Academics

Career & College Counseling

Academic Excellence That Opens Doors

Mercy does not just prepare students for college— we empower them to excel!

Our academic curriculum follows both national and college/career readiness standards, ensuring our students are thoroughly prepared for their next chapter in life.
  • Nearly 100% of Mercy graduates choose to advance to higher education
  • Mercy students consistently achieve SAT scores 10-15% higher than the national average
  • Mercy offers 24 AP Classes and 8 dual enrollment classes across diverse disciplines

Mercy facilitates a college search and application process that celebrates the talents of our student body and is tailored to the needs of every individual. Our expert college advising team is committed to help students pursue their futures with a dedicated full-time Career and College Counselor to provide one-on-one guidance.

Our comprehensive counseling programming, individualized guidance, and dynamic research tools empower students to engage directly with the college search process, and in doing so, engenders a sense of ownership toward their future.

Career & College Counseling Highlights

  • Students at Mercy receive Career and College Counseling beginning in 6th grade
  • Specialized College Visit Day immersion opportunities are available for juniors
  • Annually, 90+ college/university admissions representatives visit Mercy
  • Specialized workshops provide ongoing support and educational opportunities for students/families as they navigate the application process, college essay writing, financial aid, and more.

Mercy College Counseling By The Numbers

List of 6 items.

  • 100%

    Mercy students accepted into college

  • $30 million

    Merit-based college scholarships awarded to the Class of 2025

  • 90+

    Number of college admission officers who visit the Mercy campus

  • 24

    AP courses offered

  • 90%

    AP scores that were 3, 4 or 5

  • 8

    Dual enrollment courses offered

Learn More About Our Approach

List of 3 items.

  • Collaborative

    We take a highly collaborative approach to career and college counseling at Mercy. We draw on insights from parents/guardians, teachers, coaches, counselors, and extracurricular sponsors to help our students find their own narrative. Our approach builds a network of support available throughout the application, decision notification, and matriculation process.

  • Intentional

    Our career and college counseling program is intentional in its aim to find the right fit for every student. We encourage strategic college searches that match aspirations with individual needs, whether they are academic, co-curricular, financial, social, etc. Thus, we advocate for a balanced and well-rounded college list that realizes the full potential of every student.

  • Reflective

    Our approach is inherently reflective as students are asked to think about what they value in their educational experience. In this way, we examine dimensions of fit such as academic offerings, athletics, finances, geography, size, and student life in order to develop a college search that aligns with each student in an authentic manner.

Events & Workshops

In addition to individualized guidance sessions with students, Mercy's Career and College Counselor also provides families with a robust series of events and workshops that cover important topics, including:

  • Academic and College Readiness
  • The College Application Process
  • Naviance 101
  • College Events & Fairs
  • Financial Aid Filing and Processes
  • Scholarships, Tuition Assistance, Federal vs. Private Loans
  • Standardized Testing
  • College Essay Writing
  • Resume Building
  • NCAA Eligibility
  • Early Decision, Early Action

Request a Transcript

List of 2 items.

  • Current Students

    The electronic transcript request form is used when your college/university will accept transmissions electronically. The Counseling Department sends all documents (school profile, transcripts, and letters of recommendation) through Naviance. This form requires both a student and parent signature. We require three weeks (15 school days) to process transcript requests. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of the application deadlines for each college included on the form.

  • Alumnae

    This transcript request form is used for all alumnae who are looking to send a copy of their official transcript to a college or potential employer. The form must be completed and signed by the former student. The turn around time is usually 1-2 days upon receiving the transcript request. There is no fee for this service.

Information for College Admissions Representatives

Schedule a Visit

We are happy to welcome you for a campus visit! Please check our published calendar on RepVisits for availability.

Directions and Parking

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is located at 1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, NY 14610. All visiting admission representatives should enter campus through our Clover Street entrance. School traffic is not permitted at the Mercy Center (Blossom Road) entrance. Please park in the small visitor lot to the right of our building, when entering from Clover Street.

Mercy School Profile

Career & College Counselor

Benjamin Pulkownik, M.S.

Mercy’s Career & College Counselor will guide you through the college preparation, search, and application process. Students and families are encouraged to reach out along the way if they have any questions.

Benjamin Pulkownik has a M.S. in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from Canisius University and brings to Mercy his prior experience working in higher education admissions and enrollment management. 

CEEB School Code: 334845

Accreditation & Affiliations

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Your Daughter Will Thrive at Mercy!
Begin the Journey Today.

1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, NY 14610
Phone: 585-288-7120    |    Fax: 585-288-7966    |    Email: info@mercyhs.com

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Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and a member of Mercy Education.
© 2026 Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women.