Savannah Doty always knew she wanted to go to college, but growing up in rural Colfax, Wash., she felt like her only option was to stay close to home.
“I had never imagined leaving my small-town community for a prestigious school like UChicago until I learned how the College supports students like me through programs that offer one-on-one mentorship, social connections and financial aid assistance,” said Doty, now a third-year College student at the University of Chicago. “This shifted my perspective on what my future could look like, and I am grateful to be part of this community with ongoing support for my rural identity.”
Doty and many of her peers from rural communities face a variety of obstacles to pursuing a college degree. They’re often bypassed by college recruiters, and less likely to encounter programs that help with college applications, financial aid paperwork and standardized test preparation.
In recent years, UChicago has emerged as a national leader in recruiting and supporting talented students from rural and small-town backgrounds. Now the University is taking the next step, co-leading and launching a network of 16 prominent universities and colleges, who are working to open the doors even wider for students who grow up outside the orbit of major cities.
The STARS College Network (Small-Town And Rural Students) is a new nationwide effort that aims to empower students from small-town and rural America to enroll and successfully graduate from the undergraduate program of their choice.
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This story was first published by UChicago News.
