Did you know that many colleges offer a free opportunity for students to experience campus life up close, especially students from underserved communities?
These "fly-in" programs not only cover travel and stay, but also offer a chance to meet faculty, explore the campus, and even learn about financial aid and admissions.
It’s a rare chance to see if a school is the right fit—without the financial burden.
Interested in how these programs work and how students can apply.
We are thrilled that applications to our annual Explore Bowdoin fly-in programs are now open.
Explore Bowdoin is an all-expenses paid college visit program for high-achieving low-income and/or first-generation high school seniors.
We hope you will share Explore Bowdoin with students who might be a good match. We value your insights and appreciate your help in suggesting students to Bowdoin.
About Explore Bowdoin
Students in our Explore Bowdoin program will meet with current students, gain support and confidence in the college admissions process, and experience the coast of Maine. Attendees will also have an admissions interview and meet individually with our student aid counselors while on campus.
Bowdoin handles all of the logistics and covers the cost of the program, including transportation to/from campus, lodging, and meals for the duration of the student's trip.
Explore Bowdoin 1: September 17-19, 2026
Explore Bowdoin 2: October 22-24, 2026
Deadline to apply: August 11
The Dartmouth Bound Program will provide an opportunity for students to visit Hanover, N.H. during one of two possible session dates: July 19-22 or August 2-5. The College will cover travel expenses, housing, and meals for all participants.
The program is open to all rising high school seniors currently living and attending a high school in the U.S. We encourage students from underserved communities—including students who are the first in their families to attend college, students from low-income families, students from rural communities, and students from under-resourced high schools or who otherwise lack access or opportunity to programs or resources that would assist in preparing them for college—to apply.
The program is designed to provide rising seniors with:
An in-depth introduction to the enduring value of a liberal arts education through Dartmouth’s curriculum and faculty
An opportunity to stay in Dartmouth’s residence halls and connect with current student mentors
Engaging workshops led by Dartmouth’s admissions and financial aid officers
A series of panels led by current Dartmouth students
We invite you to learn more about the program here, and to forward the application link to students you think would benefit from this experience: https://apply.dartmouth.edu/register/bound-account-2026.
We welcome applications through Monday, May 18.
If you have any questions about Dartmouth Bound, please contact Christina Moreland, associate director of admissions and coordinator of pipeline development at Christina.R.Moreland@dartmouth.edu.
The Mount Holyoke College Office of Admission has gone live with our fly-in and overnight program application for Mosaic! Students who apply and are admitted to the program will receive funding to travel to our beautiful campus on one of two weekends this fall.
At Mount Holyoke, we recognize that a mosaic represents much more than a work of art. Each of us has a distinctive story, and when we come together as a community, we form artwork that reflects the intersections and connections of our unique experiences and identities.
Program details:
Mosaic is open to all students and will prioritize extending an invitation to rising seniors who come from low-income, first-generation to college, and/or student-of-color backgrounds. Please share this application widely with your students and don’t hesitate to be in touch with us should you have any questions about the program.
Program Dates:
Application Deadlines:
Mosaic 1: September 27 - September 29
September 5
Mosaic 2: November 8 - 10
October 4
Programs include:
Round trip transportation to and from the college.
All meals covered for programming days.
On-campus lodging with another prospective student.
Access to class visits and renowned faculty.
One-on-one time with Admission & Student Financial Services staff.
An immeasurable amount of fun getting to know our diverse and vibrant campus!
Act fast! We will prioritize applicants who apply by August 1, 2025. Any questions? Contact the Mosaic Team at admissionmosaic-g@mtholyoke.edu.
Intended for high school seniors, this annual event highlights opportunities offered by Smith College for African American, Asian American, Latin American, Native American, and/or first-generation college students. All students are welcome. Housing, meals, and transportation to and from campus is included.
They’ll have the chance to talk with Smith students, professors, and alums, and additional programming includes workshops and panels.
Student nominations for our Discover Swarthmore (DS) fly-in program, an all-expenses-paid visit to one of the best liberal arts and engineering colleges in the country are currently being accepted. Prospective students get a taste of the college experience by meeting current students and professors, eating in our dining hall, and spending a few nights in our residence halls with student hosts. They also gain valuable information about college admissions and financial aid from our staff of experts.
Discover Swarthmore Nomination and Selection Criteria
While the Fall 2026 program dates have not yet been finalized, we typically offer two Discover Swarthmore programs, in mid-September and late October, to give students maximum flexibility. Last fall, our on-campus programs took place during the last weekends of September and October.
All interested rising high school seniors (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented/DACA students attending school in the United States) are welcome to apply to Discover Swarthmore, though preference will be given to students who are the first in their families to attend college, students from low-income backgrounds, and students who might not otherwise be able to afford a trip to campus.
Please nominate students who might be a good match for this opportunity by submitting our online nomination form by Monday, June 15, 2026. You may nominate as many students as you wish, using one nomination form per student. We accept nominations from high school counselors, mentors, community-based organization advisors, teachers, and any person who works with a high-achieving student, so please share this information with your colleagues.
Nominate a Student for Discover Swarthmore!
Next Steps
The application for Discover Swarthmore will be available in May! After you submit a nomination, we will notify your student of their nomination and ask them to complete the program application by Tuesday, July 7, 2026. At the end of junior year and after the student submits the Discover Swarthmore application, we will ask the student to upload a final transcript to the application portal, which is due Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
We also welcome applications from students who have not been nominated. If a student chooses to apply and is accepted to the program, we will pay for round-trip airfare/train fare, housing, meals, and travel incidentals to attend.
We'd love to share information about our WashU FLI-In Program with students!
WashU FLI-In is a special small-group opportunity designed to introduce First-generation and Limited-Income students to the college application process and to WashU. During this three-day program, they’ll engage in deeper exploration of an academic area of interest (Art, Architecture, Design, Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, or PreMed) while experiencing campus life and our vibrant community! We will cover the cost of their roundtrip travel to and from campus, along with housing and meals during their stay.
Attendees will:
Learn about the resources and support available to first-generation (first generation in their family to attend college) and limited-income students (come from a household income of $75,000 a year or less).
Spend three days (two nights) on our beautiful campus and get a taste of college life.
Explore St. Louis and take in some of our favorite sights.
Gain expert guidance on sharing their story as part of their college application.
Meet current students, accomplished alumni, and faculty leading in their fields.
WashU FLI-In Dates
Students should choose the program that best suits their academic interest on the application. For each program, students will travel to campus on the first day of the program and stay overnight the first two nights. On the third day, they will participate in an Academic Theme Day with other prospective students.
Art, Architecture, & Design, June 24-26
Business, July 8-10
Engineering, July 15-17
PreMed, July 22-24
Arts & Sciences, July 29-31
Eligibility
WashU FLI-In is an application-based program open to rising high school seniors (graduating in spring 2027) who reside in the U.S. or U.S. territories.
Students who are the first generation in their family to attend college or come from a limited-income household are encouraged to apply.
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT, May 15, 2026.
Applicants will be notified of their decision by May 27, 2026. Students who are not selected will still be able to register for an Academic Theme Day.
Windows on Williams
Windows on Williams is a selective, fully-funded program open to high school students in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who will be seniors in the fall of 2026. Preference is given to high-achieving students who couldn’t otherwise afford to visit Williams.
WOW participants stay in dorms with current students, attend classes, meet with professors and learn about our admission process and extraordinary All-Grant Financial Aid program. Williams will pay for and arrange transportation to campus and cover all additional expenses including meals and overnight hosting in a dorm.
The fall 2026 WOW dates are Sunday, October 4 to Tuesday, October 6. We recognize these dates may not work for any number of reasons, including school commitments or other conflicts. If you’re interested in learning more about Williams outside of WOW, you can do so on our website and through some of our virtual programming.
Apply by August 1 and receive your decision by August 31. There are two ways to apply:
You may complete the full WOW application form OR
If you have applied to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars (CPS) program, you can re-use that application instead.
Either way, your starting point will be the application form below. Please email WOW@williams.edu with any questions.