What is CAO?
In 2020, Crimson Education created the Crimson Access Opportunity (CAO) Program in order to provide ambitious, economically disadvantaged students with free access to Crimson’s admissions experts, who support students as they craft outstanding college applications to colleges in the US.
As part of our mission to equalize the global college admissions playing field, we provide CAO students with teams of top US university graduate mentors, who support them in perfecting every element of their US application. Our aim is to help these students stand out above an increasingly competitive application crowd — making sure they have every chance of achieving the success they deserve.
Where have CAO students been accepted?
Our CAO students have gained admission to a wide range of colleges including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, UPenn, Duke, NYU, UChicago, Georgia Tech, Emory, University of Virginia, UNC-Chapel Hill, and more!
Meet Kristin! - the CAO Student Who Was Accepted to Princeton!
What kind of support do CAO students receive?
Students selected for the CAO Program receive expert strategy and application mentoring services from Crimson completely free of charge, delivered by our incredible Strategists and Application Mentors who support students in crafting a compelling application narrative that maximizes their admissions chances at their dream universities. In addition, CAO students receive:
Expert Guidance and Insight
Guidance on developing a balanced school list and competitive application strategy, including advice on standardized testing strategies
Full Application Support
Support on submitting one entire university application through the Common Application
College Essay Development
Extensive support on essay brainstorming and editing for the personal statement, 4 universities’ essay supplements, and 1 set of scholarship essays
Interview Preparation
Guidance on how to stand out in a university admissions interview
Financial Aid Consulting
4 hours of expert guidance from a financial aid consultant and access to valuable webinars and resources on financial assistance at US universities
Professional Essay Review
Detailed and comprehensive essay reviews from Crimson's Essay Review Team (they’re like our in-house admissions committee!)
Access to Comprehensive Resources
Access to Crimson’s incredible bevy of free resources — including flyers, timelines, eBooks, admissions-related webinars, masterclasses, and more!
Who should apply for CAO?
We welcome qualified minorities, BIPOC students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and students with disabilities, among others to apply.
We are looking for students who:
- Have consistently excelled in their academics and extracurriculars
- Demonstrate financial need — specifically students whose families can contribute between 10,000 and 30,000 USD towards their education per year
- Demonstrate strong English proficiency
- Are ambitious, driven, and enthusiastic about reaching their dreams at a US university
Age
We are looking for final year high school students, who are planning to apply to universities in August 2022 and start university in the fall of 2023.
Location
We welcome students from all around the world!
Attention Brazilian Students!
Brazilian students should apply for the Crimson Brazil scholarship. Please follow the link below.
Apply here
FAQs
Will this program cover my fees to apply to and attend college?
No, this program will only provide students with Crimson’s admissions support services for free. Applicants are expected to find means to cover their own application fees (including standardized tests). Although the program will be supporting CAO students with applying for financial aid, the CAO scholarship and services included do not imply a guarantee of admission to any colleges or the availability of financial or merit scholarships upon admission. Crimson Education services will only cover college admission support and cannot be held liable for the admission outcomes.
Is the deadline extendable due to extenuating circumstances?
The deadline for submitting the fully completed CAO application is Mar 25, 2022. We strongly suggest that you factor in the time required to complete the CAO application (including the longer essay prompt) and plan accordingly ahead of time. If, however, you are unable to meet the deadline because you are facing serious extenuating circumstances such as illness or bereavement, please write to us at cao@crimsoneducation.org with the subject line “CAO Query” and we will consider your request.
Is there a minimum grade level required to be accepted to the program?
No, there is no minimum grade requirement. However, we look for applicants who have continuously excelled and challenged themselves academically.
How do I know if my extracurricular activities are competitive enough for the program?
We look for students who demonstrate leadership and initiative in their communities, both in and out of school.
What should you focus on in the essay prompts?
The essay prompts are meant to give us a better idea about your interests, personality, motivations, and life experiences. We are looking for independent, original thinkers with the ability to engage critically with the world around them. Your essay does not have to be written at a high level of sophistication or polish; what we are looking for is students who can express their thoughts and experiences honestly and coherently.
When will admissions results for the CAO Program be released?
All results will be released by May 2, 2022.
How much time do I get to decide whether to accept or decline my offer?
Students will be notified of their admissions decision by May 2, 2022. Selected candidates will be required to respond with a confirmation of their acceptance of our offer by May 13, 2022. If a selected candidate fails to respond by this stipulated time, their spot will be given to a candidate on the waiting list.
If my application is unsuccessful, will I be provided with reasons or feedback on my application?
Due to the high volume of applications globally, we are unfortunately unable to provide individualized feedback on unsuccessful applications.
When will the program begin?
Students selected for CAO will be formally onboarded through an orientation program which will take place May 16-18, 2022. During the onboarding process, students will also be introduced to each of the experts helping them in their application process, and guided on how to access Crimson’s extensive array of resources and important points of contact for their queries and feedback.
Who will be supporting me through the CAO Program?
Your CAO team will consist of an experienced Strategy Consultant, Application Mentor, and Financial Aid Advisor.
How do I contact Crimson if I have further questions or need to report any problem?
Please email us at f.lundgren@crimsoneducation.org with the subject line “CAO Query” and we will respond to your email within 5 working days.
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