Tufts Blogs

One of the most important and beneficial part of the college search is campus visits and tours. Fly-ins offer increased insight that virtual tours and online research lack. Students can walk on the grounds that they are considering, they can talk to current students and professors, and most importantly, they can try the food. But unless you live near your dream college, it can be difficult to visit and to experience the campus firsthand. Many students simply cannot afford to travel to the other side of the country and this is where college fly-in programs step in.

Fly-in programs are designed to encourage high-achieving students who may be low-income, first-generation, or underrepresented to apply and to learn more about a specific college by offering the opportunity of paid visits. At these programs, students are able to get a depiction of a college’s community and atmosphere that they couldn’t get anywhere else. Most fly-ins offer the option of attending classes and previewing the school’s academics.  By exploring the campus and the college’s surrounding community, students can get a better understanding of the culture: the traditions, the entertainment, and the food. At the end of the day, most programs allow students to stay in a dorm. Overall, there really is no other way to find out more about the college experience.

Fly-in programs are provided by various college institutions including Bowdoin, Brandeis, Pomona, and several more. In fact, Tufts University offers their own fly-in program, the Voices of Tufts Experiences program. I was fortunate enough to have attended this program and the experience taught me so much about the college. I was able to fly out to Tufts and experience its environment and I ended up rearranging my college list right after.  

It’s easy to find fly-in programs, There are multiple blogs posted with the most up to date information readily available at your disposal. The application usually consists of a short form where basic information such as GPA, test scores, high school transcript, and more is used to assess you; coupled with a short supplement or more, the application lends itself to be a holistic one. With the bulk of the fly-ins occurring during the fall semester for seniors in high school, it’s vital for prospective students to start early. The application can serve as the gateway to new experiences, memories, and the possibility of setting your heart on your dream college.