Prospective Students

Welcome to Hampshire College and the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS). Below you will find a host of resources to get you connected with OARS and well on your way to preparing for your first semester at Hampshire. We look forward to working with you!

We understand choosing an institution that is the right fit can be daunting. Even when you've made the best choice, the transition to college is a difficult one for many students as well. We've complied a list of resources to help prospective students plan and prepare for identifying a fit for support services, planning their transition to Hampshire, and preparing for a successful college experience. We are available to consult throughout the process, so once you've reviewed the resources on this page, feel free to reach out at any time.

Before Meeting with us:

• Learn about the difference between college and high school.
• Consider these questions when visiting colleges and discussing accessibility.
• Check out the other support services students typically access. We can usually answer many general questions and can help get you connected with the right folks to answer more specific questions about resources and services across the college.

Schedule a meeting with us:

Planning to visit campus before you've made a decision to attend? Schedule a prospective student meeting to learn more about OARS and support services relevant to your future Hampshire experience.

• Visit our "About Us" page to learn about our staff, location, and scheduling an appointment.
• Review our disclosure process. We do not formally review or approve accommodation request before a student has matriculated, but we can answer general questions about documentation requirements and available accommodations.
• Find us on the campus map before coming to campus

Before Arriving to Hampshire:

• Check out resources available to incoming students.
• Disclose your disability (summer)
  • Academic accommodations can be requested at any time, but the earlier, the better.
  • Housing-based accommodations have a more specific timeline. Learn more on the Housing Accommodation Page
• Register to be part of the early move-in program.
• Become familiar with the Holistic Learning Program.
  • Consultation services throughout the year to address any barriers you encounter in coursework or on campus.

Connect outside of Hampshire

If you are taking a gap year, or looking for developmental resources to work with before coming to Hampshire:

Summer Programs: Experience Hampshire College while you're still in high school. Get a sense of our innovative approach to learning and what life is like on Hampshire's campus during our 2-week pre-college sessions every summer in July. Pre-college participants live in the dorms, eat in the dining commons, and are immersed in rigorous and exciting fields of study. Led by current Hampshire faculty, recent graduates, and experienced alumni, our pre-college programs are intended for rising high school juniors and seniors. 

Landmark: The Landmark Forum is designed to bring about positive, permanent shifts in the quality of your life—in just three days. These shifts are the direct cause for a new and unique kind of freedom and power: the freedom to be at ease and the power to be effective in the areas that matter most to you: the quality of your relationships, the confidence with which you live your life, your personal productivity, your experience of the difference you make,
your enjoyment of life.

Perkins: The College Success @ Perkins program is designed to help you get the most out of college. In just one year, we’ll prepare you for everything you’re about to experience. You’ll learn how to navigate college campuses, how to join clubs and sports teams, and how to cook a meal in your own apartment.

Mass Rehab: MRC's Vocational Rehabilitation Program assists individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment.