Launching Pad for the Exceptional

COLLEGE COUNSELING

Excellence across the board is what 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 in which they'll thrive. 

2020-21 PARKER SCHOOL PROFILE
CLASS OF 2019 MATRICULATION
MEET OUR COLLEGE COUNSELORS
INFO FOR VISITING COLLEGE REPS
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FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

In an era when top universities admit fewer than 10 percent of applicants, Parker's college placement rate is an outlier. One hundred percent of Parker graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities around the country and abroad. More than 80 percent of the Class of 2019 were accepted to a "Most Competitive" or "Highly Competitive" college, as listed by Barron's Magazine.
 
Parker's College Counselors invest significant time working with each Upper School student to prepare them and guide them through the college application process. The individualized attention Parker invests in each student challenges the notion that any well-choreographed road through high school is the secret to college admission. Instead, each student is asked to reflect on the course charted through Parker, empowering individuals to recognize their emerging personal priorities and to take ownership of understanding what they need as they look to life beyond Parker.
 
Given the wide-ranging talents, accomplishments, and dreams of the Parker student body, it is no wonder that their college destinations are not limited to a certain type or mold. Instead, the personal goals of the students' result in a variety of college decisions that we celebrate with pride.
Parker Podcast | College Counseling from a 30,000 Foot View
Profile of a Parker Graduate

MEET THE TEAM

BOB HURLEY

Bob has worked in college admissions for two decades, including 15 years on the high school side. Bob started as an assistant director of admissions, recruiting students and reviewing applications at Fairfield University, a Jesuit university on the Connecticut shoreline.

For eight years before joining the staff at Parker, Bob was director of college guidance at Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private, independent school for girls in Greenwich, CT. He also led a team of faculty advisers assigned to each grade level, formed school policies on the Curriculum Committee and served as head varsity tennis coach.

He has been active in regional and national groups dedicated to professional development and educational opportunities. Originally from Stamford, CT, just outside New York City, Bob enjoys tennis and rooting for the Padres.

Bob Hurley
Dean of College Counseling
858-569-7900 x 4136
 
 
Jasmin Taylor
Director of College Counseling
858-569-7900 x 4240
 
 
JASMIN TAYLOR

Before joining Parker in 2013, Jasmin spent four years as Associate Director of College Counseling at The Bishop's School, five years in college admissions at Pitzer College, and four years working for a state- funded nonprofit organization guiding underrepresented, first-generation college-bound students through the college process.

She is an active member in both regional and national professional organizations, most recently serving as the San Diego NACAC College Fair co-chair, the San Diego NACAC conference planning committee as Hospitality Chair, and has served as WACAC Assembly Delegate for three years prior. Jasmin has presented at numerous regional and national conferences.  

Jasmin is passionate about providing resources for underserved communities and has been instrumental in creating our College Workshop series in Spanish, Nuestro Camino a la Universidad, in conjunction with local CBO's and schools nearby to serve the greater San Diego community. She is the recipient of the Joseph P. Allen Human Relations Award for her commitment in working with underserved students. Jasmin holds a BA in Liberal Studies from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

JULIO MATA
Julio came to Parker in 2019 after working in college admission at three different institutions. Prior to joining Parker, Julio served seven years as associate director of regional enrollment at Miami University in Ohio where he had the opportunity to travel across the western United States and become personally familiar with the landscape of higher education across the country. Julio holds a BA in International Studies and Spanish from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH and an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.  
 
Julio is well-known in the world of college admission and has also been very active with the National Association for College Admission Counseling and Western Association for College Admission Counseling. He has presented at regional and national professional conferences on a variety of topics involving Latinos in higher education and the importance of providing educational materials about the college admission process to Spanish-speaking families.  He has also served as a member of the San Diego and Salt Lake City NACAC conference planning committees and currently serves as the co-leader of the NACAC Latino/Hispanic Special Interest Group. 
Julio Mata
Director of College Counseling
858-569-7900 x 4110
 
 
Alain Darang
Director of College Counseling
 
 
ALAIN DARANG
Originally from Wilmington, DE, Alain spent the last fifteen years in South Florida before relocating to California.  He is an alum of the University of Delaware with a BA in English and St. Thomas University with an MBA.  Prior to the field of education, Alain worked with the University of Miami in it's athletics department, The Miami Heat, and Super Bowl XLI Host Committee.  He is an avid sports fan but also enjoys the arts and travel.    
 
Alain transitioned from professional and collegiate athletics to undergraduate admission and college counseling in 2011. He spent the last five years in college counseling with the Benjamin School and NSU University School in South Florida.  He also spent four years as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission for the University of Miami.  Alain served as an active member of SACAC volunteering on faculty for it's Dry Run program in New Orleans and Miami.  In addition, he coordinated and served on the SACAC mini camp college programs in Miami and Nashville.  
SHELMA SOTO

Shelma Soto came to Parker in 2019 as the College Counseling Assistant. She believes that order for students to make important decisions about their academic life, they should be empowered through information and support on a personal, academic, and holistic level.  Shelma earned her BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and is currently working on her Master of Arts in Education and Pupil Personnel Services Credential.

Shelma Soto
College Counseling Assistant
858-569-7900 x 4177
 
 

COLLEGE ADMISSION REPRESENTATIVES

We look forward to welcoming you to campus!  
 
To schedule a visit to Francis Parker, please go to Maia Learning. We will be open for visits between September 9 to November 15, 2019.
 
 
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 do not hesitate to contact Shelma Soto if you have any questions at (858) 569-7900 X4177 or email at ssoto@francisparker.org.
 
Safe travels and we will see you soon in San Diego!
 
Bob Hurley, Alain Durang, Jasmin Taylor, and Julio Mata