Student Fly In Programs

Attention College Counselors: Campus Fly In Programs for Students to Visit - Free!

Fly-in programs are campus visit opportunities offered by colleges to underrepresented or low-income high school students, often covering travel costs. These programs let students experience campus life, meet faculty, and get a feel for the school before deciding to apply.

When it comes to guiding students through the college application process, knowing about campus fly-in programs can be a game-changer for educational consultants and private service college counselors. These special opportunities, offered by many colleges, provide underrepresented or low-income high school students with a chance to experience campus life firsthand, often with travel costs covered. For students who might not otherwise have the financial means to visit, fly-in programs open doors to explore schools that could be the perfect fit.

As a counselor, staying informed about fly-in programs is crucial for offering well-rounded, personalized advice. These programs not only help students gain a feel for a campus but also introduce them to the resources, faculty, and community they might be joining. Knowing which schools offer these opportunities allows counselors to recommend colleges that actively support diversity and inclusion—empowering students to make informed choices and broadening the options available to them.

Moreover, when counselors guide students through the process of applying to fly-in programs, it’s more than just an introduction to a potential college; it’s also a powerful way to build relationships with admissions offices. These connections can provide students with an advantage when they submit their applications, making the fly-in experience an invaluable part of a comprehensive college planning strategy.

1. Experience Campus Life: Fly-in programs give students an immersive experience, helping them better understand the campus environment, culture, and community.
2. Make Informed Decision: Visiting a college in person helps students decide if the institution is the right fit for them.
3. Networking Opportunities: Students can connect with current students, faculty, and admissions staff, creating valuable connections for future correspondence.
4. Financial Aid and Scholarship Insights: Many programs provide details on financial aid packages and scholarship opportunities.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility varies by school, but many Fly-in programs focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds, first-generation college students, or those from low-income families. Academic performance, leadership, and extracurricular involvement are often considered when applying.

How to Apply for Fly-in Programs

1. Research Schools Offering Fly-in Programs: Start by identifying colleges that offer Fly-in programs, typically available on their admissions or diversity pages.
2. Meet Application Deadlines: Each school will have its own deadlines and requirements, so be sure to stay organized and apply early.
3. Prepare Required Documents: Most programs will require a short essay, transcript, and letters of recommendation. Tailor your application to reflect your genuine interest in the school.
4. Follow Up: After applying, check your email regularly for updates and respond promptly to any communication from the college.

How to Make the Most of a Fly-in Program

• Engage Fully: Take advantage of tours, information sessions, and opportunities to talk to current students and staff.
• Ask Questions: Prepare a list of questions about academic programs, campus resources, student life, and financial aid.
• Take Notes: Document your experiences during the visit to help with decision-making later.
• Network: Stay in touch with contacts made during the visit, including admissions staff or student ambassadors.

Schools Offering Fly-in Programs

1. Amherst College – Access to Amherst (A2A) https://www.amherst.edu/admission/diversity/a2a
2. Babson College – Access Babson https://www.babson.edu/undergraduate/admission/visit-and-engage/access-babson/
3. Bates College – Prologue to Bates https://www.bates.edu/admission/prologue/ 
4. Bowdoin College – Explore Bowdoin https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/visit/explore-bowdoin/index.html 
5. Brandeis University – SEED https://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/visit/seed/index.html
6. Bryn Mawr College – Fly-in Programs https://www.brynmawr.edu/admissions-aid/visit-bryn-mawr/fly-programs
7. California Institute of Technology – Caltech UP Close https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/visit/fall-fly-in-program-caltech-up-close-2022
8. Carleton College – Taste of Carleton https://www.carleton.edu/admissions/visit/toc/
9. Case Western Reserve University – Diversity Overnight https://case.edu/admission/fall-diversity-inclusion-program
10. Colgate University – Colgate in Focus (CIF) https://www.colgate.edu/admission-aid/visit/colgate-focus
11. Colorado College – Experience Colorado College (ECC) https://www.coloradocollege.edu/flyin
12. Connecticut College –  Explore Weekend https://www.conncoll.edu/explore-weekend/
13. Dartmouth College – Dartmouth Bound https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/visit/visitation-programs/dartmouth-bound-summer-program
14. Dartmouth College – Indigenous Fly-In Program (IFI) https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/visit/visitation-programs/indigenous-fly-program
15. Davidson College – Access Davidson https://www.davidson.edu/admission-and-financial-aid/visit/access-davidson
16. Denison University – Dialogue With Denison https://connect.denison.edu/register/DWDApplication
17. Elon University – ElonYOU https://admissions.elon.edu/register/?id=7b76596f-16cc-4025-8407-7d372a485c30
18. Hamilton College – Home at Hamilton https://www.hamilton.edu/admission/home
19. Harvey Mudd College – Future Achievers in Science and Technology (FAST) https://www.hmc.edu/admission/fast/
20. Harvey Mudd College – Women’s Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (WISTEM) https://www.hmc.edu/admission/wistem/
21. Haverford College – Have-A-Look (HAL) https://www.haverford.edu/havealook
22. Kenyon College – The Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP) https://www.kenyon.edu/campus-life/diversity-inclusion/programs-services/keep/
23. Middlebury College – Discover Middlebury https://www.middlebury.edu/college/admissions/visit-us/special-visits
24. Mount Holyoke College – Mosaic https://admission.mtholyoke.edu/register/2023_Mosaic_Application
25. Oberlin College – Oberlin’s Multicultural Visit Program (MVP) https://www.oberlin.edu/mvp
26. Pomona College – Perspectives on Pomona (POP) https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/perspectives-pomona-pop
27. Providence College – Pathways to PC https://admission.providence.edu/visit/pathways/
28. Scripps College – Discover Scripps https://www.scrippscollege.edu/admission/discover-scripps-program
29. Swarthmore College – Discover Swarthmore https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/discover-swarthmore-fly-program
30. The College of Idaho – Fly-In Reimbursement https://www.collegeofidaho.edu/admission-aid/visit/fly-in-reimbursement
31. Trinity College – Fly-in Program https://www.trincoll.edu/admissions/get-to-know-us/diversity-access-team/
32. Tufts University – Voices of Tufts https://admissions.tufts.edu/voices/voices-home/
33. Tulane University – PreviewTU https://admission.tulane.edu/student-life/diversity/multicultural-access-programs
34. University of Evansville – Fly-In Policy https://www.evansville.edu/visit/flyinpolicy.cfm
35. University of Michigan - Ross School of Business – All-Access Weekend https://michiganross.umich.edu/about/events/all-access-weekend
36. University of Richmond – Access Richmond https://admissions.richmond.edu/visit/open-houses.html
37. University of Rochester – Multicultural Visitation Program (MVP) https://admissions.rochester.edu/visit/multicultural-visitation-program/
38. University of Vermont – Discovering UVM https://www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/discovering-uvm
39. Washington and Lee University – Diversity and Inclusion Visit Experience (DIVE) https://www.wlu.edu/admissions/visit/dive/
40. Washington University in St. Louis – WashU Preview https://admissions.wustl.edu/preview-days
41. Wesleyan University – WesExplore https://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/visit-connect/wesexplore.html
42. Williams College – Windows on Williams (WOW) https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/wow/