Counseling and Guidance

Serra counselors see themselves as student advocates who, in partnership with parents and faculty, help our Padres to achieve their personal and academic goals and successfully navigate their high school journey.

Preparing Padres for the road ahead

It’s no secret that planning for college can be stressful for students and their families. In an era when many parents feel the need to hire expensive private college counselors, it’s important to know that Serra’s counseling team has the expertise and extensive resources to expertly shepherd our Padres through the college planning and application process. The results speak volumes about the counseling team’s success: Every year, 99 to 100 percent of Serra students matriculate to the colleges that best suit their academic and career interests and consistently earn millions of dollars in college scholarships.

Focusing on student well-being in the here and now

The future looks brightest when students can see a clear path forward. Recognizing that the high school years can sometimes present both personal and academic challenges for young men, our counselors are equipped to provide social-emotional support and resources our students need and the academic intervention and advocacy that will help them course correct.

The counseling team also offers support groups each school year. Discussion topics are chosen in response to students' needs and interests, such as how to successfully engage in the Serra community. Counselors are always available to meet with students and parents as requested or needed.

Serra counselors will . . .

support students as they transition to high school and get acclimated to the Serra community.
provide guidance in selecting courses that support a student's college and career goals and meet high school graduation and college admissions requirements.
act as an advocate when students are confronted with a challenging academic or personal situation.
refer students to trusted outside resources for educational testing or psychological support services.
help students identify strengths and preferences that can open their eyes to potential college majors and career paths.
work with students individually as well as in groups to provide comprehensive college advising services.
introduce students to college admissions representatives and help assess what students learn from them.
write thoughtful and compelling college letters of recommendation because Serra counselors know their students well.

Counseling and Guidance FAQs

What do the boys do each year at Serra to prepare for college?

Freshman year:

Freshmen and their parents are introduced to the importance of grades, getting involved and sharpening their study skills. A student’s GPA is a key factor in college admissions. Freshmen are introduced to MaiaLearning, our web-based college planning program, and they begin to build their résumés. Counselors meet with all freshman families.

Sophomore year:

Using a program in MaiaLearning, sophomores take personality profile tests to discover their career interests. They learn a little more about themselves, which is central to the college process. During sophomore year, students begin to research colleges and update their résumés.

Junior year:

Each junior participates in a year-long college advising seminar, a curriculum-based program that helps students self-assess, determine their goals and identify colleges that will further those goals. Testing plans, college research and college admissions case studies are pieces of the seminar. Juniors are encouraged to attend college admissions visits, which are held daily in the fall, and the annual college fair with more than 130 colleges in attendance. Counselors meet individually with each junior family in the spring to review goals and develop college lists.

Senior year:

On Senior Kickoff Sunday, seniors begin the application process. Individual meetings, application workshops and college admissions visits continue during the fall. Senior English classes start the fall semester with a comprehensive narrative writing unit, including specific instruction on writing college essays using current application prompts. Throughout the year, counselors meet with students to review admission decisions from colleges and financial aid packages to help guide students and their families to their final college decision.

Do counselors help the boys to select colleges?

Serra counselors work extensively with each student throughout the college process to support the boys, while suggesting schools that are suitable to their academic achievement, social interests and career goals. The college planning seminar, junior family meetings and individual meetings help students develop their college lists. This includes recommending colleges that students might not have previously considered.

How soon should high school students start looking at colleges?

Students should visit colleges during their junior year, although it is never too early to step on campuses whenever possible. Some of our families visit campuses during family vacations, which is an excellent idea. Serra also hosts an annual, extensive college fair on campus during the fall. In addition, we welcome visits from college admissions representatives throughout the admissions season each year.

Do counselors help Serra students with their college application forms?

Should students take both the SAT and the ACT, and how many times?

How many times should a student take the SAT or ACT?

How important is the college essay/personal statement?

The personal statement gives admissions counselors a sense of who a student is and a glimpse of his writing skills. It reveals a student’s personality and character, which grades and test scores do not show. At Serra, senior English classes work on the narrative style of writing in support of students’ college essays early in the fall of senior year. In addition, a College Essay Boot Camp is also offered at Serra during the summer prior to senior year.

How do you support students and families through the challenges of college applications?

Why is college preparation so important today? How has the application process changed in the last five to 10 years.

The public impression of the college admissions process has generated considerable anxiety over the past several years. The application process has become more competitive, as the number of college applicants surpasses the number of available seats at many colleges and universities.

Over the past 10 years, most colleges and universities have seen an increase in applications, including some from a few thousand applicants to 30,000 or more. During this same period of time, the number of students accepted by these colleges has increased only slightly. This has lowered admission rates at the most popular and well-known schools. To ensure that they have suitable options for college, students apply to more schools today than in previous generations. Technology has made it easier for students to apply to multiple schools without having to complete additional applications.