Guidance
Preparing Students For A Future of Success
Our team of experienced and knowledgeable guidance counselors work with students throughout the Upper School experience. We help guide families through the college admission process, including the academic path for courses during their time in Upper School. With a wealth of college options available to our students, our counselors work diligently to know each student and to equip our families with the knowledge and tools necessary to find the right college fit.
The Mission of the PCA Plano Guidance Department
Through our service, example, discipleship, encouragement, prayer and accountability, we are called to honor Our Lord, help strengthen the Kingdom, guide each student toward the fulfillment of the Portrait of a PCA Graduate and, as colleagues, impacting where possible, the institution's academic and spiritual culture.
Learn More About Guidance
- Guidance Philosophy
- College Acceptances - 2002-2023
- College Admissions Workshop
- Guidance and College/Career Team
Guidance Philosophy
Our college advising program starts in 8th grade and consists of a series of (1) grade-level seminars to educate students and parents on the college admission process, including the roles of course selection and rigor, standardized testing, and extracurricular involvement, and (2) individual guidance meetings which tailor the college search and application processes to a student’s needs and calling. With a wealth of college options available to our students, our counselors seek to build relationships with students, parents, teachers, and college admissions representatives to enable students to identify and attend best “fit” colleges in terms of opportunities for academic, spiritual, social, and professional development.
College Acceptances - 2002-2023
A-K
Abilene Christian University
Adams State University
Air Force Academy Prep School
Albany College of Pharmacy
Alderson-Broaddus College
American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York
American University
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
American University of Paris
Anderson University
Angelo State University
Arizona Christian University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University-Downtown Phoenix
Arkansas State University
Arkansas Tech University
Art Center College of Design
Art Institute of Boston
Art Institute of Colorado
Art Institute of Dallas
Asbury College
Auburn University
Augustana University
Austin College
Austin Peay State University
Azusa Pacific University
Babson College
Baker University
Ball State University
Baptist College of Florida
Barton College
Barry University
Baylor University
Belhaven College
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bennington College
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Berry College
Bethany College
Bethel University
Bethune-Cookman University
Binghamton University
Biola University
Birmingham Southern College
Black Hills State University
Blinn College
Boise State University
Boston College – Honors Program
Boston Conservatory of Music
Boston University
Boston University Honors Science
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brookhaven College
Brown University
Bucknell University
Buffalo State College of SUNY
Butler University
California Baptist University
California College of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California Polytechnic State University
California State University
California State University, Los Angeles
Calvin University
Campbell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carroll University
Case Western Reserve University
Carson-Newman University
Cedarville University
Centenary College of Louisiana
Central Christian College
Centre College
Cerro Coso Community College
Chadron State University
Chapman University
Charleston Southern University
Chicago College of Performing Arts
Christian Brothers University
Cisco College
Clearwater Christian College
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Coe College
Coker College
Colgate University
College of Charleston
College of the Canyons
College of Santa Fe
College of William and Mary
Collin College
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia University
Concordia University
Concordia University-Seward
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Cornell College
Cornell University
Creighton University
Culver-Stockton College
Dallas Baptist University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Dean College
DePaul University
DePaul University (The Theatre School)
DePauw University
Dillard University
Dordt College
Drake University
Drexel University
Duke University
Duquesne University
Eastfield College
East Carolina University
East Texas Baptist University
Eastern University
Eckerd College
El Centro College
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Emory University
Evangel University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Southern University
Florida State University
Fordham University
Fort Lewis College
Franklin College Switzerland
Friends University
Furman University
Gardner-Webb University
George Mason University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Gordon College
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Grace University
Grand Canyon University
Greenville College
Grove City College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamilton College
Hampton University
Hanover College
Hannibal Grange University
Hardin-Simmons University
Harding University
Hargrave Military Academy
Harvard University
Hawaii Pacific University
Henderson State University
Hendrix College
High Point University
Hillsdale College
Hofstra University
Hood College
Hope College
Houghton College
Houston Baptist University
Howard Payne University
Howard University
Huntington University
Idaho State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University-Bloomington
Indiana University-Fort Wayne
Indiana University-Perdue University Indianapolis
Indiana State University
Indiana Tech University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Iowa State University
Jacksonville University
James Madison University
John Brown University
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson & Wales
Kansas State University
Kennesaw State University
Kettering College
Knox College
L-S
LaGrange College
Lamar University
Langston University
Lawrence Technological University
Lee University
Lehigh University
LeTourneau University
Liberty University
Linden Wood University
Lipscomb University
LISSA School of Applied Arts
Long Island University
Long Island University-Post
Long Island University-Brooklyn
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Tech University
Loyola University
Loyola University-Chicago
Loyola Marymount University
Lubbock Christian University
Lynn University
Lyon College
Manhattan College
Marshall University
Marquette University
Marietta College
Mary Baldwin College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Marymount Manhattan College
Maryville University of St. Louis
Massachusetts College of Art
McKendree University
McMurry University
McPherson University
Miami University
Miami University-Oxford
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Middle Tennessee State University
Midway University
Midwestern State University
Milligan College
Millikin University
Millsaps College
Mississippi College
Mississippi State University
Missouri Baptist University
Missouri State University
Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Missouri Western State University
Molloy College
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Montclair State University
Moody Bible Institute
Morehouse College
Morningside College
Muhlenberg College
Murray State University
Musician’s Institute of Los Angeles
Natural University of Ireland
Navarro College
Nebraska Wesleyan University
New Mexico Military Institute
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
New York University
New York University-Tisch School of Arts
Niagara University
North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina State University
North Central College
North Dakota State University
North Lake College
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
North Greenville University
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwestern College
Northwestern University
Northwood University
Nova Southeastern University
Oberlin College
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oglethorpe University
Ohio Northern University
Ohio State University
Ohio University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Old Dominion University
Olivet Nazarene University
Oral Roberts University
Otis College of Art and Design
Otterbein University
Ouachita Baptist University
Oxford College @ Emory University
Pace University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Paul Mitchell School
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University-University Park
Pepperdine University
Philadelphia Biblical University
Piedmont College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Park University
Prairie View A&M University
Pratt Institute
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
Queens University of Charlotte
Quincy University
Quinnipiac University
Ranger College
Regent University
Regis University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Rice University
Richland College
Richmond, The American International College
Rider University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rockhurst University
Rollins College
Roosevelt University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Royal Holloway-University of London
Rutgers University
Saint Anselm College
Saint Edward's University
Saint Leo University
Saint Mary’s of California
Sam Houston State University
Samford University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
Santa Clara University
Santa Fe College
Savannah College of Art & Design
School for Film & Television – NYC
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of Visual Arts - NYC
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Seton Hall University
Sewanee: The University of the South
Shenandoah University
Simpson University
Southeastern University
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University Honors
Southern Nazarene University
Southern University and A&M College
Southern Utah University
Southwest Baptist University
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern College
Southwestern University
Spelman College
St. Edwards University
St. Gregory’s University
St. John’s University-Queens Campus
St. Joseph’s University
St. Louis University
St. Lawrence University
St. Mary’s University
St. Thomas University
State University of New York-Albany
State University of New York - Buffalo
State University of New York-Stony Brook
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sterling College
Stetson University
Stony Brook University
Suffolk University
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
T - Z
Tarleton State University
Taylor University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Galveston
Texas Christian University
Texas Southern University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Woman’s University
Tiffin University
The American University in Paris
The Boston Conservatory at Berklee
The College of Idaho
The Citadel
The College of New Jersey
The College of Saint Rose
The College of the Ozarks
The College of Wooster
The Criswell College
The George Washington University
The King’s College
The Ohio State University
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
The School for Film & Television (NYC)
Towson University
Trinity Christian College
Trinity University
Tulane University
Union University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Military Academy-West Point
United States Naval Academy
Universita Bocconi
University of Advancing Technology
University of Alabama
University of Alabama, Birmingham
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
University of British Columbia
University at Buffalo
University of California-Berkley
University of California-Davis
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Riverside
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Florida
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati-Claremont
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Connecticut
University of Dallas
University of Dayton
University of Denver
University of Dubuque
University of Edinburgh
University of Evansville
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii-Manoa
University of Hartford
University of Houston
University of Idaho
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois- Chicago
University of Indianapolis
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of LaVerne
University of Louisiana – Lafayette
University of Louisiana – Monroe
University of Maine
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Maryland, Boston
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Miami – Ohio
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri – Columbia
University of Mobile
University of Montana, Missoula
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
University of Nevada – Reno
University of New Mexico
University of Northern Colorado
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of North Dakota
University of North Florida
University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Iowa
University of Northwestern
University of North Dakota
University of North Texas
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Ottawa
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Scranton
University of South Carolina
University of South Florida
University of Southern California
University of Southern Maine
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
University of Texas - Arlington
University of Texas – Austin
University of Texas – Dallas
University of Texas – Dallas-McDermott Scholar
University of Texas – El Paso
University of Texas – San Antonio
University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
University of Texas – Tyler
University of Toronto
University of the Incarnate Word
University of the Ozarks
University of Tulsa
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of West Florida
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wyoming
Valdosta State University
Valencia College
Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Tech University
Viterbo University
Wagner College
Wake Forest University
Warner University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University, St. Louis
Wayland Baptist University
Weatherford College
Webber International University
Webster University
Westminster College
Westmont College
West Texas A&M University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Western University
Wheaton College-IL
Wheaton College-MA
Whittier College
Wichita State University
Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Wilkes University
William Jewell College
William Penn University
William Woods University
Winston-Salem State University
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wofford College
Wright State University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of St. Louis
Yale University
Yavapai College
College Admissions Workshop
Rising Seniors, this is a wonderful opportunity to begin work on your college applications during the summer and be substantially ready to submit to colleges in the early fall. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP meets for three half-day seminars. An overview of the COMMON APPLICATION (accepted at over 700 colleges and universities) and the APPLY TEXAS application for Texas public colleges (or another application of choice in place of APPLY TEXAS) will be presented. Two application essays (one for Common Application and one for Apply Texas or an alternate school if the student is not applying to an Apply Texas school) and a resume will be edited and polished during the three-day seminar. Students will be given an opportunity to work on the essays during class time, with instructors available to direct and brainstorm ideas. Each essay will receive feedback from veteran editors of college application essays. College admission officers will provide insight into the application and admission processes as part of an “Ask the Experts” panel. A practical timeline for the college admissions process will be provided to the students. Students should bring a printout draft copy of their resume to the first session. The first day seminar will be four hours with the second three and a half hours, and the third day will be three hours. Students are required to bring their own device each day to the camp for online work.
Guidance and College/Career Team
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11