Our Story

Allen Koh is recognized as a world-class admissions consultant, veteran academic coach, and motivational expert. He works closely with members of the Forbes list, executives at Fortune 500 companies, high-net-worth individuals, and global leaders gracing magazine covers who want elite-level service for their children. Mr. Koh specializes in admissions for highly selective private and boarding schools such as Menlo, Castilleja, Harvard-Westlake, Phillips Exeter, Phillips Academy – Andover, and colleges like Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, and more. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Economic Sociology from Stanford University.

Mr. Koh founded Cardinal Education in 2006 as a tutoring company in the Bay Area that helped students deal with the most challenging academic situations they were faced with. After several years, the business model evolved into an educational consulting company, offering comprehensive services to families, including private school admissions consulting and college counseling, to help them navigate the ever-changing admissions landscape. 

Now, nearly two decades into the industry, Cardinal Education is a globally recognized educational consulting firm sought after by families in the US and across the globe. Our reach has extended to Indonesia, Singapore, China, Oman, UAE, India, UK, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, South Korea, Ghana, Egypt,  and we are still growing.

We do more than improve test scores and polish essays — we uncover each student’s authentic strengths and position them for long-term academic and personal success. From strategic admissions planning to intensive interview preparation, test prep, tutoring, academic coaching, and education relocation consulting, our services are designed for ambitious families who expect excellence.

Mr. Allen Koh, CEO of Cardinal Education