Exploring Fly-In Programs and Visit Experiences
Fly-in programs offer a unique opportunity for prospective students to experience campus life firsthand. These programs, typically sponsored by the institution, are designed to provide an immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional campus tour. They often are for students from underrepresented backgrounds, first-generation college students, or those who may not be able to afford a visit to campus on their own.
What Are Fly-In Programs?
Fly-in programs are short, often overnight, visits to a college or university that are fully funded by the institution. These programs cover travel expenses, lodging, meals, and sometimes even provide a stipend for extra costs. The goal of these programs is to give prospective students a comprehensive view of the academic, social, and cultural environment of that college or university.
The Benefits of Fly-In Programs
There are a variety benefits to participating in a fly-in program. Firstly, students get the opportunity to get an immersive college-like experience. They offer students a place to experience the campus atmosphere, attend classes, meet current student and faculty, and participate in various activities. This experience can help students in the future to make an informed decision about whether that college or university is a good fit.
Personal Experience: Fly-in programs offer students a place to experience the campus atmosphere, attend classes, meet current student and faculty, and participate in various activities. This experience can help students in the future to make an informed decision about whether that college or university is a good fit.
Access and Opportunity: For many students, especially those from low-income families or rural areas, visiting a college campus can be financially challenging. Fly-in programs remove this barrier by covering the costs associated with the visit.
Support and Resources: Fly-in programs often include application and financial aid workshops and information sessions to help prepare you for the college application process. This can be particularly beneficial for first-generation college students who may not have access to this information elsewhere.
Building Connections: Participants of these programs have the chance to meet other prospective students, current students, and faculty. These connections are not only helpful throughout the application process but can be beneficial as you start your college journey.
How to Apply for Fly-In Programs
The application process for fly-in programs varies by institution but generally includes an application, essay, transcripts and recommendations, as well as financial information. All of this information is helpful to institutions to determine the students that are the best fit for the program. But remember, even if you aren’t selected for a fly-in program doesn’t mean that you aren’t a good fit to apply to that college or university when the time comes.
Coalition Members and their Fly-In Programs
Expanding college access to communities that have been historically under-represented in higher education is a shared goal among Coalition schools. Below, check out some of our member schools and their fly-in and virtual* access-focused visit programs.
No Deadline
Mount Marty University (South Dakota) - Fly-In Program: Year-round
June Deadline
University of Michigan (Michigan) - All-Access Weekend: September 4-6, 2025
University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) - Penn Early Exploration Program (PEEP)*: Wednesdays - July 23-Aug. 6 or Aug. 13-27, 2025
July Deadline
Carleton College (Minnesota) - Taste of Carleton: Sept. 28-30, 2025
College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) - September Perspectives Overnight Program - Sept. 27-29, 2025
Columbia University (New York) - Small-Town and Rural Students (STARS): Mid-Oct. 2025
Columbia University (New York) - Engineering Preview: Mid-Oct. 2025
Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) - Discover Swarthmore: Sept. 25-27, or Oct. 23-25, 2025
Tufts University (Massachusetts) - Voices of Tufts*: Oct. 19-20, 2025 or Oct. 5, 2025 (virtual)
Wellesley College (Massachusetts) - AWE: Wellesley’s College Access Program: Oct. 18, 2025
Yale University (Connecticut) - Yale in MOHtion: Sept.26-28, 2025
August Deadline
Amherst College (Massachusetts) - Access to Amherst (A2A): Sept. 27-29, 2025
Babson College (Massachusetts) - Access Babson: Oct. 5-6, 2025 (tentative)
Barnard College (New York) - Barnard Bound*: mid Sept. to end Oct.
Bates College (Maine) - Prologue to Bates: Oct. 12-14, 2025
Bowdoin College (Maine) - Explore Bowdoin: Sept. 18-20 or Oct. 16-18, 2025
Bucknell University (Pennsylvania) - Journey to Bucknell: Oct. 16-18, 2025
CalTech (California) - CalTech Up Close: Oct. 11-14, 2025
Claremont McKenna College (California) - CMC Fall Preview: Oct. 5-7, 2025
Colorado College (Colorado) - Discover Colorado College: Oct. 11-13, 2025
Davidson College (North Carolina) - Access Davidson: Sept. 14-16, 2025
Emory University (Georgia) - Emory LEADS Experience: Sept. 25-27, 2025
Haverford College (Pennsylvania) - Have-A-Look: Oct. 26-28, 2025
Pomona College (California) - Perspectives on Pomona (POP): Oct. 5-7, 2025
Wellesley College (Massachusetts) - AWE: Wellesley’s College Access Program: October 18, 2025
Williams College (Massachusetts) - Window on Williams (WOW): Sept. 28-30, 2025
September Deadline
College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) - November Perspectives Overnight Program: Nov. 8-10, 2025
Hamilton College (New York) - Home at Hamilton: Oct. 5-6, 2025
Miami University (Ohio) - Bridges Program: Oct. 26-27, Nov. 2-3, 9-10 or 16-17, 2025 (location dependent)
Middlebury College (Vermont) - Discover Middlebury: Oct. 12-14, 2025
Oberlin College (Ohio) - Oberlin Overnight: Check back for 2025 dates
Olin College of Engineering (Massachusetts) - Olin MIX & Mingle Fly-In: Nov. 9-10, 2025
Pomona College (California) - Perspectives on Pomona (POP)*: October 5-7, 2025
Smith College (Massachusetts) - Women of Distinction Program: Oct. 17-18 or Nov. 7-8, 2025
Union College (New York) - Getting to Know Union: Previously Oct. 13-14, 2024
University of Vermont (Vermont) - Discovering UVM (Session 1): Oct. 26-28. 2025
Wellesley College (Massachusetts) - AWE: Wellesley’s College Access Program: Oct. 18, 2025
October Deadline
Case Western University (Ohio) - Diversity Overnight: Previously Nov. 10-11, 2024
Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts) - Mosaic 2024: Previously Sept. 28-30 or Nov. 2-4, 2024
University of Rochester (New York) - Meliora Visitation Program (MVP): Nov. 9-11, 2025
University of Vermont (Vermont) - Discovering UVM (Session 2) : Nov. 2-4, 2025
November Deadline
Reed College (Oregon)- Senior Scholars: Virtual portion* in Nov./Dec. with visit opportunity in March/April.
March Deadline
Northwestern University (Illinois) - START-UP: June 26-28, 2025
Reed College (Oregon) - Junior Scholars*: late March-April 2025
April Deadline
Carleton College (Minnesota) - Carleton Liberal Arts Experience: June 25-July 2, 2025
Updated: May 22, 2025
