While the internet makes it seem like the world is at our fingertips, sometimes you just can’t replace actually experiencing something first hand.
Looking at pictures of the ocean isn’t the same as dipping your toes in it. Watching a video about the symphony isn’t the same as seeing and hearing an orchestra up close as they produce a beautiful piece of music.
And reading about a college or university doesn’t quite give you the same feeling you can get by walking on campus and roaming its halls.
But of course, many of us don’t have the financial means to jet off to the school of our dreams, just to take a look around. Enter fly-in programs!
Below, we’ll talk you through how fly-in programs function, who they’re designed for, and how to apply, along with a list of colleges that offer fly-in programs
Let’s dive (or soar?) in.
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(click to skip ahead)What is a fly-in program?
Fly-in programs are an amazing resource that some colleges and universities offer their prospective students—particularly first-generation and/or low income students, students from under-served communities, and students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to visit schools without financial assistance of some sort.
(Speaking of, if any of the above categories might fit you, please check out and bookmark our FG/LI Resource Center, which offers guidance for students who may not have as much support/guidance as others in the application process.)
So, what exactly is a fly-in program?
Some schools cover the costs for prospective students to visit campus in person so they can actually experience what campus life is like before making a decision about where to attend.
This usually means schools will pay for
transportation costs (that’s where the “fly-in” name comes from)
meals
and a place to stay (usually in dorms)
Typically, these short visits let students spend one or two days and nights learning about the school by checking out classes, meeting current students, getting tours of the campus, and attending some social events (you might even meet your new best friend at one of these fly-ins!).
An added bonus is that many schools also include information sessions about financial aid and the application process (check out Bowdoin's Explore Bowdoin program and Carleton's Taste of Carleton program to get a better sense of what fly-in programs are all about).
It’s a win-win: The school gets to put its best foot forward as it tries to attract applicants that are the right fit, and students get a taste of college life before making the huge commitment of deciding on a college or university.
Sometimes, these visits will confirm for you that the school is still one you’re excited about, and sometimes it will make clear that what seemed like the right place from afar really isn’t once you get up close and personal. Both are important things to know!
Who should apply to fly-in programs?
While each school has its own specific criteria for who is eligible for fly-in programs, the overall purpose of these is to give access to campus to students who otherwise might not have this opportunity.
Sometimes, this is because they’re first-generation students who don’t have the experience of other family members to lean on when it comes to college.
Sometimes, these students attend high schools that just don’t have the resources to really help them through the college application process.
Sometimes, students and their families simply can’t afford a trip like this.
Many schools are committed to fostering a diverse student body, and they recognize that bringing students like those above to campus can help them achieve this goal.
How to apply for fly-in programs
Again, each school has a different application process for fly-in programs, but most schools require at least:
A completed application
Financial information for you and your family
An essay about why you’re interested in their school and how you would benefit from a fly-in program (These are pretty similar to Why Us essays)
Letters of recommendation from teachers or school counselors
Your high school transcripts
Applying to fly-in programs isn’t a piece of cake and requires a lot of your time, on top of keeping up with your classes and applying to colleges. But it could really pay off if you’re accepted—these are highly-competitive programs, and being awarded a fly-in is a BIG deal. Don’t let hard work dissuade you from taking advantage of what could be an awesome experience for you!
How to make the most of a fly-in program
Ok, so you’ve applied to fly-in programs and been offered a campus visit (yay, you!).
Now what?
Since these visits tend to be quite short, there are some things you can do ahead of time to make sure you’re getting all you can out of your days at the school:
Do your homework
Figure out which classes you’d like to see, which spots on campus you want to make sure you can visit, and which student activities and organizations you want to learn more about. If you need to talk to someone in financial aid, schedule an appointment with them. If you already know the major you’re interested in, request a meeting with a professor in that department
Explore
Don’t be afraid to just walk around the school and take it in (if you have the time). Check out where students eat, find the gym (if you’re so inclined), and visit the campus bookstore. These are all part of campus life and can help you get a sense of the campus culture.
Connect with current students
Meeting students who currently attend the school is usually something scheduled into your fly-in activities, but if it doesn’t look like that’s the case, ask your fly-in contact person if they can arrange a meeting with a few students. It’s good to hear about a school directly from the people who are there every day, living and breathing college life.
Keep track of what you learn
Fly-in programs are jam-packed, and you’re going to get a ton of information in a short amount of time. If you’re fortunate enough to visit multiple schools, it can be hard to keep track of what you heard where. And even if you’re visiting one school, no one expects you to memorize all the information coming at you. Bring a notebook, use your phone, keep your tablet nearby—whatever you use to jot down notes that you can go back to once you’re home.
Colleges with fly-in programs
There are actually many schools that offer fly-in programs throughout the United States (east coast, west coast, and everything in between), and while not every college or university offers these, the ones that do are seriously committed to creating a diverse campus. Here is the most recent list for you:
Amherst College – Massachusetts
Bates College – Maine
Bowdoin College – Maine
Brandeis University – Massachusetts
Bryant University – Rhode Island
Bryn Mawr College – Pennsylvania
Bucknell University – Pennsylvania
Calvin College – Michigan
Carleton College – Minnesota
Case Western Reserve University – Ohio
Colgate University – New York
The College of Idaho - Idaho
College of the Atlantic – Maine
College of the Holy Cross – Massachusetts
College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University – Minnesota
Colorado College – Colorado
Connecticut College – Connecticut
Dartmouth College – New Hampshire
Davidson College – North Carolina
Emory University – Georgia
Hamilton College – New York
Haverford College – Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins University – Maryland
Kenyon College – Ohio
Lehigh University – Pennsylvania
Luther College – Iowa
Miami University – Ohio
Middlebury College – Vermont
Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Massachusetts
Oberlin College – Ohio
Pomona College – California
Reed College – Oregon
St. Olaf College – Minnesota
Swarthmore College – Pennsylvania
Trinity College – Connecticut
Tufts University – Massachusetts
Tulane University – Louisiana
Union College – New York
University of Evansville – Indiana
University of Rochester – New York
Ursinus College – Pennsylvania
Washington and Lee University – Virginia
Wellesley College – Massachusetts
Wesleyan University - Connecticut
Williams College – Massachusetts
If any of the above schools are on your college list, we’d highly recommend checking into their fly-in programs.
Thanks, take care, and best of luck with your application process.
Special thanks to Jessica B. for writing this blog post
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, cozy sweaters, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
