2025 Seeds of Fortune College Partners' Fly-In Programs

Babson College: Access Babson

Access Babson is a free, invitation-only overnight program for incoming high school seniors in the United States who have experienced limited access to college preparation resources. The program, which is hosted by Babson College, aims to provide students from historically excluded or underrepresented distinctive emphasis on inclusive community and entrepreneurial leadership. Participants stay overnight on campus with a student host, attend classes with professors, and engage in workshops about admissions, financial aid, and college life. The program promotes open communication, creates a feeling of community, and provides a useful window into what it's like to be a part of Babson's cutting-edge educational setting. 

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Bowdoin College: Explore Bowdoin 

Explore Bowdoin is a fully funded fly-in experience for rising high school seniors, particularly those who are low-income and/or first-generation college attendees. Invited students spend a weekend in the fall at Bowdoin's picturesque campus in Maine, spend the night in residence halls hosted by current students, and experience college life firsthand through class attendance, faculty meetings, interactive financial aid and admissions sessions, student-led tours, and interaction with Bowdoin's lively community. At no cost to the students, the program highlights Bowdoin's academic rigor, supportive environment, and close-knit campus culture while providing meals, housing, and travel assistance to remove financial barriers. 

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Bryn Mawr College: Lantern Scholars Fly-In Program 

The Lantern Scholars Fly-In Program at Bryn Mawr College is a fully funded, immersive three-day experience designed for rising high school seniors from first-generation and low-income backgrounds. Participants in the program can stay in residence halls on campus, go to classes, eat at Bryn Mawr's dining facilities, and tour the college and the energetic city of Philadelphia. The weekend includes campus tours, interactions with current students, faculty, and staff, and classroom visits to get a sense of the liberal arts setting. Along with helpful advice on how to write application essays and lists of extracurricular activities, the program offers insightful information about the college application process. Bryn Mawr College hopes to remove financial barriers by providing travel, housing, and meals, giving students a firsthand look at what it's like to attend a women's liberal arts college.

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Bucknell University: Journey to Bucknell

The Journey to Bucknell program is a fully funded, immersive fly-in experience designed for high-achieving high school seniors who bring diverse perspectives. The program, which takes place every year in mid-October, gives participants the chance to spend the night with a parent or guardian, go to a real Bucknell class, and take part in a variety of activities, such as application workshops and a field trip to the area. For students who are coming from more than three hours away, it covers lodging, meals, and transportation. By introducing them to Bucknell's friendly, top-notch campus, this program hopes to build relationships with faculty, current students, and admissions staff. 

Deadline to Apply: Application is now closed

Claremont McKenna College: CMC Fall Preview Program 

The Claremont McKenna College (CMC) Fall Preview Program is a fully funded, immersive fly-in experience designed for high-achieving high school seniors from diverse backgrounds. The program, which is held every year in early October, gives participants the chance to learn more about CMC's academic and extracurricular offerings, interact with current students, faculty, and staff, and obtain knowledge about the college application process. All airfare, housing, and meals for the students while they are on the CMC campus are covered by the program, with preference given to students from low-income, rural, or first-generation backgrounds. In order to strengthen their college application, participants will also be eligible for a fee waiver for their first-year application.

Deadline to Apply: Sunday, August 10th, 2025

College of the Holy Cross: Perspectives Overnight

Perspectives Overnight at the College of the Holy Cross is a fully funded fly-in program designed for high school seniors, particularly those who are first-generation, low-income, or from rural or underserved schools. The program, which takes place in the fall, covers the cost of transportation, housing, and meals for both students and guests. While exploring campus life and Worcester's lively community, participants stay in the area, go to classes, shadow current students, and take part in workshops on financial aid and admissions. The program provides a singular chance to interact with Holy Cross's encouraging, academically demanding environment and witness it firsthand.

Deadline to Apply: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Colorado College: Discover Colorado College 

Discover Colorado College is a fully funded fly‑in opportunity for rising high school seniors from underrepresented, first-generation, rural, low-income, or Title I school backgrounds. Travel grants, housing, meals on campus, and immersive experiences like attending financial aid and admissions workshops, touring campus and Colorado Springs, sitting in a Block Plan class, speaking one-on-one with student ambassadors, and taking part in affinity and equity discussions are all included in the three-day program. Discover Colorado College invites students who might not otherwise visit to experience firsthand CC's unique academic model and vibrant community by lowering financial barriers and elevating diverse voices.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 15, 2025

Harvey Mudd College: Future Achievers in Science and Technology (FAST) 

Future Achievers in Science and Technology (FAST) at Harvey Mudd College (HMC) is a fully funded fly-in program for high-achieving U.S. high school seniors passionate about STEM, especially those from groups traditionally underrepresented in these fields. The multi-day program, which spans two fall sessions, immerses students in the HMC community by having them spend the night in residence halls, take part in practical lab demonstrations, simulated classes, makerspace workshops, and conversations about inclusion and leadership. In addition, participants meet faculty, students, and staff, attend admissions and financial aid sessions, and get a fee waiver for their first-year Harvey Mudd application; all without having to pay for transportation, housing, or meals.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm PDT

Mount Holyoke College: Mosaic

Mosaic at Mount Holyoke College is a fully funded, overnight program for high-achieving high school students who are actively carrying out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in their communities. The program covers all travel, lodging, meals, and on-campus activities. To truly experience Mount Holyoke's dedication to equity and community, participants stay in residence halls with current student hosts, participate in lively workshops and panels centered on social justice and belonging, network with peers and faculty, and explore the college's resources.

Deadline to Apply #1: (September 27-29) is September 5

Deadline to Apply #2: (November 8 - 10) is October 4

Northwestern University: START-UP 

START-UP (Small Town and Rural Teen University Prep Innovation Intensive) is a fully funded fly-in program hosted by Northwestern University in partnership with the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network. The three-day immersive program is intended for high-achieving rising high school seniors from small-town or rural communities. Participants will remain on campus, participate in practical entrepreneurship and innovation activities at The Garage, Northwestern's student startup hub, and get advice on financial aid and college application procedures. The program's goal is to highlight Northwestern's resources and assistance for young engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. It offers a special chance to investigate innovative technologies and business or product development tactics.

Deadline to Apply: Application is now closed

Smith College: Women of Distinction (WOD) 

Smith College's Women of Distinction (WOD) program is a fully funded overnight fly-in event for seniors in high school, with a focus on African American, Asian American, Latin American, Native American, and first-generation college students. Through this immersive experience, participants can establish connections with faculty, other community members, and current Smith students. The program offers a thorough overview of the Smith College experience through a number of panels and workshops on academics and student life. The college pays for all costs, including housing, meals, and transportation to and from campus.

Application opens: August 1, 2025

Deadline to Apply: Monday, September 15, 2025

Tulane University of Louisiana: Preview TU

PreviewTU at Tulane University is a visit program designed for all prospective students, with a special focus on first-generation college students and those from limited or low-income families. Through the program's specialized academic and social resources, which are designed to promote community and support, participants can learn about campus services, connect with current student leaders, and investigate their options for financial aid and admission. Tulane provides a small number of travel grants that can fully or partially cover travel and hotel expenses to help students attend PreviewTU and get a firsthand look at campus life, even though the program is open to many. 

Deadline to Apply: TBD

University of Chicago: STARS Fly-In 

The University of Chicago's fly-in event for small-town and rural students is a component of the STARS College Network partnership and the Emerging Rural Leaders initiative. Travel, housing, meals, and campus programming are all covered by fully funded STARS fly-ins, which bring accomplished high school seniors from small towns and rural areas to campus for immersive multi-day experiences. In order to support students who frequently encounter financial and geographic obstacles, these visits include informative workshops, mentorship from current students, exploration of academic resources, and advice on financial aid and college.

Deadline to Apply: Application is now closed

University of Rochester: Meliora Visit Program (MVP)

The University of Rochester’s Meliora Visit Program (MVP) is a fully funded fly-in program designed for U.S. high school seniors who may otherwise be unable to visit campus. The University's "Research Rochester" open house offers selected applicants free transportation to Rochester, a two-night stay in a residence hall staffed by current students, and immersive experiences. Through admissions and financial aid workshops, panels on first-generation and multicultural experiences, campus resource tours, meals, class visits, and evening student life events, participants engage with faculty, admissions counselors, and current students throughout the program. The goal is to give participants a meaningful look into Rochester's "ever better" (Meliora) community.

Application opens: August 1, 2025

Deadline to Apply: TBD 

Washington University in St. Louis: WashU FLI-In 

WashU FLI‑In is a fully funded, small-group fly-in program at Washington University in St. Louis designed for incoming high school seniors, especially those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. Participants select a thematic track (Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, or PreMed), spend the night on campus, tour St. Louis, and experience college life during their three-day stay. Airport transfers, on-campus housing, meals, and round-trip airfare (or mileage reimbursement) are all covered by the program. In addition to attending workshops aimed at enhancing their college application strategy and learning about WashU's extensive support for diverse student success, attendees interact with current students, faculty, and alumni.

Deadline to Apply: Application is Now Closed

Wellesley College: Access the Wellesley Experience (AWE)

Access the Wellesley Experience (AWE), a fully funded, one-day fly-in program, is offered by Wellesley College to potential students who may be low-income, first-generation, or from groups that have historically been underrepresented in higher education. However, AWE welcomes applications from any senior in high school who resides in or attends school in Massachusetts. Sessions on financial aid, the liberal arts and sciences, and selective admissions are all part of the program's immersive campus experience. In order to learn more about Wellesley's sense of community and belonging, participants also interact with current students, faculty, and staff. Although AWE is a "drive-in" program, Wellesley pays for all participants' transportation costs to guarantee they can attend without facing financial obstacles.

Deadline to Apply #1 is on Friday, July 18, 2025 

Deadline to Apply #2 is on Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Yale University: Yale in MOHtion 

Yale in MOHtion is Yale University's fully funded fly-in program for high school seniors. This program, which revolves around the Multicultural Open House (MOH), provides attendees with an immersive opportunity to interact with Yale's student organizations, faculty, resource centers, and cultural centers through showcases, performances, panels, and tours. In addition, participants will experience Yale's residential college system and finish a workshop on college applications. Fifty students who would not otherwise be able to travel to New Haven to participate in the MOH are the target audience for the program. For chosen participants, all expenses related to transportation to and from campus, meals during the program, and on-campus housing are covered.

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, July 1, 2025