Hagerstown Community College            in collaboration with           Washington County Public Schools           Washington County Private Schools           Washington County Home Schools

Who is eligible?

The ESSENCE Program is designed to give high academic achievers, who are residents of Washington County, the opportunity to earn up to twelve college credits while still in high school or home school.

High school students enrolled through the ESSENCE Program will receive a fifty percent reduction in HCC’s regular in-county tuition rate. Unless particular arrangements have been made with your local school, you will be responsible for paying the college fees and the cost of your books.

Financially needy students attending WCPS may be eligible to receive funds to cover the remaining fifty percent tuition with an ESSENCE scholarship through the HCC Foundation and the Community Foundation of Washington County. The Office of Institutional Advancement at HCC has more information on the scholarship. Call 301-790-2800, extension 348. It is important to apply early.

Tuition Discount

County residents who attend WCPS and selected private high schools in Washington County may take classes at the HCC campus and/or enroll in a dual-credit class at their high school. The dual-credit classes are those that award both a high school transcript grade and a college transcript grade. The ESSENCE Program tuition discount applies to all eligible high school students, whether or not they are dual enrolled.

Students who want both high school and college credits should:

• Contact your high school counselor to find out which classes are available as dual-enrollment classes at your school.
• Have the permission of your high school counselor or principal.
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and/or passing COMPASS (HCC entry test) test scores of reading (91), English (71) and math (dependent on curriculum).
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in core and specialized courses related to your area of study.

Dual Enrollment

• Have a high school career plan (if you are a WCPS student) to be a University of Maryland Completer and/or a Career Technology Education Completer (Your counselor has information on this, or you can call 301-790-2800, ext. 240).
• Have completed all required Maryland State High School Assessments in the core and specialized courses related to your area of study.
• Have a signed permission form to send college grade reports to your home high school.

Getting started in college classes at HCC is easy!

For public and private school students, see your high school counselor. They have the information you need to decide if you want to come to HCC for classes, take dual-enrolled classes at your high school, or both!

For home school students, please make an appointment with the Office of Admissions and Registration by calling 301-790-2800 ext. 238. They’ll lead you through the easy registration process.

To register for classes at HCC under the ESSENCE Program, you’ll need to:

1. Be able to document your readiness for college level courses.
   
2. Be 16 or older.
   
3. Have the support of your parent or guardian.
   
4. Fill out an application for admission available on-line or in our registration area.
   
5. Fill out an HCC ESSENCE Program (Early Entry) Application Form.
   
6. Take academic skills assessment tests.
   
7. Forward transcripts to the Office of Admissions and Registration.
   
8. Schedule an appointment to register for classes by calling 301-790-2800 ext. 238.
   
9. Register early - some classes fill quickly!

For more information:
Contact the Office of Admissions and Registration by calling
301-790-2800 ext. 238 or email at admissions@hagerstowncc.edu