The University of Chicago
Our Commitment
At the University of Chicago, we believe that all students should have access to higher education opportunities no matter their background, geographic location, or ability to pay. UChicago knows that students from rural and small-town contexts bring valuable experiences and viewpoints to a college community. However, students from rural and small-town communities are often faced with unique barriers to college admissions because of their geographic isolation. The UChicago Empower access initiative was designed to address the challenges faced by first-generation, low-income, and rural and small-town students. Thanks to a generous donation from Trott Family Philanthropies, UChicago created the Emerging Rural Leaders Program in 2019 to reduce the barriers to college that rural students and families face by offering college admissions programming on-campus and in local communities, providing mentoring and support systems for high school and college students, and updating financial aid policies and scholarships to enable more rural students to pursue higher education at UChicago. By collaborating with Network members and leveraging existing resources and infrastructure created by the Empower Initiative, the STARS College Network at UChicago will enhance and expand the college access work that began with the Emerging Rural Leaders program in 2019.
Learn more about The University of Chicago's Rural and Small Town Programming
Learn more about The University of Chicago's Admissions
View news coverage on The University of Chicago's participation in STARS
The University of Chicago Events
STARS Near You
STARS in Jackson, WY
April 22nd 2025, 6:00 pm MDT
Join the STARS College Network for a special case studies program! You'll get a sneak peek at what real college applications look like, and learn some tips and tricks on how to approach your own college search process. This event is open to students of all ages and their parents.
Host: The University of Chicago, Case Western Reserve UniversitySTARS Near You
STORY in Johnson City, TN
April 27th 2025, 2:00 pm EDT
Join admissions representatives from dozens of colleges and universities to learn about holistic admissions, making a college list, and applying for admission and financial aid. The STORY program will feature a 45-minute general admissions information session followed by an 90-minute college fair featuring 30+ highly selective research universities, flagship public institutions, and liberal arts colleges from around the country.
Host: Auburn University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversitySTARS Near You
STORY in Charleston, WV
April 28th 2025, 6:30 pm EDT
Join admissions representatives from dozens of colleges and universities to learn about holistic admissions, making a college list, and applying for admission and financial aid. The STORY program will feature a 45-minute general admissions information session followed by an 90-minute college fair featuring 30+ highly selective research universities, flagship public institutions, and liberal arts colleges from around the country.
Host: Auburn University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversitySTARS Near You
STORY in Roanoke, VA
April 29th 2025, 5:30 pm EDT
Join admissions representatives from dozens of colleges and universities to learn about holistic admissions, making a college list, and applying for admission and financial aid. The STORY program will feature a 45-minute general admissions information session followed by an 90-minute college fair featuring 30+ highly selective research universities, flagship public institutions, and liberal arts colleges from around the country.
Host: Auburn University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversitySTARS Near You
STORY in Fayetteville, NC
April 30th 2025, 6:30 pm EDT
Join admissions representatives from dozens of colleges and universities to learn about holistic admissions, making a college list, and applying for admission and financial aid. The STORY program will feature a 45-minute general admissions information session followed by an 90-minute college fair featuring 30+ highly selective research universities, flagship public institutions, and liberal arts colleges from around the country.
Host: Auburn University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversitySTARS Near You
STARS in Anchorage, AK
April 30th 2025, 7:30 pm AKDT
Join an amazing group of ten colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an evening all about college! We’ll have a 45 minute information session on topics like holistic review, financial aid, and how to set yourself up for success in the college application process. Afterwards, you’ll have time to browse a mini-college fair of participating institutions from across the country!
Host: Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Notre Dame, Case Western Reserve University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Columbia University in the City of New York, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. LouisSTARS Near You
STORY in Macon, GA
May 1st 2025, 6:00 pm EDT
Join admissions representatives from dozens of colleges and universities to learn about holistic admissions, making a college list, and applying for admission and financial aid. The STORY program will feature a 45-minute general admissions information session followed by an 90-minute college fair featuring 30+ highly selective research universities, flagship public institutions, and liberal arts colleges from around the country.
Host: Auburn University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversityVirtual Event
STARS Virtual College Fair
May 6th 2025, 7:00 pm CST
Join all 32 STARS Network partner colleges and universities to discover the exceptional opportunities all of our schools have to offer through a virtual college fair!
Host: Amherst College, Auburn University, Berkeley, Brown University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University in the City of New York, Dartmouth College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Notre Dame, SMU, Spelman College, Stanford University, The Ohio State University, The University of Alabama, The University of Chicago, The University of Iowa, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Denver, University of Maryland, College Park, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale UniversitySTARS Near You
STARS in Duluth, MN
May 12th 2025, 6:00 pm CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an evening all about college! We’ll have a 45 minute information session on topics like holistic review, financial aid, and how to set yourself up for success in the college application process. Afterwards, you’ll have time to browse a mini-college fair of participating institutions from across the country.
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 UniversitySTARS Near You
STARS in Ashland, WI
May 13th 2025, 6:00 pm CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an evening all about college! We’ll have a 45 minute information session on topics like holistic review, financial aid, and how to set yourself up for success in the college application process. Afterwards, you’ll have time to browse a mini-college fair of participating institutions from across the country.
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 UniversitySTARS Near You
STARS in Kingsford, MI
May 14th 2025, 6:00 pm CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an evening all about college! We’ll have a 45 minute information session on topics like holistic review, financial aid, and how to set yourself up for success in the college application process. Afterwards, you’ll have time to browse a mini-college fair of participating institutions from across the country.
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 UniversitySTARS Near You
STARS in Seymour, WI
May 15th 2025, 6:00 pm CDT
Join 15+ colleges and universities from the STARS College Network for an evening all about college! We’ll have a 45 minute information session on topics like holistic review, financial aid, and how to set yourself up for success in the college application process. Afterwards, you’ll have time to browse a mini-college fair of participating institutions from across the country.
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 University