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
August Deadline
Amherst College (Massachusetts) - Access to Amherst (A2A): Previously Sept. 28-30, 2024
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: Previously Oct. 13-15, 2024
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. 6-8, 2024 (website will be live May 1)
Colorado College (Colorado) - Experience Colorado College: Previously Oct. 12-14, 2024
Davidson College (North Carolina) - Access Davidson: Sept. 14-16, 2025
Emory University (Georgia) - Emory LEADS Experience: Previously Oct. 17-19, 2024
Haverford College (Pennsylvania) - Have-A-Look: Oct. 26-28, 2025
Pomona College (California) - Perspectives on Pomona (POP): Oct. 5-7, 2025
Wesleyan University (Connecticut) - WesExplore: Previously Oct. 13-14 or Nov. 10-11, 2024
Williams College (Massachusetts) - Window on Williams (WOW): Previously September 28-30, 2024
September Deadline
College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) - Perspectives Day Program: Previously Sept. 29, 2024
Columbia University (New York) - Engineering Preview: Previously Oct. 13-15, 2024
Columbia University (New York) - Small-Town and Rural Students (STARS): Previously Oct. 19-21, 2024
Hamilton College (New York) - Home at Hamilton: Previously Oct. 6-7, 2024
Miami University (Ohio) - Bridges Program: Previously Oct. 20-21, Nov. 3-4, Nov. 10-11 or Nov. 17-18, 2024
Middlebury College (Vermont) - Discover Middlebury: Previously Oct. 20-22, 2024
Oberlin College (Ohio) - Oberlin Overnight: Previously Oct. 10-12 or Nov. 7-9, 2024
Olin College of Engineering (Massachusetts) - Olin MIX & Mingle Fly-In: Previously Nov. 10-11, 2024
Pomona College (California) - Perspectives on Pomona (POP)*: October 5-7, 2025
Smith College (Massachusetts) - Women of Distinction Program: Previously Oct. 18-19 or Nov. 8-9, 2024
Union College (New York) - Getting to Know Union: Previously Oct. 13-14, 2024
University of Vermont (Vermont) - Discovering UVM: Previously Oct. 22-24 or Nov. 5-7, 2024
Wellesley College (Massachusetts) - VOICE: Previously Sept. 28-29, 2024
October Deadline
Case Western University (Ohio) - Diversity Overnight: Previously Nov. 10-11, 2024
College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) - Perspectives Overnight Program: Nov. 9-11, 2024
Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts) - Mosaic 2024: Previously Sept. 28-30 or Nov. 2-4, 2024
University of Rochester (New York) - Multicultural Visitation Program (MVP): Previously Nov. 7-9, 2024
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
June Deadline
University of Michigan (Michigan) - All-Access Weekend: September 4-6, 2025
University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) - Penn Early Exploration Program (PEEP)*: Check back for 2025 dates
July Deadline
Carleton College (Minnesota) - Taste of Carleton: October 2025
Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) - Discover Swarthmore: September and October 2025
Tufts University (Massachusetts) - Voices of Tufts: October 2025 with virtual option*
Yale University (Connecticut) - Yale in MOHtion: Previously Oct. 4-6, 2024
Updated: April 4, 2025
