STARS@MIT: Small-Town and Rural MIT Alumni Panel
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time UTC -04:00
Join MIT alumni who grew up in small towns and rural communities as they share their journeys to and through MIT, and beyond. In this conversation, you’ll hear how MIT Alumni navigated the transition from rural high schools to the academic intensity and opportunity of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and where they are now!
Registration link:
https://apply.mitadmissions.org/register/?id=73df9427-5be3-4893-ac02-f906522ff6de
STARS@MIT: Transition to college as a small-town or rural student
Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM until 8:00 PMEastern Daylight Time UTC -04:00
Leaving a small town for college can feel exciting and overwhelming. How do you move to a completely new place, adjust to a bigger environment, and build community from scratch?
Join us for a conversation focused on the real-life transition from a rural or small-town community to a campus like Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We’ll talk about what it’s like to relocate, navigate homesickness, adapt to a faster pace, and find your people in a new environment.
Topics will include:
- · Making friends and building support systems early
- · Staying connected to home while growing into independence
- · Adjusting to academic and social culture shifts
- · Finding rural and first-generation community on campus
- · Embracing your background as a strength
You’ll also hear directly from current STARS (Small-Town and Rural Student) Ambassadors about how they made the transition and created a sense of belonging at MIT.
There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your questions about moving, community-building, or what surprised them most about life in a new place.
If you’re preparing to leave a close-knit community and wondering what comes next, this session is designed with you in mind.
Registration Link: https://apply.mitadmissions.org/register/?id=7e943b73-320d-49b5-bd59-31ea0519282a
Nicole Cooper
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions – Rural Outreach, STARS Program Director
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
P.S. Want to learn more about how MIT supports rural and small-town students? Check out STARS@MIT
All the best
Wayne
Wayne I. Fagan | Chair
Dee Howard International Education Foundation
9901 IH 10 West, Suite 800 |San Antonio, Texas 78230
P: 210.570.7888 | C: 210.240.0055
[email protected] | www.dhedf.org
