Finding the right school
STARTS WITH YOU
Admissions & Educational Planning
WE BELIEVE THERE'S A PERFECT MATCH FOR EVERYONE.
Filling a unique niche in the field of educational consulting, The Carnahan Group combines depth and breadth of experience with innovative and relevant strategies to help students optimize their educational goals. As the longest consecutively running educational consulting businesses in the Greater New Orleans area, our team has a cumulative +80 years of college, graduate and boarding school admissions and has been serving students since the early 1990’s. Guiding clients through the maze of ever-changing application details and requirements, The Carnahan Group specializes in helping families navigate the educational path that is right for them.
With multiple offices based around the U.S. and world, we now serve students across the globe through virtual sessions.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A MAP OF ACCEPTANCES FOR THE CLASS OF 2024
1000+
students with whom we’ve worked as an independent consultancy providing a high-touch, individually curated service
90%
of our student roster is generated from referrals of satisfied clients, siblings and professional colleagues
100%
of our students are admitted each year, proving our dedication to balanced list-building and finding “the right fit”
300+
boarding schools, universities and academic programs to which our students have been accepted through our guidance
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THE PLANNING PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
We embark on the admissions and placement process by arranging an Initial Consultation (usually over Zoom) with the parent(s) and their student. During this meeting, we provide detailed information about our process and how it relates specifically to each individual student. We will review our mission, our approach to the process, our specialized services, and the pricing plan. Basic information about our online organizational platform is also discussed. Most importantly, we will get to know one another and assess if we are the right fit for the student’s college admissions journey. These Zoom appointment typically last between 30-45 minutes and you will have the chance to meet directly with either Kathie Carnahan, our Founding Partner, or Sarah Girolami, our Managing Partner.
DISCOVERY
For college-bound students, we register them with our online organizational platforms and a detailed overview is shared with the client. Our virtual tools hold current and pertinent information such as meeting notes, communications with students and parents, standardized testing dates, application deadlines, and direct college links.
After a careful review of the student’s transcript, standardized testing results, and psycho-educational report (if applicable), consideration is also given to a student’s extracurricular history, geographic preferences, and specific academic interest in curating a “smart” college list.
For boarding school, college transfer, and graduate school students, we have created a specialized online format that facilitates and organizes the admissions process.
PREPARATION
A great deal of time is applied to guiding a student in crafting a substantive, “stand-out” main college essay and to identify the best ways for students to meaningfully express themselves in supplemental essays. Our goal is for the student’s personality, curiosity and intellect to shine through this vital aspect of the application.
Detailed explanations and discussions with the student determine the selection of the type of application that will be submitted: rolling, early action, restricted early action, early decision, or regular action. These choices impact application deadlines.
Assisting students in crafting comprehensive activities resumes and conducting mock interviews help students feel more confident during the process.
MEET OUR TEAM
Expert Educational Consultants
Our experienced team of College Admissions and Academic Advising veterans holds a cumulative background of 80+ years assisting students find their perfect match in a school or university. They are recognized as national leaders and role models not just among their peers, but also by the families with whom they work. Our educational consulting firm is unique in that our team members are able to tap into decades of specialized experience to assist students who are on a specific academic path.
Our team of specialists provide expertise in the following areas:
Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Athletic Recruitment
Academic Support
“Applying Early Decision to Johns Hopkins University was both exciting and daunting. Kathie asked me deep questions to confirm my decision to apply ED and then spent hours with me to make sure that my application reflected my academic aspirations and professional goals.”
— John Michael (2017), Johns Hopkins University
Helpful Resources
Visit The College Planning Blog as another way to gain additional insight into the process and stay up-to-date with boarding school and university admissions news.
