2026 STARS Counselor Conference

The STARS College Network is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to supporting rural and small-town students to and through college. STARS Counselor Conferences are selective, fully funded programs designed for secondary school counselors and counselors from community-based organizations that serve rural and small-town students from across the country.

The STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour will cover four of the seven STARS partner schools in New York and New England. Counselors will visit Amherst College, Brown University, Columbia University, and Yale University, and receive additional support and information from admissions staff at Colby College, Dartmouth University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The four-day, three-night program includes campus tours, panels, information sessions, and workshops focused on identifying the distinguishing characteristics of each institution, as well as broader college counseling skills. Counselors will leave better able to inform and advise their students about the STARS College Network and its partner schools in New York and New England.

The 2026 STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour will take place from Wednesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 19.

Applications are due no later than Friday, May 22, 2026. Notifications about the counselor selections will be sent via email in mid-June. If you are selected to attend, necessary travel arrangements will be made after that time.

Due to limited space, these programs are reserved for high school counselors and individuals from community based organizations.

Personal Profile

First Name (as it appears on your travel documents)*

Preferred First Name (if provided, we will default to using your preferred name on all correspondence and program materials)

Middle Name (as it appears on your travel documents)

Last Name (as it appears on your travel documents)*

Email Address*

Personal Mobile Phone*

School/Organization Details

Title/Role*

School or Organization Name

School CEEB

My school/organization is not listed above

Yes

School or Organization Name

School or Organization Type

Office Mailing Address*

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Work Phone*

I would describe the location of my school/organization as:*

Rural

Suburban

Urban

Other

Travel Information

If you are selected for a counselor program, the following information will be used to book your travel arrangements (and may be required by transportation providers). Please ensure that the legal name provided on this form, and the information below, matches the driver’s license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued ID you will use to travel.

Date of Birth*

Gender (as it appears on your travel documents)*

Female

Male

X

Preferred Home Airport, Train, or Bus Station*

Second Choice Home Airport, Train, or Bus Station

Any additional information (allergies, dietary restrictions, accommodations, or notes) that would help us prepare for your visit?

2026 STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour Interest

Have you applied for any counselor fly-in programs, whether or not hosted by the STARS College Network or a STARS member, in the past five years?*

Yes

No

Have you attended a counselor fly-in program in the past five years?*

Yes

No

Please list the counselor programs you have attended in the past five years:

Why are you interested in the STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour?* (200 words maximum)

How do you plan to take what you learn at this STARS Counselor Conference back to your community?* (200 words maximum)

What professional development topic(s) would you be most interested in as part of this program?