College Counseling

The College Counseling office at Mullen is committed to supporting students and families throughout a comprehensive and individualized college search and application process. We assist students in finding the right fit for college based on academics, affordability, and an atmosphere in which they can further develop their talents and interests.

Luke, Class of 2023

They gave me lots of options and really helped me narrow down my college decision and where I wanted to apply. The craziest thing is that I ended up going to a school that I had never even thought of applying to at the beginning of Senior year"

John, Class of 2026

"The College Counselors here at Mullen are some of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met. They take care of your every need, every question, and every worry."

Jacqueline, Class of 2025

"I found Mullen's College Counseling team incredibly helpful! Any question I had from applications to essays to scholarships was answered thoroughly. I would not have gotten through the process without them."

Parent, Class of 2024

"I was thinking these past years I wasn't going to know how to help [my student] deal with college apps, but I felt Mullen so thoroughly participated and guided her junior and senior year....the whole process has been smooth!"

Students are encouraged to take ownership of their college process through self-reflection, exploring interests, and considering college options where they can thrive and meet their future goals.

The College Counseling office provides a wide array of programs and meetings to educate students and their families about their opportunities after graduation from Mullen.

Students are at the center of what we do.

We look forward to working with you throughout this exciting time!

While every student's journey is unique, we have created a timeline of how each student should expect to work with their College Counselor during their time at Mullen.

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

Sophomore Year
- Drop-in appointments available with your College Counselor
- Introduction to the College Process class meeting
- Students take practice ACT (Pre-ACT) and practice SAT (PSAT)
- Mock admissions workshop and college fair hosted at Mullen by the Jesuit College Consortium
- Virtual Parent Q&As with the College Counselors
Junior Year
- Individual counseling meetings with your College Counselor
- College and Athletic Recruitment evening program for families and students
- Mock admissions workshop and college fair hosted at Mullen by the Jesuit College Consortium
- Meet with College Admissions Representatives visiting Mullen
- Students take the PSAT
- Develop standardized testing strategy with your College counselor
- Learn how to research colleges through Scoir and other online resources
- Develop a preliminary list of colleges to explore further
- Students write a college essay with guidance from their College Counselor and English faculty
- College Application letters of recommendation are arranged
- Virtual Parent Q&As with the College Counselors
Senior Year
- Individual meetings with your College Counselor
- Summer application and essay boot camps offered in June and August
- Senior College and Financial Aid night program for Families and Students
- Common Application workshop(s) offered
- Meet with College Admission Representatives visiting Mullen
- Finalize college list with your College Counselor and develop application strategy
- Essay support and revision with your College Counselor
- Support with financial aid and scholarship search
- Informational group sessions offered throughout the year on post-graduate planning
- Virtual Parent Q&As with the College Counselors

Meet Our Counselors

List of 3 items.

Katie Randa-MacCrea, M.S.

Director of College Counseling
katie.randamaccrea@mullenhigh.com
Supporting Students Last Names H-N

Bio
Mrs. Randa-MacCrea earned her Bachelor's degree in English from Hope College and her Master's degree in College Student Personnel from Miami University. Before becoming a College Counselor, Mrs. Randa-MacCrea spent nine years working in college admission offices at Miami University, Hanover College, and Davidson College. Before Mullen, she also served served as a College Counselor for several years at the Bolles School. When she is not helping students navigate the college admission process, Mrs. Randa-MacCrea enjoys exploring coffee shops, spending time with her husband and their energetic dog at local dog parks, and reading.
Conor O’Rourke, M.A.

Associate Director of College Counseling
conor.orourke@mullenhigh.com
Supporting Students Last Names A-G & T-Z
Bio
Mr. O'Rourke has been with Mullen since 2018. In his previous career he was the senior assistant dean of admissions at his alma mater, Pomona College. In addition to admission responsibilities at the College, he taught college admission workshops through the Pomona Academy for Youth Success, a program dedicated to local area first generation to college youth. Mr. O’Rourke transitioned to the high school side in 2016, serving as the Associate Director of College Counseling at Chadwick School in Los Angeles. For fun, Mr. O’Rourke enjoys completing Sunday edition New York Times crossword puzzles, seeking out the perfect local coffee shop, handwriting letters to old friends, and playing pickleball. He is drawn to the Lasallian Core Principles at Mullen and how they may serve as a guide as he counsels students to approach the college process not as simply a destination but as a continued journey.
Matt Shoemaker

College Counselor
matt.shoemaker@mullenhigh.com
Supporting Students, O-Z

Bio
After twelve years working at Jesuit high schools in Texas and Colorado, Mr. Shoe is excited to join the college counseling team at Mullen High School. A graduate of Spring Hill College, he also spent three years working in the college’s admission office, where he first discovered how much he enjoyed helping students find the right college fit. Having attended Catholic schools since Kindergarten, he values the role Catholic education plays in forming students both academically and personally. Outside of school, Mr. Shoe enjoys spending time with his wife and three young kiddos, following his beloved Atlanta sports teams, watching stand-up comedy, and diving into favorite nerdy hobbies like Star Wars and Magic: The Gathering.

Helpful Resources

Upcoming Events

List of 3 events.

Aug

6

Summer Fuel Workshop
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
A program open to Mullen members of the Class of 2027. This hands-on application workshop includes a two hour session focused on completing the Common Application. The final hour will be dedicated to student work time - this time will be great for students who want feedback on a college essay draft, help refining a college list, or tips to stay organized in this process Advanced registration is required, and closes 24 hours before the start of the program. Check your email for a registration link, or reach out to your College Counselor for help.
Aug

10

Colleges that Change Lives College Fair
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Each program opens with a 30-minute presentation on the student-centered college search, the value of the liberal arts, and an overview of what makes this collection of schools distinctly different.
After the opening presentation, attendees are invited to attend a 90-minute college fair. The fair provides students, families, and college access professionals with an opportunity to connect directly with admission officers from the CTCL member schools.
CTCL programs are open to the public and free of charge. Register here.
CTCL member institutions anticipated to be in attendance include:
Agnes Scott College · Allegheny College · Austin College
Bard College · Beloit College · Centre College · Clark University
Cornell College · Denison University · DePauw University
Earlham College · Eckerd College · The Evergreen State College
Goucher College · Guilford College · Hampshire College · Hendrix College
Hillsdale College · Hiram College · Hope College · Juniata College
Kalamazoo College · Knox College · Lawrence University · Millsaps College
Oberlin College · Ohio Wesleyan University · Reed College · Rhodes College
Saint Mary’s College of California · Southwestern University · St. John’s College
St. Olaf College · University of Lynchburg · University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands · Ursinus College · Wabash College
Whitman College · Willamette University · College of Wooster

Doubletree by Hilton Denver Hotel Grand I, II 3203 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80207
Aug

18

Senior College & Financial Aid Night
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Join the Mullen College Counselors for an information-packed evening to kick off senior year. We'll cover the big picture, the nuances, and the nuts-and-bolts of the application process for both college and financial aid/scholarships, and all the ways the College Counseling team supports seniors throughout the year. We highly encourage both seniors and their families to attend.

Rilko

View All Events

- Class of 2024 during College Week. Each student is wearing apparel from their intended college.

College Acceptances

For College Reps

We look forward to hosting your visit to Mullen!

College admissions representatives and other post-secondary recruitment professionals are encouraged to use the Scoir system to schedule your visit to campus.

Your GPS directions will take you to the front entrance of campus. Please park in the “horseshoe” visitor lot and enter through the Main Office. After checking in and receiving your ID badge, a member of the College Counseling team will meet you and escort you to your visit location on campus.