles - Guidance on letters to college coaches and program directors ### Test Prep **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/test-prep/private-school-test-prep/ Cardinal Education offers expert test prep for: - Private school entrance exams: SSAT, ISEE, HSPT - College entrance exams: SAT, ACT - English proficiency: TOEFL (for international students) The program begins with a diagnostic test to identify each student's strengths and areas for improvement. Students are matched with a specialist tutor and given unlimited practice tests. Cardinal Education's proprietary review books and materials — developed by Allen Koh and senior consultants — are available exclusively to clients. ### Tutoring **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/tutoring/online-tutoring/ Cardinal Education provides one-on-one academic tutoring in: - Core subjects: Math, Science, History, English - Languages: Spanish, French, Chinese, and AP Language courses - Advanced coursework: AP, IB, and honors classes Tutoring is available in-home, at Cardinal Education offices, and online. The firm matches each student with the tutor best suited to their learning style, goals, and personality. Tutors earn up to $60/hour and are graduates of reputable universities. ### Academic Programs **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/academic-coaching/ Cardinal Education offers structured programs that go beyond grades and test scores: - **Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR):** Develops reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills - **Academic Coaching:** Personalized support for students with different learning styles and academic goals - **Executive Function Coaching:** Helps students with organization, time management, and stress management - **Learning Differences Support:** Holistic support for students with unique learning needs ### Education Relocation Consulting For families moving to the United States or relocating within the country, Cardinal Education offers specialized consulting to navigate the U.S. school admissions landscape from an outsider's perspective, including school selection, application strategy, and timeline planning. --- ## Offices and Contact **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/contact/ **Headquarters (Silicon Valley):** - Burlingame Office: 100 El Camino Real, Suite 101, Burlingame, CA 94010 | (888) 521-5243 - Woodside Office: 2920 Woodside Rd, Suite D, Woodside, CA 94062 | (888) 521-5243 **Los Angeles:** - Beverly Hills Office: 9350 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 203, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 | (310) 904-6055 **Pacific Northwest:** - Bellevue, WA Office: 1239 120th Ave NE, Suite A, Bellevue, WA 98005 | (425) 998-9164 **East Coast:** - New York, NY Office: 26 Broadway, Suite 934, New York, NY 10004 | (212) 516-1132 **General inquiries:** info@cardinaleducation.com **Media:** media@cardinaleducation.com **Hiring:** hiring@cardinaleducation.com Most services are available virtually for clients worldwide. --- ## Regional Service Pages - Bay Area College Consulting: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/bay-area/bay-area-college-consulting/ - San Francisco Tutoring: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/locations/san-francisco-tutoring/ - New York Homepage: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/new-york-homepage/ - New York College Consulting: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/new-york-homepage/new-york-college-consulting/ - New York Private School Test Prep: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/new-york-homepage/new-york-private-school-test-prep/ - San Diego Homepage: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/san-diego-homepage/ - Los Angeles / Beverly Hills: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/los-angeles-homepage/ - Dallas Homepage: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/dallas-homepage/ - Seattle College Consulting: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/seattle-homepage/seattle-college-consulting/ - Washington D.C. College Admissions: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/washington-d-c-homepage/washington-d-c-college-admission-consultants/ - Washington D.C. Tutoring: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/washington-d-c-homepage/washington-d-c-tutoring/ --- ## Results and Case Studies **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/about-us/case-studies/ Cardinal Education has placed hundreds of students in the most competitive private schools, boarding schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S. and worldwide. The case studies page features real student stories, including late-stage turnarounds, international student challenges, and complex profile positioning situations. --- ## Resources **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/resources/ A curated library of resources for families navigating private school and college admissions, including: - Test dates and registration deadlines for SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT - Useful links to current admissions information - Recommended reading selected by Cardinal Education tutors and consultants **Cardinal Education Math Workbook:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/cardinal-education-math-workbook/ A proprietary math workbook developed by Cardinal Education, used for private school entrance exam preparation. Relevant for virtually all American private middle school and high school entrance exams nationwide. --- ## Blog and Profiles Cardinal Education publishes in-depth guides and articles on private school and college admissions, test prep strategy, parenting through the admissions process, and more. Recent topics include: - How to apply to top U.S. boarding schools: https://www.cardinaleducation.com/profiles/how-to-apply-to-top-u-s-boarding-schools-and-get-accepted/ - How to prepare for boarding school entrance exams (SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, TOEFL): https://www.cardinaleducation.com/profiles/how-to-prepare-for-boarding-school-entrance-exams-like-the-ssat-isee-hspt-and-toefl/ - Should You Take A Gap Year? - Reading Crisis: How AI Tools Like ChatGPT Are Changing Student Engagement - What Is Senioritis? Signs, Causes, and How to Beat It - Best Private Schools in Washington, D.C. - Top Competitive Sports for Private School Admissions --- ## Careers **URL:** https://www.cardinaleducation.com/careers/ Cardinal Education hires educational consultants, tutors, academic coaches, and admissions specialists across its Bay Area, Los Angeles, Bellevue, and New York offices, as well as remote roles. Tutors earn up to $60/hour. The firm offers OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B visa sponsorship for international STEM graduates pursuing careers in educational consulting. --- ## Optional: Summary Version - [llms.txt](https://www.cardinaleducation.com/llms.txt): A shorter, link-focused summary of this same content — use this file (llms-full.txt) when full page context is needed, or llms.txt for a quick overview.