Our Approach
We get it: college admissions IS TOUGH. It can feel like a mountain climb without a clear trail — full of confusing advice, shifting admissions trends, and pressure to make every decision “count.”
At C3, our role is to help families see the path more clearly. We combine honest advising, thoughtful strategy, and real admissions context to help students make better decisions throughout the process. That means looking at the full picture: academics, course choices, activities, interests, school list, essays, and overall application positioning.
Think of us as a GPS for the admissions process. We help students understand where they are, where they want to go, which routes are realistic, and where they may need to adjust along the way. We are not here to force every student into the same formula. We are here to help them find the strongest version of their own path.
Our goal is to bring clarity, structure, and honesty to a process that can feel overwhelming and to make the climb feel more manageable, strategic, and purposeful.
Who we Are
We met at Stanford (Go Card!) and bonded over being the go-to people for friends and family seeking advice with college essays and admissions.
Time and again, we were told that other consulting services felt too impersonal, too salesy and too expensive. On the other hand, individual consultants were not experienced enough or just didn’t care, only giving cursory one-time essay reviews. They wanted comprehensive support from people who truly cared. That’s what inspired us to start Cardinal College Consulting - where every student gets the time, attention, and thoughtful guidance they deserve.
Helping students excel is our core passion. We treat our students like family, bringing the same energy, empathy and excellence to your journey that we did with our own.
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Co-FounderWorking with high schoolers and young adults to identify and articulate their passions is one of my greatest joys. I'm extremely proud that many of these students have gone on to Stanford, Wharton, Georgetown, USC, Berkeley, UCSD, UMich and more.
I believe a solid foundation of education and work experience are important milestones towards fulfilling one’s potential, and a well-crafted essay is paramount to gaining access to these critical opportunities.
Education has been an important part of my own journey. I graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelors in International Relations with a focus in Economics. I also obtained my MBA from University of California Berkeley and a Masters in Education Leadership from the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management.
I currently work at Atlassian, one of the largest global software companies, leading marketing strategy & business operations. Previously I held similar roles at Adobe and Leapfrog Enterprises. I also spent 6 years working in the K-12 Education sector, including at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. I began my career in technology investment banking at Deutsche Bank.
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Co-FounderI attended a high school that was more focused on sports than academics and just graduating was the goal. In spite of the lack of structured academic support systems, I highlighted my atypical background in my college applications - captain of multiple sports teams, strong but not standout academics, willingness to reach for a goal that was highly unconventional in my environment. And it paid off.
That experience shaped my belief that college admissions is about much more than grades and test scores — it’s a holistic process that values self-awareness, curiosity, and resourcefulness.
I earned my undergraduate degree from Stanford University, where I double-majored in Economics and Psychology. I began my career in investment banking and later transitioned into product marketing, product management, and strategic operations at various tech and marketing companies.
When I work with students—whether they're just starting high school or deep in the application process—I bring a structured, thoughtful approach to help them clarify their goals, reflect on their growth, and present themselves with confidence and intention. I draw on my professional experience to guide them through big-picture planning and the fine details of the admissions process, always grounded in the belief that every student has something powerful to say.
Why Choose Us?
Diverse Professional Experience
In addition to education leadership, our careers have taken us through investment banking, corporate strategy, marketing, and product development. This diversity of experience gives us valuable perspective on real-world applications of learned skills to help you not only frame but also design your journey.
We Really get to know you
We always start with the student, taking our time to truly understand their strengths, interests and academic/career goals before we get started. We get to know you so that we can provide thoughtful guidance on how to nurture your strengths and fortify any weak spots.
We have A MAx Number of Students
Unlike larger global outfits, we only take a certain number of students each year. This is to ensure that we are able to provide every student with consistent and personalized support throughout their journey. You’re not just a number - you’re family.
Radical Transparency
We’re not here to sell miracles or click-bait promises. What you’ll get from us is honesty and straight feedback. Expect rigorous assessment, candid guidance and specific improvement levers - so every choice is informed, not wishful. If something isn’t working, we will tell you, and we will tweak or course correct when necessary.
Intimate Team
We personally support every one of our students. We don’t outsource any of the work to third parties or generic templates, so the insight and guidance you receive is tailored expressly for you based on your strengths and interests.
We Give Back.
Each year, we donate a portion of our profits to educational charities that support underserved students. Additionally we offer a limited number of pro bono opportunities to high achieving low income students. Helping others access opportunity is core to our mission — because college should be within reach for everyone.