STARS College Network

Join STARS representatives from Caltech, MIT, University of Arizona, and University of Iowa to learn more about how STARS member schools support their students as they pursue a wide variety of careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) areas!

From astronauts to engineers to zoologists, and everything in between, STARS member schools have programs to set their students up for success in hundreds of different STEM careers.

Register:
https://engage.starscollegenetwork.org/register/?id=ce11f7a6-2583-435f-bf75-856ee1e7310e

The 2026 STARS College Network joint application for senior fly-ins is live! The application features four programs this year:

⭐ Amherst College: 9/25-9/28
⭐ Brown University: 9/27-9/29
⭐ Case Western Reserve University: 10/11-10/13
⭐ Colby College: 10/18-10/20 (this program also accepts juniors)

Small-town and rural seniors are eligible to apply (as well as juniors for the Colby program), and a nomination from an educator is recommended as part of the application process.

💸 All four programs are fully-funded.

🔗 Use the link in our bio to apply!

In this episode of the STARS Podcast, we sit down with Genesis, a high school senior from Newman, California whose journey from a rural, low-income, first-generation background to Yale University shows what becomes possible when talent meets opportunity.

She shares the challenges of navigating the college process without family precedent, limited exposure to selective universities, and the misconception that top colleges are financially out of reach.

Through the support of the STARS College Network, from SAT tutoring and application guidance to interview prep and a STARS Fly-In at Brown University, she gained the confidence, knowledge, and community to dream bigger.

Her story is a powerful reminder that students from rural and small-town communities really do belong at the nation’s most selective colleges.

WashU FLI-In is a special small-group opportunity designed to introduce First-generation and Limited-Income students to the college application process and to WashU. =

During this three-day program, you’ll engage in deeper exploration of an academic area of interest (Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Art & Architecture, or PreMed) while experiencing campus life and our vibrant community!

WashU FLI-In is an application-based program open to rising high school seniors (graduating in spring 2027) who reside in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Students who are the first generation in their family to attend college or come from a limited-income household are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by May 15, 2026.

To apply:
https://starscollegenetwork.org/events/