College Counseling

Senior class wearing college sweatshirts

Excellence across the board propels our students to attend some of the most highly-ranked universities in the world. Our college counseling office offers a wide array of resources to help each student find the college where they’ll thrive.

Our Philosophy

Together with the Parker community, we support, encourage, and celebrate the ongoing educational journey of each student. We believe the college search and selection to be a private and individualized process where students engage in self-reflection, growth, and discovery, and learn to make informed, educated decisions concerning their future.

We offer guidance to the students as they seek to find the appropriate fit for college based on personal criteria and interests. Parker’s college counseling team encourages a healthy, student-led, educationally-based, and family-appropriate approach to the college search, ensuring a smooth transition to life after Parker.

College Matriculationsfor the Class of 2024

Meet our College Counselors

School Profilefor College Admissions staff

Request a Transcript

Visiting College Reps Information for your visit

College Counseling Timeline

Senior Year

Students should work through the summer on writing essay drafts and researching colleges. Upon returning in the fall, students work with their college counselor to actively refine their college lists to be personalized, balanced in selectivity, financially appropriate, and appealing to the student’s educational aspirations.

The college counselors are the students’ advocates throughout the college process – they represent their interests to colleges, write personalized letters of recommendation, and provide individualized counsel to each member of the senior class. College counselors are available as advisers, editors, interview coaches, and ambassadors to college and university representatives. The College Counseling Office provides consistent information and guidance to each senior through to their Graduation Day.

Although our first priority is to address the needs of each student, we also serve as a resource for their families. Parents and guardians should feel free to seek out your student’s counselor for assistance in navigating the stressful and ever-evolving transition to college.

Senior advisory lessons take place during our first trimester and include topics such as:

Application details and deadline
Submitting college applications
Financial aid applications and processes
Self-advocacy, receiving college decisions, and next steps

Graduates walk through a line of clapping faculty members

College Matriculations For The Class Of 2024

The Class of 2024 has chosen to attend 75 different colleges in 23 states, Washington, D.C., and Scotland.

139 students from 38 zip codes including 31 Parker lifers comprised the Class of 2024. In addition to being exceptional Parker students and new alumni, they have distinguished themselves in many other ways. They do more than school—from jobs to travel, work to volunteering, extracurricular activities to much more.

The Class of 2024 has chosen to attend 75 different colleges in 23 states, Washington, D.C., and Scotland. 240 different colleges made offers of admission to the seniors from the Class of 2024. In alignment with trends from recent years (click here to review our four-year data through the Class of 2024), 43% of the class chose to attend colleges and universities in California.

In addition to their outside-of-school interests, the Class of 2024 includes:

28 Cum Laude Society Members
2 National Merit Scholarship Winners
4 National Merit Scholarship Finalists
4 National Merit Semifinalists
15 Student-Athletes heading to collegiate programs (NCAA DI, II, III and NAIA)
31 Lifers in the Class of 2024
3 Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients
1 Silver President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipient

We are excited to watch the meaningful difference the Class of 2024 will continue to make in the world at their respective colleges, universities, and gap year destinations. The following list was updated on June 12, 2024. Congratulations, graduates!

American University
Arizona State University
Barnard College (2)
Bates College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
California Lutheran University
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo (5)
California State University – Maritime Academy
California State University Long Beach
California State University Monterey Bay
California State University Northridge (2)
California State University San Marcos
Carnegie Mellon University
Chapman University (2)
Colorado College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Georgetown University
Haverford College
Loyola Marymount University (4)
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Marist College
Marquette University
Mount Holyoke College
New York University (2)
Northeastern University (3)
Occidental College
Pace University (Westchester)
Pepperdine University
Pratt Institute
Princeton University
Purdue University (3)
Reed College
Rice University
Rochester Institute of Technology
San Diego City College
San Diego State University (4)
Santa Clara University (2)
Scripps College (2)
Stanford University (3)
Texas Christian University
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
United States Coast Guard Academy
University of California Berkeley (4)
University of California Davis
University of California Los Angeles (3)
University of California Riverside (3)
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Barbara (2)
University of California Santa Cruz (2)
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado (4)
University of Iowa
University of Miami (2)
University of Michigan (6)
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Saint Andrews (3)
University of San Diego (3)
University of Southern California (5)
University of Washington (6)
University of Wisconsin (3)
Vanguard University
Villanova University (3)
Washington University in Saint Louis (2)
Wellesley College

read about College Matriculations For The Class Of 2024

Junior Year

At the beginning of the second trimester of junior year, students and families will be assigned to a college counselor and will begin their individual meetings.

Students and counselors build close relationships that will serve as an essential support throughout the process. Parker’s college process is individualized, and counselors strive to form a relationship with each and every student. Our staff will be prepared to offer tailored suggestions to students regarding their college choices, and professional and personal advocacy throughout the college application process

Throughout the second and third trimester, college counselors will lead educational meetings during Advisory to discuss a variety of issues related to the college search process. These classes will continue in the fall of senior year, when the tone will switch from informative and exploratory to one that is more guided and procedural. Our office will collectively engage students in the process of applying to their choice colleges and universities.

The advisory lessons will address a variety of topics, including:

Taking a personal inventory of strengths, achievements, values, and goals
Various methods for researching colleges
Current trends in the college admission process
Mock admissions committee exercises
Reflective writing and communication skills

In the fall of junior year, students will have the opportunity to take a practice SAT (PSAT) and practice ACT. For students opting to take either the SAT or ACT for college admission purposes, our counselors will guide them on a strategic plan as to when best to prepare and register for the exams.

Freshman/Sophomore Years

Although college counseling at Parker begins formally at the end of the first trimester of junior year, freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to explore academic and extracurricular interests and immerse themselves in the school community in meaningful ways.

Academically, students are encouraged to enroll in classes that adequately challenge them as they establish intellectual foundations for future scholastic endeavors. College Counseling works closely with the Class Deans so students and families are encouraged to bring any general post-secondary inquiries to either their Class Dean or any college counselor. Students and families are also encouraged to participate in grade-level specific college counseling programming throughout the school year.

In the fall of sophomore year, students will have the opportunity to take a practice SAT (PSAT) and practice ACT for the first time. This exposes students to either test format and allows them to familiarize themselves with the standardized testing environment.

Meet the Team

College Admissions Representatives

We look forward to welcoming you to campus or online to visit with our juniors and seniors!

To schedule a visit to Francis Parker, please go to Scoir.

We are located at 6501 Linda Vista Rd. San Diego, CA 92111.

Our offices are located in Building A, upstairs. The guard will direct you to parking. Please check in at Reception and they will direct you upstairs.

Please contact Prescilla Yoon if you have any questions:
858/569-7900 ext. 4177 or pyoon@francisparker.org.

Safe travels and we will see you soon in San Diego!

Bob Hurley, Alain Darang, Jasmin Taylor, Julio Mata, and Prescilla Yoon

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In This Section

College Counseling

Our Philosophy

College Counseling Timeline

Senior Year

Junior Year

Freshman/Sophomore Years

Meet the Team

Alain Darang

Bob Hurley

Julio Mata

Jasmin Taylor

Prescilla Yoon

College Admissions Representatives