College & Career Planning

 
 
Planning for college isn't hard. 
Start early, be organized and take things step-by-step and you'll have a great experience!
 
Be sure to utilize the College Planning Calendar (link right side of this page).
What to do month-by-month from the beginning of 10th grade through graduation!
Your family and your guidance counselor will be helping you the entire way.  But we want to empower you!  Some amazing websites, resources and tools are just an internet search away.  And we want to connect you to them.  As we go through the steps of helping you achieve your goals we'll be providing you with links to important websites.  They've done such a great job that we'd rather direct you there than try to recreate it here.  Frequently mentioned resources will be:
 
  • Naviance (https://student.naviance.com/hackettstown) Software program used in all of HHS's career classes to explore careers, higher education, and request transcripts for college/career purposes. Used only by current students, not alumni.
 
  • College Board (collegeboard.org).  You'll recognize CollegeBoard from the PSAT, the SAT or the AP tests.  But they're so much more!  CollegeBoard has everything A-to-Z to help you with the college process.  TIP: Create your account now and make sure to use one (professional) email address for everything college related.
 
  • HESAA or the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (hesaa.org) is "the only New Jersey state agency with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and information resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school".  You'll end up here eventually to apply for New Jersey state aid but there is so much more here than just financial aid.   
 
  • The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.ed.gov or fafsa.gov) is the federal government's site to apply for financial aid.  Everyone should complete the FAFSA -- even if you don't think you'll be eligible for any assistance! 
 
  • Going to College in NJ http://gtcinj.com/  Full of helpful tips for students and data about college costs, available programs of study and career paths, and key deadlines for college applications and financial aid. Please share this link with the students and families that you know will benefit from earning a great education here in New Jersey, where they can Learn More, Earn More, and Be More!
 
Believe it or not, your choices in 9th grade can make a big difference in what colleges you can realistically get into as a senior.  Doing the right things now will pay off in the future .... here's how.
 
PREPARE HERE
 
Sometimes you have to work backwards.  Knowing what you want to be doing for your career will identify what major you should be studying in college.  
 
  • What are your interests & strengths?
  • What kids of careers are out there for you?
  • What education or training do you need for that career?
 
 
Now that you know what major you need to study, its time to start looking at colleges.
 
  • Naviance
  • CollegeBoard
  • How to find the right college(s) for you?
  • College lingo that you need to know
 
You've done your homework, you have your list and now its time to apply to college.
 
  • Being organized and keeping your eye on the deadlines
  • Asking for recommendations
  • The college essay
  • The college visit & interview.  Why not sit in on some classes and talk to a professor?
  • The college application
  • What will your counselor do for you?  And what do you need to do for yourself?
  • Early Action?  Early Decision?
 
 
Congratulations!  You've applied to colleges ... now how do you pay for it?
 
Click here to learn more about HESSA, the FAFSA and scholarship opportunities.
 
  • Researching college costs in advance
  • College Cost Estimators
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • FAFSA
  • HESSA
  • Other sundry stuff
 
RESEARCH & PREPARE HERE
 
It's time to make your decision.  Don't forget some important points as you finish out your senior year.
 
  • The acceptance letter & deposit
  • Stay the course in your senior year ... you're not done yet
  • Hackettstown's Senior Survey & High School Transcripts
  • Dual Credit Transcripts from Warren County Community College
  • Do you know what to take to college?
 
 
Not everyone goes to college, at least not right away.  Whether you're planning to go into the military or join the workforce, there's help here for you, too!
 
  • Military
  • Trade Schools
  • The world of work
 
Are you an alumni who needs a Hackettstown High School transcript?   Click here!
 
Did you take Dual Credit classes that you'd like to have transferred to your college/university?  Click here!
What are my potential schools doing in the wake of the pandemic?  Check out this list from the National College Admissions Counselors Association’s website: https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/college-admission-status-coronavirus/