College Counseling

hp-slideshow landing

Ursuline Academy’s College Counseling Department utilizes an individualized approach to support students and their families as they navigate the college admissions process.

Through meaningful relationships with our students and their families, we strive to help our students align their post-secondary aspirations with a clear understanding of the evolving college landscape. We are committed to staying current on the latest admissions trends and to advocating for our students at the colleges and universities to which they apply.

General Parent Resources

College Counseling Resources

About the College Counseling Department

Our College Counselors are with your daughter every step of her college decision journey. They provide accurate and relevant resources regarding college admissions. A student works with her College Counselor all four years at Ursuline to help ensure that she finds her perfect collegiate match.

Because Ursuline is a college preparatory school, 100 percent of its students are enrolled in a rigorous curriculum, one which exceeds the expectation of most colleges and universities.

All Ursuline students graduate and are accepted into four-year colleges and universities.

College Counselors work with admissions officers at colleges and universities to reinforce Ursuline’s reputation for strong academics and well-rounded graduates. The Class of 2021 has been awarded a total of more than $35.8 million in merit-based scholarships. Further, of the 222 graduates, approximately 76 percent (169 young women) graduated with honors.

Meet Our Team

Alicia Estes

Alicia Estes joined the Ursuline College Counseling Office as a College Counselor during the fall of 2004 and has served as the Department Chair since fall of 2011. Prior to Ursuline, she worked at the University of Texas where she served as the Director of the University of Texas at Austin Dallas Admissions Center and as a Financial Aid Counselor at Southern Methodist University. In addition to her work with the College Counseling Office, she serves as moderator of the Latinas Unidas club. Alicia received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. She has served on a UT Austin Counselor Advisory Board and currently serves on a University of Chicago Counselor Advisory Board. Alicia completed the Santa Clara College Counseling Institute Summer Program, is a graduate of Harvard’s Summer Institute on College Admissions, and is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).

Jamie Byrum

Jamie Byrum joined the Ursuline College Counseling Office during the fall of 2016. Prior to Ursuline, she worked at the University of Illinois where she worked for three years in the Office of Admissions as a Senior Admissions Counselor and for three years in the College of Engineering’s Advancement Office. At Ursuline, she serves as a College Counselor and is a co-moderator for OneLove, a club that serves to educate young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Jamie received her B.B.A in Marketing from Oklahoma Baptist University and her Ed. M from the University of Illinois. Jamie is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).

Laura Harrington

Laura Harrington joined the Ursuline College Counseling Office as a College Counselor in the fall of 2006. She served as co-head moderator of the Junior class for six years and enjoys visiting a variety of colleges to get a sense of which students fit well on different campuses. Currently, she serves on Counselor Advisory Boards at Baylor University and Lyon College. Prior to Ursuline, she worked at Southern Methodist University in the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Laura received her undergraduate degree from Baylor and her master’s degree from SMU. She is also a graduate of Harvard’s Summer Institute on College Admissions and is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).

Sarah Dornak

At Ursuline Academy of Dallas since 2017, Sarah is a College Counselor and has also served as Student Activities Director, coached lacrosse, and taught history and English. Sarah received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and her Ed. M from Boston University’s School of Education. Prior to Ursuline, Sarah worked for five years as a college counselor at an independent school in the greater Boston area. A graduate of Harvard’s Summer Institute on College Admissions, Sarah is also a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).

Vandana Blankenship

Vandana Blankenship joined the Ursuline College Counseling Office as the College Counseling Coordinator in the fall of 2008. She served as the Internship Director for 3 years working with various local companies to place juniors in summer internships. She has also been part of the Employee Legacy committee where she served for 2 years. Currently, she serves as the Testing Coordinator for the Pre-ACT, PSAT, and AP exams. Prior to Ursuline, she worked at West Dallas Community School as the assistant to the Headmaster and at Liberty Christian School as the Registrar. Vandana received her B.S. degree at University of North Texas. She is a graduate of the Naviance Summer Institute and a member of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).