College Counseling

Navigating the college application process begins in the summer of our students’ freshman year. Our counselors are committed to providing students and parents with the resources they need to navigate the college application process successfully. Our four-year college planning process ensures that students have the tools and knowledge to make educated decisions about their future and are prepared to be successful at the college or university of their choice.

Whether it’s helping students discover the right college or university, find possible career paths, or ensure they take the correct courses for their college or university requirements—our goal is not only to help students get into college but to assist them in finding the best fit for their future success.

We also specialize in:

• University, major, and career exploration
• Personality assessments
• Alumni career mentoring
• Entrepreneur and leadership development

No, students are not ranked. However, we do have an agreement with certain state schools that allows us to report the top 6% and 10% of the class based on GPA. Not ranking our students creates an opportunity for a holistic review, which creates an advantage for our students in the college application process.

Every student in grades 9-11 participates in the Ray Dass SARA™ program. Ray Dass partners with schools nationwide to help students improve their college-readiness and increase their achievement test scores, which will increase their acceptances to their top college choices and opportunities for scholarships. SARA™ is a content-based online program that is aligned to the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. It is designed to support and add to our already rigorous curriculum with instructional modules in the areas of reading, writing, and math. SARA™ teaches the students content and provides opportunities for practice so that students become more comfortable with the materials and questions they will see in school and on the standardized exams. Students are expected to spend approximately 60 minutes each week to work on and master the skills in the modules. To help support our students in this endeavor, their first part of each block study hall period is dedicated to their work on SARA™.

St. Thomas High School’s counseling department offers three exciting programs that introduce students to career fields and majors beyond our regular curriculum.

Urban Plan
Students are led through a two-week seminar on leadership development & urban planning. In partnership with the Houston chapter of the Urban Land Institute, students form urban plan development teams tasked with revitalizing a fictional town. Students will take on 1 of 5 roles: Financial Analyst, Marketing Director, Neighborhood Liaison, Environment/Equity Director, or Site Planner. ULI volunteers and STH alumni serve as facilitators, guest speakers, and mock city council members. All students who participate earn a certificate for their resume, acknowledging their participation in STH leadership development.

Eagle Shark Tank
Students are led through a two-week seminar on leadership development, design thinking, and entrepreneurship. They work together in teams to design a business plan and prepare a professional business pitch for STH sharks. Along the way, they hear from STH alums involved in the world of business and entrepreneurship. All students who participate earn a certificate for their resume, acknowledging their participation in the STH leadership development program.

Alumni Mentorship Program
The STH Mentorship Program pairs students with STH community members to learn about the mentors’ college and career journeys and gain advice to plan their own next steps. Students meet with their mentor regularly and get the opportunity for an in-depth look at their profession. At the end of the program, the students create personalized presentations showcasing the lessons they took away from their time with their mentors.

Our counselor are Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and/or Texas Counselor Certified.