When should my child start planning for college?

As soon as possible! The transition to high school is often a good time to start thinking long-term, as students are introduced to the new pathways of high school classes and activities that are available. Don’t wait until it’s time to start working on applications!

What’s the difference between college counseling and college applications?

At Cardinal Education, “college counseling” refers to long-term, multi-year planning to set students on the track to succeed in college admissions. “College applications” involve working on the actual materials to be submitted to colleges.

Do your college counseling programs include work on college applications?

Yes, we offer many college counseling programs that include support on students’ college applications as well!

What’s the most important element of college admissions?

Grades and test scores are the most important, qualifying elements of college admissions. Once students reach their desired GPA and testing thresholds, activities and essays play a key role in differentiating students from the bulk of their peers.

When should my child start the college admissions process?

We recommend that your child start the college admissions process as early as the sophomore year to give ample time to work on all facets of the application. We would love to talk with your family about the specifics of your situation! Contact us for a consultation and more information!

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College Admissions

College admission is all about finding the best-fit university. This process requires a long-term approach along with a cohesive strategy based on your goals.

We offer comprehensive packages that take into account every single piece of the puzzle in order to get you to where you want to be. While challenging, this can be a truly transformative and rewarding process that allows students to succeed by providing opportunities to develop to their fullest potential and eventually meet the challenging demands of the adult world with confidence.

Our college admissions consultants rely on two key components: deep relationships and expert strategy to achieve success. These methods have resulted in incredible results for almost two decades. Our practice has grown to become a globally-recognized leader in the college admissions industry as we have guided our students through their journeys. From applicants with learning differences to international students applying from overseas, our team of experienced educational consultants has defeated every type of challenge on our way to helping a diverse group of students gain admission to top colleges and universities nationwide.

High GPA and test scores alone will not get you accepted to the country’s top schools. Finding a way to differentiate yourself from the other applicants is key which requires thoughtful and strategic guidance that leads to holistic growth and character development.

Our college counseling strategies include:

Foundation Building

It is never too early to begin the college admissions process. Most families start planning as early as middle school to put in place enrichment programs to build a strong academic foundation through

Academic Coaching
Academic coaching helps children develop skills and strategies to succeed in school. Our expert academic coaches determine a student’s challenges and devise a plan of action that includes strategies to improve executive function, time management, organizational skills, test preparation, note-taking skills, study skills, and reading skills.
Subject Tutoring
Working with an academic tutor gears students towards more effective learning. By having individualized sessions, students learn at their own pace and do so comfortably without pressure from their classmates and the classroom environment.
Test Preparation
To achieve favorable results on the college admission tests, it is highly recommended that students prepare intensively by taking the SAT practice test and the ACT practice test. Early preparation is key. Applicants can retake the mock tests many times until they are satisfied with the outcome and are confident enough to take the test

PROFILE BUILDING

While important, it simply is not enough to have a strong GPA and test scores. Schools want leaders who have accomplishments in the fields that interest them. It is important to build activities that are relevant and have the potential to grow over time.

Project Cultivation
We help students plan projects that will showcase their creativity and innovation, thereby showing colleges they are ready for the challenges and responsibilities of independent work. As mentors, we advise on the big picture and logistics as well as help drive recruitment, outreach, and social impact.
Extracurricular Guidance
Extracurricular activities have to be carefully chosen and planned to make sure that there is continuity and progress as we go through the counseling process. We find a compromise between your interests and the realities of the college admissions process. The goal is to develop deep-rooted passions in a holistic and meaningful way.
Mentorship
Along with a robust and rigorous academic development program through subject coaching, tutoring, and practice tests, we aim for a holistic approach where students’ personalities flourish with motivation, confidence, and maturity that they will take with them into the real world.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Families must be methodical about all elements of the application. Every detail should make the student stand out and differentiate him from the other applicants.

Essays / Personal Statements Editing
Admissions officers place a high value on student essays as it displays another dimension of a student’s personality beyond academic standing. An integral part of our college consulting process is an editorial advising system that enables students to write powerful and high-caliber essays about their experiences, accomplishments, and interests.
Admissions Interview Preparation
The interview embodies everything that is in your application portfolio. Your presence, demeanor, and self-presentation should resonate with everything else that you submitted. We guide students by going through interviews where we help students fine-tune their talking points and communication skill as well as develop their confidence.
Letters of Recommendation
Building relationships is the key to getting favorable and compelling recommendation letters. Because we are deeply attuned to our student’s life, we know exactly which teachers they are in good standing with and who to ask for references.
Supplemental Material
An additional service that we provide is advising students on how to make the most of their special talents and skills, like athletes, musicians, and artists for college admissions. We advise students in writing letters to college coaches and program directors. And for students with truly rare and unique talents, we can reach beyond our immediate network to find an expert consultant with the right background and specialized knowledge who fits the client’s needs.

Why Do Colleges Have A Waitlist?

Colleges use waitlists to manage their enrollment numbers and ensure they meet the desired number of students. It is difficult to predict how many qualified applicants will actually accept the offer of admission after the regular decisions come out. The waitlist serves as a pool of qualified applicants from which admissions officers can choose to fill in the vacant spaces.

Who Are Put On A Waitlist?

A college waitlist typically consists of students who have applied and been carefully reviewed by the admissions committee and who are qualified according to their standards, but are neither accepted nor rejected in the initial round of admissions. There could be a multitude of reasons, but the most common is that they fall short on one qualification like having low test scores, not having enough relevant extracurricular activities, or not being able to write a compelling essay or personal statement. This is why we always place importance on differentiation in our college counseling process. We understand that many applicants will have the same exemplary academic records such as high GPAs so we focus on where our students stand out to give them a competitive edge.

What Should You Do If Put On A College Waitlist?

If you’ve been waitlisted, it is definitely not the time to sit it out while waiting for the admission decision. Be proactive and strategize on how you can get off the waitlist. As educational consultants who are experts in college admissions, we have a full understanding of the mechanics of the admissions process and we have developed strategies and plans that could get you off the waitlist. We can teach you how to reach out to the admissions officers, demonstrate interest, and make use of your valuable time while awaiting the decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child start planning for college?
As soon as possible! The transition to high school is often a good time to start thinking long-term, as students are introduced to the new pathways of high school classes and activities that are available. Don’t wait until it’s time to start working on applications!
What’s the difference between college counseling and college applications?

At Cardinal Education, “college counseling” refers to long-term, multi-year planning to set students on the track to succeed in college admissions. “College applications” involve working on the actual materials to be submitted to colleges.
Do your college counseling programs include work on college applications?
Yes, we offer many college counseling programs that include support on students’ college applications as well!
What’s the most important element of college admissions?
Grades and test scores are the most important, qualifying elements of college admissions. Once students reach their desired GPA and testing thresholds, activities and essays play a key role in differentiating students from the bulk of their peers.
When should my child start the college admissions process?
We recommend that your child start the college admissions process as early as the sophomore year to give ample time to work on all facets of the application. We would love to talk with your family about the specifics of your situation! Contact us for a consultation and more information!

COLLEGE CONSULTING

We offer comprehensive packages that take into account every single piece of the puzzle in order to get you to where you want to be.

LEARN MORE

COLLEGE APPLICATION

College admissions requires a long-term approach along with a cohesive strategy based on your goals.

LEARN MORE

Tel: (888) 521-5243

Email: info@cardinaleducation.com

OUR OFFICES

Burlingame Office

100 El Camino Real,
Suite 101
Burlingame, CA 94010
(888) 521-5243
info@cardinaleducation.com

Woodside Office

2920 Woodside Rd,
Suite D
Woodside, CA 94062
(888) 521-5243
info@cardinaleducation.com

Beverly Hills, LA Office

9350 Wilshire Blvd,
Suite 203
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 904-6055
info@cardinaleducation.com

Bellevue, WA Office

1239 120th Ave NE,
Suite A
Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 785-7688
info@cardinaleducation.com

New York, NY Office

26 Broadway,
Suite 934,
New York, NY 10004
(212) 516-1132
info@cardinaleducation.com