For students from traditionally underserved backgrounds such as minority students or those whose families live at or below the poverty line, traveling to visit colleges can be financially out of the question. For these students, college fly-in programs can offer a lot.
Choosing the Right College is a Big Deal
For most, college is not just the gateway to the professional world, but also represents four critical years of personal development. Then, of course, there’s the finance needed, and colleges are not cheap.
According to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of a four-year public institution, including tuition, room and board, and fees in the 2017-18 academic year, was over $20,000 – and more than $43,000 for private institutions.
When faced with a decision like this, most admissions counselors agree, a campus visit is the single best way to know what school is a best fit. However, for many students, campus visits can be financially out of reach. This is especially true for first-generation students, and those from low-income, traditionally underserved families.
Over the last few years, a number of four-year colleges have instituted fly-in programs which cater to these students. These programs offer flight reimbursement, ground transportation, food, lodging and events for students. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of colleges provide these programs and some require that the applicant is accepted for admission. What’s more, these schools are highly selective in their admissions criteria, with acceptance rates less than 10% in some instances.
College Fly-In Programs are a Big Help, but Only a Few Schools Offer Them
According to College Greenlight’s Complete List of 2019 Fly-In and Diversity Programs, only 88 programs at 85 institutions exist nationally in the US. Of the country’s 3,000+ accredited four-year colleges (NCES), less than 3% offer these programs. In other words, only 1 in 35 four-year colleges offers Fly-In Programs.
For students who lack the financial support to make it on their own, this means that in all likelihood, they will be choosing a school without visiting first.
College Students Know, Campus Visits are Very Important
A recent study published by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA found that students attending their first-choice schools are more likely to rank campus visits as “very important” when choosing a college, as compared to students who are not attending their first choice schools.
In a recent article published by NerdWallet, Scripps College graduate and first-generation student, Lyanne Dominguez states,
“It is drastically different getting to know a school from a computer screen versus stepping on the campus and interacting with students and faculty.”
Campus visits are important, yes – but don’t overdo it. A recent New York Times article argues “It’s not necessary to visit every school you apply to… But most counselors do suggest visiting a mix of college types, like an urban college, a large public university and a small liberal arts campus.”
Most critically, students should visit the schools that they feel might be a good fit. Whether this is the stretch school or safety school, if a student is anticipating a four-year stay, he or she should have the chance to visit.
College Boarding Pass Offers Fly-In Scholarships to Low-Income Students for Campus Visits
If only 85 in 3,000+ institutions offer fly-in programs, what happens with the students who are interested in those other schools, particularly those that can’t afford to visit?
College Boarding Pass founder, Nina Kellner, recognized this dilemma while visiting colleges in New York City with her parents during the summer of 2018. As a rising high school sophomore with college admissions on her mind, Nina wondered, “How can someone be expected to choose the right school without having the opportunity to visit first?”
After doing some research on the topic, Nina garnered the support of her family and community, and launched College Boarding Pass Inc. to help close the gap. The organization is now operational as a New York based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is working toward its mission,
“to provide resources to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and wish to visit college campuses for enrollment opportunities but lack the funds to travel and stay overnight.”
College Boarding Pass is here for the benefit of these students who deserve the opportunity to make an informed decision about where to spend their next four years. For these students there is an alternative, because choosing the right college is a big deal.
Choosing the right college is a big deal. True story.