MIT Hosts Inaugural STARS Rural Fly-In Program to Empower Small-Town and Rural Students
This fall, MIT launched its first-ever Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) Fly-In, bringing 20 high school students from rural and small-town communities across a dozen states to campus. Designed to introduce these students to the unique strengths they bring to higher education, the STARS Fly-In aimed to demystify the college application process, strengthen student confidence, and underscore the value of diverse perspectives in elite institutions.
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Students from rural backgrounds attend top colleges at significantly lower rates than their urban peers. The STARS Fly-In seeks to bridge this gap by providing targeted college application support for students who often face unique challenges, such as limited access to college counseling or exposure to top-tier schools. During the program, students had the opportunity to attend admissions workshops, connect with current MIT students known as our STARS Admission Ambassadors and tour campus facilities – including attending workshops at MIT Open Learning and the Edgerton Center.
By the end of the STARS Fly-In, each student left with tools to confidently navigate the college admissions process, a new network of peers, and mentors who understood their journey. More than an introduction to MIT, the program sparked conversations about the valuable perspectives rural and small-town students bring to campus life. In a world where college opportunities still disproportionately favor urban students, initiatives like this Fly-In are a step toward a more inclusive, diverse higher education landscape — one where talent from every corner of the country can thrive.
— Nicole Cooper, Admissions