Types of College Visit Opportunities

• Summer Programs

  • Academic or enrichment programs held on college campuses, often lasting a few days up to several weeks

  • Include classes, workshops, and campus activities led by faculty and college students

  • Cost: Some are free or offer full scholarships, others have a fee but may offer financial aid

  • Most summer program opportunities occur during the summer after 10th or 11th grade

• Fly-In Programs

  • All-expenses-paid campus visits for high-achieving students from underrepresented, low-income, or first-generation backgrounds

  • What’s included: Travel, lodging, meals, and a full schedule of campus tours, class visits, and admissions info sessions

  • Typically occur in the fall of senior year (applications often open in spring, summer, or early fall)

  • Check out this list of college fly-in programs and free visit opportunities for 2025

• Campus Tours and Open Houses

  • One-day visits where students and families can tour the campus, meet admissions staff, and attend info sessions

  • Offered year-round, especially in spring and fall

  • Many colleges offer virtual tours, webinars, and Q&A sessions for students

Here are a few opportunities worth exploring:

• SUMMER PROGRAMS

  • U Chicago Emerging Rural Leaders Program

  • Cornell Precollege Programs

  • Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs

  • Stanford Summer Session

  • Summer Science Program

  • Telluride Association Summer Seminar

• Fly-In Programs

  • Brown University - STARS@Brown Senior Fly-in

    • STARS: Small Town and Rural Students College Network

  • California Institute of Technology - Caltech Up Close

  • Columbia University - Engineering Preview at Columbia

  • Columbia University - STARS Fly-In at Columbia

  • Harvey Mudd College - Future Achievers in Science and Technology (FAST)

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Weekend Immersion in Science & Engineering (WISE)

  • Pomona College - Perspectives on Pomona (POP)

  • Washington University in St. Louis - WashU FLI-In

  • Washington and Lee University - PATH Fly-In Program

  • Whitman College - Visit Scholarship Program

• Other Programs

  • Harvey Mudd College - Women's Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (WISTEM) Program

  • Reed College Senior Scholars Program

• SCHOLARSHIPS

  • The Joyce Ivy Foundation provides scholarships to low- and middle- income female students to attend summer programs