Welcome Counselors!
STARS appreciates the work you do for your students! As a network we are here to support you in as many ways as we can including counselor fly-in programs, professional development, virtual events, and more! Please feel free to sign-up for the counselor mailing list to learn when events are available to you and your students.
Counselor Resources
NACAC Rural and Small Town Special Interest Group
The Rural and Small Town SIG’s mission is to bring rural and small town admissions and college counseling professionals, as well as those committed to rural and small town education, together to increase college access and success, promote college-going culture in rural areas, and support counselors and students at rural and small town schools. All professionals committed to rural and small-town student admission, matriculation, and success are welcome to join.
AXS Toolbox
The AXS Toolbox is a new tool designed specifically for school counselors/teachers/college & career advisors to help simplify the work around advising students. It contains lesson plans, slides, worksheets and links to the AXS Companion that you can use, modify, and share with students.
Educators / Counselors Mailing List
Join the educator and counselor mailing list to learn more about STARS, its offerings, and dedicated programming.
Exclusive Counselors Events
Counselor Only Event
STARS Counselor Workshop: High School Profiles
May 7th 2025, 2:00 pm EDT
Please join the STARS College Network as we discuss the importance of high school profiles during the contextual review process. We'll also provide resources for high school counselors looking to craft their own high school profiles. Please note that this session is meant for high school and CBO counselors at rural and small-town high schools or community-based organizations in the United States. It is not intended for parents or students, or organizations outside of the United States.
Host: Washington University in St. Louis, Brown University, University of DenverCounselor Only Event
STARS Counselor Breakfast in Ashland, WI
May 14th 2025, 9:00 am CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an informal counselor breakfast! We'll chat about college access, holistic review, financial aid, and how we can best support you as a high school counselor. We hope to see you there!
Host: Amherst College, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University in the City of New York, Dartmouth College, Duke, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Stanford University, The University of Chicago, The University of Iowa, University of Maryland, College Park, Notre Dame, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vanderbilt University, Yale UniversityCounselor Only Event
STARS Counselor Lunch in Marinette, WI
May 15th 2025, 12:00 pm CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an informal counselor lunch! We'll chat about college access, holistic review, financial aid, and how we can best support you as a high school counselor. We hope to see you there!
Host: Amherst College, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University in the City of New York, Dartmouth College, Duke, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Stanford University, The University of Chicago, The University of Iowa, University of Maryland, College Park, Notre Dame, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vanderbilt University, Yale UniversityCounselor Only Event
STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour
September 11th 2025, 12:00 am EDT
The application for the 2025 STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour is live now! We hope that you'll consider joining us for one of our fully-funded counselor conferences this year. 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 three of the seven STARS partner schools in New York and New England. Counselors will visit Amherst College, Colby College, and Dartmouth College, and receive additional support and information from admissions staff at Brown University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Yale University.
The 2025 STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour will take place from Thursday, September 11 through Saturday, September 13.
The deadline to apply is May 23, 2025. Please check out our FAQ and contact us with additional questions!
Host: Brown University, Columbia University in the City of New York, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Colby College, Amherst College, Dartmouth CollegeCounselor Only Event
STARS Counselor Conference - Midwest Tour
September 15th 2025, 12:00 am CDT
The application for the 2025 STARS Counselor Conference - Midwest Tour is live now! 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 - Midwest Tour will cover four STARS partner schools in the Midwest. Counselors will visit Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, and Case Western Reserve University. For counselors planning on attending NACAC, there will be an optional bus to Columbus, OH and optional campus tours at The Ohio State University on the last day of the tour.
The 2025 STARS Counselor Conference - Midwest Tour will take place from Monday, September 15 through Wednesday, September 17.
The deadline to apply is May 23, 2025. Please check out our FAQ and contact us with additional questions!
Host: Case Western Reserve University, Northwestern University, Notre Dame, The Ohio State University, The University of Chicago