College Counseling - Francis Parker School 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 Acceptances for the Classes of 2022-2025 Meet our College Counselors Visiting College Reps Information for your visit Download our School Profile Senior Year Junior Year Freshman/Sophomore Years 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 Class of 2025: Where Are they Now? One hundred and forty-two students from 41 zip codes comprised the Class of 2025. In addition to being exceptional Parker students (with a class average GPA of 4.06) and new alumni, they have distinguished themselves in many other ways. They do more than school: they work, travel, volunteer, engage in extracurricular activities, and much more. The Class of 2025 has chosen to attend 84 different colleges in 29 states, Washington, D.C., and four international destinations (Canada, England, Scotland, and Spain). 237 different colleges made offers of admission to the seniors from the Class of 2025. We saw 87% of the class apply through an early round, and 53% of the class will be attending an "early" school. Our counseling staff looked over 2,011 filed applications (a record high by a large margin). In line with recent trends, 37% of the class chose to attend colleges and universities in California. In addition to their outside-of-school interests, the Class of 2025 includes: 28 Cum Laude Society Members National Merit Scholarship Winners National Merit Scholarship Finalists National Merit Semifinalists 15 Student-Athletes heading to collegiate programs (NCAA DI, II, III and NAIA) 38 Parker Lifers Gold President's Volunteer Service Award Recipients Silver President's Volunteer Service Award Recipient We are excited to watch the meaningful difference the Class of 2025 will continue to make in the world at their respective colleges, universities, and gap year destinations. View our five-year College Acceptance and Matriculation List Reflect on Commencement Advice for the Class of 2025 “Every day can have its moments of happiness if you take the time to embrace them. And I promise you, these moments are what will make life enjoyable. So go out there, achieve great things, and make your dreams happen. But also make some time to just sit out on the lake, enjoy the people around you, and not worry too much about the fish.” Nicholas Soule ’25, Valedictorian “I’m sure all my classmates can think of at least one downright horrible fail from high school, but I don’t remember any of theirs. What I remember is all of their beautiful achievements.” Maggie Krongard ’25, Student speaker “Whatever path you choose, let it lead you to something significant—something that gives you purpose and fulfillment. Know that you have the potential to make a difference in this world. The future is yours to shape. Congratulations, Class of 2025—the world is waiting for you to leave your mark!” Joaquim Cruz Past Parent, Guest Speaker, Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist I Senior Coach, USA Paralympics Track & Field I Motivational Speaker “None of us can predict what our futures hold, but what is for certain is that as our lives unfold, we will always have our Parker friends, and our Parker friends will always have us. There are few guarantees in life. In truth, there are only really two—the guarantee of today and what we do with it. Enjoy your friends, especially today. They are yours and you are theirs, and nothing can ever change that. No matter where life may take you, one thing life can never take away from you are the friends you are here with today.” Kevin Yaley, Ph.D., Head of School read about Class of 2025: Where Are they Now? 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. 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. From left to right: Alain Darang, Prescilla Yoon, Dorothy Jones, Caitlin James, Jasmin Taylor, Bob Hurley. Alain Darang Director of College Counseling Work: (858) 569-7900 ext. 4119 View Bio for Alain Darang Bob Hurley Director of College Counseling Work: (858) 569-7900 ext. 4136 View Bio for Bob Hurley Caitlin James Director of College Counseling Work: (858) 569-7900 ext.5305 View Bio for Caitlin James Dorothy Jones Dean of College Counseling Work: (858) 569-7900 ext. 5303 View Bio for Dorothy Jones Jasmin Taylor Director of College Counseling Work: (858) 569-7900 ext. 4240 View Bio for Jasmin Taylor Prescilla Yoon College Counseling Administrative Assistant Work: (858) 569-7900 ext. 4177 View Bio for Prescilla Yoon We are thrilled to welcome you to our campus for our 2025-2026 college visit season! Our college visit season runs from September 7 through October 31 . To schedule a visit to Francis Parker, login to Scoir to view our calendar. Due to the shortened window, we encourage you to contact us directly if you’re unable to find a suitable time on our calendar. We look forward to hosting you soon! Standard Visit Times 9:25 am 10:20 am 11:55 am 12:50 pm 1:45 pm Schedule on Scoir Additional Visit Times on high-volume days only 9:50 am 10:45 am 12:20 pm 1:15 pm Schedule on Scoir Mini College Fairs We are hosting 4 mini college fairs during student lunch (11:10 - 11:55 am) . See our calendar for the specific dates. We highly encourage schools seeking greater visibility with our students to register for one of these lunch visit opportunities. Schedule on Scoir Arrival Instructions Please check in with Security at the main entrance. They will direct you to parking either at the traffic circle to the right or the parking structure to the left. Proceed to the A Building (near the traffic circle) and check in at the front desk. Our receptionist will guide you to the College Counseling Office, located on the second floor at the south end of the building. If you require any accommodations or need to reschedule, please don’t hesitate to contact Prescilla Yoon at pyoon@francisparker.org or 858.351.3733