Our Commitment to Small Town and Rural Students

Stanford offers many programs and resources that may be of interest to small town and rural students:

• Outreach efforts and visits to high schools and community-based organizations in small towns and rural areas.
  
  
• Admission staff who are dedicated to designing outreach, programming, and materials that demystify the college application process for small town and rural students.
  
  
• Financial aid to meet the full demonstrated need of all admitted students, without loans.
  
  
• Campus organizations such as the Stanford Rural Engagement Network , Community Centers , and the O’Donohue Family Farm .
  
  
• Student STARS associates who can speak with prospective students about what it’s like to be a Stanford student from small town and rural areas. Email us at access-uga@stanford.edu.
  
  

Hear from Small Town and Rural Students at Stanford

Class of 2028
Hometown: Trappe, Maryland
Major: Electrical Engineering
Minor: Translation Studies

As a rural/small town student applying to college, I was concerned... 
about keeping up in an academic environment vastly different from what I was used to at home.

STARS helped me by...
showing me that rural students could thrive in higher education by providing community and examples of students like me who succeeded. The thing that surprised me most about college was how many resources were available along with countless people who were willing to help once I asked.

My advice for rural/small town students considering college is...
to never underestimate yourself. Your background is not a disadvantage, it gives you the resilience, perspective, and experiences to succeed in college.

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Class of 2027
Hometown: East Lynn, West Virginia
Majors: Political Science and Sociology

As a rural/small town student applying to college, I was concerned... 
that limited resources and financial constraints would make it difficult for me to be as competitive as applicants from other areas and backgrounds.

The thing that surprised me most about college was…
just how capable I was of succeeding and thriving in that environment, as well as the boundless opportunities it offered and what I was able to seize.

My advice for rural/small town students considering college is...
for those who share my story, whether first-generation, low-income, rural, small-town, or Appalachian, know that we can and do succeed. You are capable, deserving, and worthy of being here.