College Rep Visits & Campus Events

The STARS College Network is a consortium of 32 top colleges and universities across the United States committed to improving access and affordability to higher education for rural and small-town students. These schools are united in their mission to make college a reality for all rural and small-town students through free college planning tools that help students learn about, prepare for, apply to, and succeed at college.

 16 founding members of the network which includes Brown University, California Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Yale University. 

The coalition is welcoming 16 new members (2024): Amherst College, Auburn University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Southern Methodist University, Spelman College, Stanford University, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of California Berkeley, University of Denver, University of Notre Dame, University of South Carolina and The University of Texas at Austin.

With spring around the corner (we hope!), we’d like to share some exciting spring and summer opportunities for your students to experience a STARS College Network campus for free.

For current high school juniors (graduating in 2027):

• The STARS Fly-in at the University of Chicago will take place May 3-5, 2026. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the college application process from admissions and financial aid experts at a wide variety of STARS member schools, explore the city of Chicago and life on campus, and meet current UChicago students to learn more about their college experiences. Students should apply directly through the STARS website; applications are due by March 9, 2026. A nomination from an educator is recommended as part of the application process, and educators may nominate as many students as they would like.

• Small Town and Rural Teen University Prep Innovation Intensive (START-UP) at Northwestern University will take place July 9 - July 11, 2026. START-UP will showcase the distinct resources and support available at Northwestern for young innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and more! Participants will stay on campus in one of Northwestern's residential halls as they explore cutting-edge technologies for building a business or product, all while experiencing the best of Evanston and our neighboring hub of Chicago. Students should complete the START-UP application by March 10, 2026. Students will need to request a recommendation from a school official as part of the application process.

• Emerging Rural Leaders 11th at UChicago is a week-long summer enrichment program from July 12-17, 2026. Selected students will spend their mornings in small, discussion-based Core classes led by top UChicago faculty; afternoons will be spent exploring the city of Chicago, meeting new friends from around the world, and participating in Admissions Academy programming to help them navigate the college application process. All expenses, including travel costs, are covered by a generous scholarship from Trott Family Philanthropies for students who apply for financial aid. To be considered, students must complete a UChicago Summer Session application by March 12, 2026. More details about the program and application requirements are available on the UChicago Summer Session website.

For current high school sophomores (graduating in 2028):

• WashU Rural Scholars Academy is a free week-long summer program on WashU’s campus and will take place July 19-25, 2026. Thanks to a gift from Washington University in St. Louis alumna and Emerita Trustee Joyce Buchheit and her husband, Chauncy Buchheit, program participants will receive a scholarship to cover the cost of the week-long program including food, housing, and activities. Participants can apply for additional funding to cover travel expenses. Students should apply directly through WashU; applications are due March 1, 2026.

• Emerging Rural Leaders 10th at UChicago is a one-week, business-focused summer enrichment program from July 19-24, 2026. Selected students will learn from faculty and staff at two top business schools: UChicago’s Booth School of Business and USC’s Marshall School of Business. Program expenses, including travel costs, are covered by a generous scholarship from Trott Family Philanthropies for students applying for financial aid. To be considered, students must complete a UChicago Summer Session application by March 12, 2026. More details about the program and application requirements can be found on the UChicago Summer Session website.

For current high school freshmen (graduating in 2029):

• Emerging Rural Leaders 9th at UChicago is a one-week leadership-focused summer enrichment program from July 26-31, 2026. Selected students will stay in residence at the University of Chicago, discuss what it means to be a leader in their communities, engage with UChicago professors and students, and participate in fun group activities around the city of Chicago. Program expenses, including travel costs, are covered by a generous scholarship from Trott Family Philanthropies for students applying for financial aid. To be considered, students must complete a UChicago Summer Session application by March 12, 2026. More details about the program and application requirements can be found on the UChicago Summer Session website.

Last month, our STARS Virtual Panel featured many of these upcoming pre-college programs, and the recording is available on our STARS YouTube Channel for those who couldn’t join us. STARS College Network members are committed to offering rural high school students affordable pre-college experiences, and there will be more fly-in and drive-in programs available for students this fall!