ACADEMIC & COLLEGE COUNSELING
Hello Students of Fall 2026!
UPA’s Counseling Team partners with students, teachers, and families to understand each student’s social, emotional, and academic needs, as well as their interests, strengths, and evolving goals. Through intentional academic, college, and career planning, we support students across all four years of high school as they prepare for college and strive to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Through one-on-one meetings, counselors gain a deeper understanding of each student’s academic progress, personal development, and future aspirations. By fostering consistent, meaningful relationships with students and their families, counselors are able to provide personalized guidance and support throughout the high school experience.
Rachel Juliano Academic Counselor Grade 7 (All) & 11-12 (A-Ha)
Jill Buensuceso Academic Counselor Grade 11-12 (He-O)
Kathryn Gong-Guy Academic Counselor Grade 8 (All) & 11-12 (P-Z)
Dot Westerhoff Academic Counselor Grade 9-10 (All)
College Acceptances
Navigate the College Application Process
The transition from high school to college is a pivotal milestone in a student’s journey. The UPA counseling team is committed to educating students with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take ownership of their self-discovery, college exploration, and application process.
Below is an overview of services designed to support students and families throughout the college search and application journey:
Family/Grade-Level Workshops: In-person sessions covering a wide range of grade-level and college admissions topics.
All-School College Day (Semester 1): Students in grades 7–11 visit colleges throughout the Bay Area. Past visits have included Stanford University, UC Berkeley, San José State University, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and others.
Junior College Trip: A multi-day Southern California college tour. Past destinations include Cal Poly SLO, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, Cal State LA, Pepperdine University, Cal State Fullerton, and more.
Naviance College & Career Platform: Interactive surveys, college search and comparison tools, college profiles, scholarship opportunities, and additional planning resources for students and families.
College Representative Visits: Opportunities for students to meet with visiting college admissions representatives throughout the school year.
Student Application Workshops: Targeted sessions on topics such as college essay writing, financial aid, and scholarship applications.
Recommendation Letters and Secondary School Reporting: Comprehensive support with required application documentation.
Spring Junior Meeting: A summer opportunities meeting that supports students in exploring meaningful ways to use their summer productively.
One on One Counseling Meetings: Individualized meetings to discuss college goals and develop a personalized application plan.
On-Campus SAT Testing: Fall and spring SAT administrations hosted on campus.
UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY ACADEMY
2315 Canoas Garden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
408.723.1839
