Swarthmore College is one of the nation’s top liberal arts and engineering colleges and promotes college access and affordability. They are now accepting nominations for the all-expenses-paid fly-in program Discover Swarthmore, which could be an exciting opportunity for rising seniors! Discover Swarthmore was designed to level the playing field for students who may not be able to visit their campus in person without financial assistance or have other obstacles on their path to college.

What is a fly-in program?

Rising high school seniors stay on a college campus for a few days and get a taste of the college experience — meeting current students and professors, eating in the dining hall, and spending a few nights in college dorms with student hosts — with all expenses paid by Swarthmore. 

Not only do students get a glimpse of college life, but they also gain valuable information about college admissions and financial aid from experts. Fly-in programs are also a helpful way to see if a specific college is the right fit for you.

While the Fall 2023 program dates have not yet been finalized, they typically offer two Discover Swarthmore programs, in mid-September and late October, to give students maximum flexibility. Last fall, the on-campus programs took place during the last weekends of September and October.

During their review, the selection committee prioritizes applications from students who are:

• Underrepresented students in higher education (Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern and North African, Native Hawaiian, and Native and Indigenous American)
• First generation in their family to attend college
• Low-income students (Pell-eligible, free/reduced lunch, etc.), and students who might not otherwise be able to afford a trip to campus
• Rural and small town students
• Undocumented and DACA-eligible students

In case you’re not familiar with Swarthmore, they are a selective liberal arts and engineering college, located just outside of Philadelphia — it’s about a 25-minute train ride from campus to downtown Philly. They have about 1,689 students, and nearly 75% of their classes have fewer than 20 students, allowing faculty to provide personalized support and instruction. Swarthmore offers need-based financial aid that meets 100% of determined need with loan-free financial aid decisions. Visit their website to learn more about Swarthmore’s commitments to affordability and access.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE EMAIL MS. SANZ AT [email protected]