College & Career

HCSS High School provides dedicated college and career counseling for every student — from course planning and internships to SAT support, financial aid guidance, and the full application process — so graduates are prepared to succeed in college and beyond.

PATHWAY to COLLEGE

Group of six smiling young people looking down towards the camera in a circle formation.
Group of college graduates wearing blue and red caps and gowns seated indoors during a ceremony.
Three boys sitting at a table with papers in front of them, listening to a woman working on a laptop in a room with a brick wall and an American flag.

College counseling at HCSS is a highly individualized process to produce the best possible match between each uniquely talented student and the college or university that best fits that student. Creating that ideal match is a very personal, labor-intensive learning experience like much of everyday life on campus. To help facilitate this – each Junior and Senior receives an individualized, comprehensive “Pathway to College” check-list that their counselor and the College & Career Coordinator have access to.

Each student works closely with their counselor to explore the many talents and interests they have developed, set goals based on those experiences, and research and find the colleges that will help them achieve those goals.

Personal attention is the hallmark of the college search process at HCSS. Students will work with the College & Career Coordinator, as well as their School Counselor to research, explore and apply to top tier colleges and universities.

By visiting college campuses, attending regional and national conferences, and hosting college fairs and individual college representatives at our school, HCSS’s college counselors constantly update and expand their knowledge about programs available at colleges. This personal contact also fosters close relationships with admissions officers at local, regional and top tier colleges.

It is essential that students, especially Juniors and Seniors, take advantage of all the opportunities offered to them at HCSS.

JUNIOR YEAR – May 2023

Open a Common App acct by using your personal email and save your password

Fill out Profile section under Common App tab

Fill out Family section under Common App tab

Fill out Education section under Common App tab

Add your colleges to your Common App acct under College Seach tab

Add your non-Common App colleges manually on Naviance under Colleges I’m Applying to

Write first draft of your college essay

Start planning your college specific and/or supplemental essays

Complete Naviance self-assessment questionnaire

Request letters of recommendations through NAVIANCE only!

Take the May SAT

JUNIOR YEAR – JUNE 2023

June 1st Application deadline for HCC Dual Enrollment

Continue work on college essay

Plan Summer visits to colleges

Meet with your counselor one more time before Summer

Take the June SAT

JUNIOR YEAR – JULY/AUGUST 2023

Proofread/Create final draft of your essays

Update your Activities section under Common App tab

Continue career research

Visit colleges (even just driving through campus!)

Make a revised list of colleges that you are intersted in (even if they seem out of reach)

Work on your resume

Take August SAT (Optional)

SENIOR YEAR – SEPTEMBER

Review your unofficial copy of your high school transcript with your Counselor

Get a copy of your test scores on College Board acct

Answer individual college Questions under My Colleges tab

Release your FERPA Waiver Authorization under My Colleges

Match your Common App and Naviance

QuestBridge application deadline – Sept. 27, 2022

Attend college rep visits and other college events at HCSS

SENIOR YEAR – OCTOBER

Final draft of your college essay is due

Start your FAFSA and CSS Profile applications on Oct. 1

Apply to non-commonapp colleges through their website if applying ED

Submit your Common App college applications if applying ED

SENIOR YEAR – OCTOBER

Add/Apply to colleges Early Action (Non-Binding) or ED if approrpriate

Begin to apply to as many scholarships as possible (Free Money!)

Attend college rep visits and other college events at HCSS

SENIOR YEAR – DECEMBER

Apply to scholarships – use our list/your own research

Complete your FAFSA and CSS Profile application

You may start to receive acceptance letters. Congrats! Consider all options

SENIOR YEAR – APRIL

Attend accepted students day at colleges you have been accepted to

Carefully consider all options including fincial packages/awards

SENIOR YEAR – MAY

Decision Day! (May 1, 2023)

Let your college know you are attending

Let your school counselor know which school you are attending

Submit your deposit to the school you will be attending

You may start to receive acceptance letters. Congrats! Consider all options

Decision Day! (May 1, 2023)

Consistently check emails after your deposit for extra information

Attend college orientation and have a great Summer!

OUR GRADUATES

Some of the colleges and universities that our graduates got accepted to…

Adelphi University

American International College

Amherst College

Ana Maria College

Assumption College

Babson College

Baypath University

Birmingham Southern College

Boston College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Burlington County Community College

Central Connecticut State University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Champlain College

Chestnuthill College

Colby Sawyer College

Curry College

Dominican University of California

Dartmouth College

Drexel University

Elmira College

Elms College

Emmanuel College

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Felician University

Fisher College

FIT

Fitchburg State University

Florida Southern College

Fordham University

Framingham State University

Franklin Pierce University

George Mason University

Georgian Court University

Georgetown University

Gordon College

Harvard University

Hawaii Pacific University

Hofstra University

Holyoke Community College

Husson University

Iona College

Johnson and Wales University

John Hopkins University

Keene State College

Lasell College

Lesley University

Life Pacific College

Lyndon State College

Manhattan College

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

MCLA

MCPHS

Merrimack College

Merrimack State College

Mitchell College

Monmouth University

Mount Saint Mary College

NYU(New York State University)

NAC

Nazareth University

NE Institute of Technology

New England College

New England Institute of Technology

New York Institute of Technology

New York University

Newbury College

Northeastern University

Northpoint Bible College

Nova Southern University

Nyack College

Pace University

Penn State University

Plattsburgh University

Plymouth State University

Quinnipiac University

Regis College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhode Island College

Robert Morris University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Roger Williams University

Sage College of Albany

Saint Michael’s College

Saint Rose College

Salem College

Seton Hall University

Siena College

Simmons College

SNHU

Southern Connecticut State University

Southern New Hampshire University

Springfield College

St Lawrence Univ

State University of New York

STCC

Suffolk University

SUNY Buffalo

The College of New Jersey

The College of Saint Rose

The University of Tampa

The University of the Sciences

Trinity College

Tuft University

UCONN

UMASS Amherst

UMASS Boston

UMASS Dartmouth

UMASS Lowell

University of Dartmouth

University of Hartford

University of Indianapolis

University of Maine

University of New England

University of New Haven

University of Saint Joseph

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Valley Forge

Utica College

Wagner College

Washington & Jefferson College

Washington College

Westfield State University

Western Connecticut State University

Western New England University

Wheelock College

WIT

WNEC

Williams College

PSAT/SAT PREPARATION

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/ The SAT Suite of Assessments reflects what students are already learning in their classrooms and provides benchmarks for assessing students’ progress as they enter and move through HCSS. Scores from the SAT Suite are reported online on a common vertical scale. These scores are available to students through setting up an account at collegeboard.org and linking through Khan Academy for future tracking, score results, and practice tests.

HCSS administers PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMQT exams to all 8th,9th,10th, and 11th graders free. Reports received from College Board are analyzed in our ELA, Math, and Guidance departments to track our students’ college readiness and create a plan.

For more information regarding College Board and specific assessments, please click here.

Diagram showing the SAT Suite of Assessments with three stages: PSAT 8/9 for Readiness Baseline, PSAT/NMSQT for Check-in and Focus, and SAT for Connect to College.

ADVANCED PROGRAMS

Paying for college can be an overwhelming process for any student. At HCSS we are proud of the scholarships and awards our students receive.  Our goal is for each student to have the opportunity to attend the best possible college for the lowest possible cost.  Many of our students receive full scholarships, while others are able to pay a reasonable yearly amount for tuition.

Each year students are provided with a list of local and national scholarship opportunities, however, we also encourage students to do research using some of the following search engines:  

Apply
Black graduation cap with gold tassel and rolled diploma tied with red ribbon above the word 'Scholarship' in stylized brown text.
Apply
https://www.fastweb.com/
https://www.raise.me/
https://www.goingmerry.com/
https://www.scholarships.com/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
https://www.salliemae.com/
https://scholarshipamerica.org/
https://Naviance.com
https://bold.org/applicants/
https://studentscholarships.org/
https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/scholarships/

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Dual Enrollment is a program for high school Juniors and Seniors (and less frequently Sophomores) in which eligible high school students take one or more college courses at an area college.  This is a wonderful opportunity for motivated students to improve their GPA, their resume and their transcript while showing colleges and universities that they are hard working and ambitious students.  

A Dual Enrollment course is worth 1.25 GPA points for high school, and also you will receive college credit when you pass!  Best of all – its free and easy to apply to!

Keep in mind, Dual Enrollment courses are college courses, with college students and a college professor. These are not courses designed for high school students, they are hard work and must completed out of school hours.  However, all the work will pay off in a number of ways for students who pass their courses!

Westfield State University, and Holyoke Community College offer dual enrollment courses for HCSS students. Meet with your guidance counselor for more information about applying!

Map of the United States featuring major college sports team logos positioned within their respective states.

COURSE SELECTION

The course selection process begins in early April each year. HCSS teachers, staff, and administration are dedicated to affording our students the best education possible.

We are committed to providing every student with a rigorous curriculum that not only challenges but inspires creativity and hopes to ignite new interests and passions within our students in the four years they are with us. This program of studies will offer details on the academic options available to the students of Hampden Charter School of Science.

Our guidance department will assist students in making the best choices to suit their needs. We hope that our students will create a schedule that challenges them but is also enjoyable.  Courses taken in high school have a direct impact on college acceptances, colleges and universities want to see that applicants enrolled in challenging courses and pushed themselves every step of the way.  At Hampden Charter School of Science we offer a fantastic variety of Advanced Placement courses and we encourage all eligible students to challenge themselves with at least one AP course.  Close to 80% of our students have taken at least one AP course during their time in high school!

Stack of colorful books with titles of various academic subjects including biology, history, English, sociology, politics, geometry, mathematics, economy, physics, theology, the arts, and education.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY

Student-athletes who want to participate in Division I or II athletics during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will determine a students’ eligibility by their grade point average in core classes and college entrance exam scores. Students may register online at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3

Prospective student-athletes should be registering for courses in accordance with:

Junior Year

  • Make sure ACT or SAT scores are reported directly to the Clearinghouse by using code 9999.

  • Registration with the Clearinghouse online at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3

  • Have your transcript sent to the NCAA at the end of junior year.

Post Graduation

  • Upon graduation, notify Hampden Charter School of Science to send a final copy of the transcript, which shows proof of graduation.

Apply
NCAA Eligibility Center logo with NCAA in white letters inside a blue circle and Eligibility Center text to the right.
Apply

CAREER AWARENESS & EXPLORATION

Deciding what career you want to pursue is exciting. You might read about a court case in the news and want to be a trial lawyer. Then, after you watch a wildlife documentary, becoming a marine biologist might seem like a good idea. But because there are so many career paths, it can be hard to choose.

How do you decide which to choose, or even where to start?

  • Career Assessments– Learning about yourself is one of the first steps in developing career awareness.HCSS conducts Career Interest Assessments to help students reveal personal traits relating to their personality, interests, skills, and values that align with different career paths. These tools provide a helpful starting point for determining possible career directions.

  • Career Day – HCSS organizes a Career Day towards the end of the year involving representatives and professionals from different local and regional businesses and organizations who present information to students.

  • Job Shadowing– Learn firsthand about a career field and expand your view of the world through job shadowing. A job shadow is an optional activity, a one-time look at a career. Release time is granted to attend a job shadow for a morning or afternoon during school. Students have an opportunity to interview their host, observe, and tour the work environment. They better understand how the skills you are learning in school are applied in the workplace. Discover more about a career of your choice—architecture, engineering, teaching, physical therapy, and television production—to name a few. Students will be excused for the period they do job shadowing from school upon Director’s approval.

  • Internships– Are you looking for even more career exposure? Internships provide an opportunity to learn about a field through day-to-day activities, conversations with staff, and observing and helping with special projects.

  • Volunteer Referral Information – Having trouble finding a job? Summer volunteer opportunities can help make a difference in the local community, provide valuable career exposure and help build your resume.

While we cannot guarantee a job shadow, internship, or other career opportunities, every effort will be made given the availability of community resources, individual connections, and other placement opportunities.

Apply

GUIDANCE CURRICULUM

At HCSS our supportive, and knowledgeable counselors work closely with their students on all factors of their lives, not just college, and career readiness. Counselors will help students learn the skills necessary to be successful in college, will assist them in coping with social/emotional needs, and will be there to keep them on track academically so each student may achieve their greatest potential!

HCSS students of all grade levels participate in bi-weekly advisory lessons in which they learn valuable skills including time management, how to be a good member of their school community, and how to make their school a better place. Advisory includes lessons, activities, and hands-on time for students to learn and grow with their peers.

Guidance counselors will also assist their students with test prep skills, work completion, scheduling, and ensuring that all students are prepared for graduation and have completed all community service requirements.

Naviance Curriculum lessons at a glance for Grades 6 to 8, showing topics like Defining Dreams, Study Plan, Career Interests, College Myths, Developing Interests, Overcoming Obstacles, Teamwork, Decision Making, Facing Fears About College, and Financial Aid Options.
Naviance Curriculum overview showing lessons at a glance for Grades 9 to 12, including topics like My Foundation, Choosing Courses, Teamwork, College Applications, and Financial Aid options.

COLLEGE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Group of people, including children, leaning over a shallow indoor aquarium touch pool with visible underwater plants and sandy bottom.
Group of diverse young people and adults wearing matching dark blue shirts posing indoors in front of a wall with a round seal emblem.
Group of children outdoors serving watermelon pieces from large containers on a sunny day.

CMP(College Mentorship Program) is designed to create a challenging, cooperative, and collaborative environment for high-achieving students. While excelling in academics, it also helps students reach their intellectual, mental, and social potential.

College-ready students need to achieve specified levels of competence in English Language Arts / Literacy and Mathematics to enroll in respected colleges without remediation. CMP students will develop the foundation in the academic disciplines identified in the MassCore course of study.
CMP events will emphasize career awareness, exploration, and immersion and develop the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in college and beyond.

College Mentorship Program mentors guide 4-6 students in their groups. CMP is scheduled for 20 weeks, including weekends and recess times in the year. Students receive yearlong curriculum advisement, coaching, and guidance. They are exposed to college-ready events trough through CMP event, which includes but are not limited to Information sessions, field trips, internships, college visits, and more.

Community service and character building are essential parts of this program that will mentally and emotionally prepare the students to complete their college readiness.

Apply Now for 2025-2026

Discover what’s possible at Hampden Charter School of Science.
‍Knowledge is power!

Apply Now