Center for College and Life Planning

Life after Parish starts with individualized college and life planning sessions while still on campus. Beginning as freshmen, students become familiar with the Center for College and Life Planning, and expand their relationship with our counselors over the course of their four-year high school careers.

Our child-focused college counseling encompasses all four years of Upper School, with the degree of guidance increasing and becoming more specialized as students advance from 9th through 12th grade. This highly personalized, student-centered program is also collaborative and extensive.

Parish Episcopal's college counselors start by helping students identify potential college, university and post-educational communities that will best serve their academic and personal growth. Counselors ensure both parents and students are knowledgeable about the unique intricacies of preparing for college, the college search process, completing applications and, ultimately, selecting a college, or choosing a gap year in some cases.

Our goal is to demystify the experience as much as possible, communicating the expectations, deadlines and best practices of each. We offer a multitude of channels for families to stay informed during the process. Through group meetings with parents and students, letters and emails, publications, the Parish website and, most importantly, in individual guidance sessions, we make sure the steps are clearly communicated from day one. 

At Parish, we believe no student should have to make the transition from high school to college unsupported. With our highly specialized preparation, we help students cultivate impactful relationships with college counselors who understand that each student’s particular life journey will be different from his or her peers. Our approach is a student-specific process that supports and encourages future graduates to forge a path toward their individual brand of success. 

Mark Wells - Director, Center for College and Life Planning 
mwells@parish.org  972.852.8748

Demetra Durham - Associate Director, Center for College and Life Planning
ddurham@parish.org  972.852.8793

Ja'Maine Turner - Associate Director, Center for College and Life Planning
jturner@parish.org  972.852.8790

Megan Graham - Director, Parish Bridge
mgraham@parish.org  972.852.8819

Parish Bridge

Parish Bridge is a student-created third trimester curriculum that incorporates interdisciplinary learning and real-world application, resulting in a culminating high school experience that prepares them for life beyond graduation. The program consists of three components: professional experience, academic coursework, and life-ready seminars. Parish Bridge concludes with the Parish Bridge Expo, where seniors present their experiences to the Upper School community.