“A year ago, we entered the admissions process anxious and skeptical that we could end up at a top school. We gained so much knowledge from Carolyn, but also confidence and calm. We genuinely enjoyed the time and effort spent together, and our son acknowledges the fun he had and comfort he felt with you. We are so grateful to have found you.”
Parent - Harvard Westlake Student
“After zeroing in, Carolyn helped open doors swiftly to admissions offices that can, at times, feel like knocking on the doors of Oz! We found ourselves welcomed warmly and with great understanding for our late admissions situation. Her word is golden, not only for us, but for the school admissions officers as well.”
Parent - Willows Community School & Crossroads School
Carolyn and her team
Meet Carolyn
Carolyn White – Private School Admissions Expert and Educational Consultant
With over 25 years of experience in education and independent school admissions, Carolyn White is a trusted resource for families navigating the competitive admissions process. Her 16 years as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, along with a decade of teaching in both public and private schools, gives her a unique dual perspective: she understands what makes a great application—and what makes a great classroom.
Carolyn helps families make informed decisions by sharing her deep knowledge of how admissions teams evaluate candidates, how independent schools build their classes, and what types of students thrive in specific school environments. She’s also an expert in evaluating curriculum, teaching styles, and school culture, ensuring your child finds a school that is not only academically strong but also a great personal fit.
Strategic Application Support
Filling out independent or private school applications can feel overwhelming. Parents often wonder:
What are admissions directors really looking for?
How do we talk about our child’s strengths without sounding boastful?
How do we avoid common application mistakes?
Carolyn provides application coaching and essay guidance that helps families clearly and effectively communicate their story. Her insight ensures your responses are thoughtful, strategic, and tailored to each school’s values.
Interview Coaching That Builds Confidence
Interviews are a critical component of the admissions process—and Carolyn excels at helping both parents and students prepare. Whether your child is applying to preschool, middle school, or high school, Carolyn offers:
Personalized student interview preparation
Coaching for parent interviews
Advice on common interview questions and how to stand out
Her calming presence and professional insight put children at ease and help them express themselves with confidence.
Full-Service Admissions Consulting
Carolyn offers a wide range of admissions consulting services, including:
Identifying schools aligned with your child’s interests and strengths
Coordinating and evaluating school visits
Supporting relocation and last-minute school placements
Providing honest feedback on school culture and fit
Her integrity, compassion, and unmatched experience make her a highly respected figure among admissions professionals and a valuable ally for any family embarking on this journey.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right school can shape your child’s future. With Carolyn’s expert guidance, you can approach the admissions process with confidence, clarity, and the assurance that your family is being represented in the best possible light.
Services
School selection: I help families identify private schools that are a good match for their child's needs and interests. In this process, we explore everything from a family’s values to the student’s academic and extracurricular interests.
Admissions strategy: I develop a customized plan for each family that includes timelines, deadlines, and advice on how to approach the application process throughout.
Application assistance: I assist families with the completion of application forms – including the writing essays and preparing for interviews. I work closely with students and advise them about what to include in their student essays so they can best represent their perspectives and talents. They discover how to weave their interests, passions and goals into an application that helps admissions directors know them. I keep parents and students organized through the process and give them the tools to tell their unique stories with eloquence and efficiency. Then I make sure that it all gets in on time and with as little stress as possible.
Preparation for Testing & Assessments: Few private schools require standardized tests such as the SSAT or ISEE, but when they do and/or if a family is interested in submitting scores, I provide advice and support for test preparation. In addition, I am partnered with my daughter, Alexis’ company, The A-List Tutoring Services, which provides comprehensive standardized test prep.
With less emphasis on standardized tests, an applicant’s grades, essays, recommendations, and interviews now carry more weight. Many schools now administer their own writing evaluations either online or on campus to make sure that students’ written work is authentic. And while AI and Chat GPT are in our lives to stay and can be helpful in creating application responses, this is only a tool and can’t provide the warmth and emotion of your voice or your student’s. I work with students to ensure that they are comfortable with timed writing assessments, which are fast becoming a standard part of the admissions process.
Student and Family Interviews: Whether you are applying your child to preschool or your child is applying to high school, personal interviews are essential for schools to get to know their applicants. I prepare you and/or your child for those interactions with admissions professionals.
School visits: I arrange for families to visit schools, meet with admissions officers, and observe classes. I create spreadsheets and calendars to keep track of open houses, tours, and special events.
Why I Do This
The private school application process can feel overwhelming, and there’s a lot of conflicting information that can make it hard to stay focused on what is most important. Working with students and families through their admissions journey allows me to quiet the noise so they can decide on a sensible path. I usually check back with parents and students after they have been in their chosen schools for a few months. When I find that they love their new schools and are blossoming, it’s the greatest reward I can have.
Preschool Admissions
Elementary School Admissions
Middle + High School Admissions
Relocation Assistance
Testimonials
Each year, Carolyn assists students in gaining admittance to the leading independent, private and parochial schools throughout Southern California.
