Palouse Pathways Scholar Audrey Tan, a senior at Pullman High School, shares information about a great FREE way to visit colleges, the College Fly-In.
First of all, what are fly-ins?
Fly-ins are an opportunity to visit colleges prior to application where they “fly-in” high school students to experience life at their college. Typically, students will only get to visit a college after they’ve been admitted on the respective admitted students day. However, this can often feel too late for many students. How a college may look on paper may not encapsulate what life at the college is truly like, leading to misplaced expectations. Instead, it’s always good to visit universities firsthand before making a decision on whether or not you’d like to pour in the effort to apply. Fly-ins are usually provided by the university and they typically include a day or two of activities. The especially attractive aspect of fly-ins is that oftentimes they are fully covered by the institution. That means transportations costs, room and board, food, and sometimes even merchandise are provided by the university!
Why should you go and how to make the most of a fly-in?
Fly-ins are not only a great opportunity to get a glimpse into what life as a student at a university is like but they’re also a wonderful place to get application questions answered. Typically, fly-ins are run by the admissions officers so these will be the people reading your applications. You can jot down some questions you may have before or during the fly-ins and get them answered with the assurance that the information provided is trustworthy. While at a fly-in, you’ll also get to interact with various college students who can help answer questions like “what did you do in high school to get you admitted?” Furthermore, fly-ins help introduce you to students all over the country (and sometimes all over the world!) who you already share one thing in common with. It’s a good idea to make a group chat and remain connected even after the fly-in. Utilize your resources and find a community that supports you! Lastly, it’s also good to thank the admissions officers after the fly-in and remain in contact. Once again, utilize them as a resource to get any application questions answered down the line. Do remember to always be courteous and don’t go overboard.
How to get a fly-in opportunity?
Palouse Pathways is a fantastic resource so be sure to keep an eye out for any fly-ins posted. Some colleges may also email you about opportunities. The website Appily lists many college fly-ins. Each university has different dates for their fly-ins so be sure to mark your calendars and be mindful of when everything is due. You can also search for fly-ins online if you have a particular university you’d like to visit. Some fly-ins are available for all high school students while others are limited by grade so be sure to do your research as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on any opportunities. Lastly, lean on the community around you. Ask around about the various fly-ins people have attended or let your counselors know that you’re interested. Fly-ins are typically application-based and will usually have an essay portion. Remember, many fly-in criteria may be different so don’t feel bad if you don’t get a fly-in opportunity. There’s a ton out there! Also, I recommend opening your mind up a bit, you may discover some hidden gems that you didn’t even think of before! Happy flying!