Experience Colorado College

Experience Colorado College

Fully Funded Fly-in Program

October 12-14, 2024

Eligibility

Experience Colorado College 2024 is open to high school seniors (class of 2025) and gap year students residing in the United States. To apply for this program, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Self-identify as a student from a historically marginalized and underrepresented background
  • Eligible for the Pell Grant
  • Qualify for free/reduced lunch
  • DACA or undocumented student completing secondary (high) school in the U.S. 
  • Identify as a first-generation college student (neither parent obtained a bachelor's degree)

*International students (including students currently residing in the United States) are ineligible for ECC. For more information about international students, please refer to our application information for international students.

What does ECC have to offer?

During our program, you'll have the opportunity to

  • Experience our innovative Block Plan
  • Tour our historic campus and beautiful Colorado Springs
  • Chat 1:1 with senior admission ambassadors (current students)
  • Connect with our incredible CC faculty and staff
  • Learn about CC's generous need-based financial aid
  • Get tips from admission staff on crafting a compelling application
  • Engage in the affinity conversations to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion at CC

View a sample ECC schedule to get a sense of what the program is like. 

Resources & Tips

Travel Tips for First-Time Flyers

Learn the airport procedures

The first step that any first-time flyer should take is to learn the airport procedures before arriving at the airport for their flight, including knowing acceptable forms of identification. All travelers (18+) flying on a domestic flight must present a photo ID issued at the state or federal level, such as a state driver's license, military ID, or a U.S. Passport. If you are under 18, please make sure to have a photo ID (i.e. school ID) available at check-in. 

Check-in online

Many airlines offer online check-in for their flights. This allows you to check in for your flight and print your boarding pass from home through the airline's website or mobile app, or save an electronic boarding pass to your mobile wallet. If you've checked in online, you can skip the check-in queues and go straight to airport security, a huge time-saver. However, it's worth noting that not all airlines will allow you to check in online. And, if you need special assistance, you'll have to check in at the airport.

Please comply with all rules and health regulations at the airport. If an airport or airline does not require you to wear a mask, please consider wearing one anyway to keep you and the CC community safe during your visit. 

Arrive in good time

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to go through airport procedures. This is especially important if you have to check in at the airport or drop off checked baggage. Airports are unpredictable. You can never know for sure how busy it will be or how long it might take to get through security. If you're checking in at the airport or have bags to check in, you don't want to arrive too late! Check-in counters will usually open 2-4 hours before your flight, depending on the airline and the destinations you're to.

Make your baggage easily identifiable

Wrap a colored ribbon or belt around your baggage. At baggage claim, instead of having to pull piece after piece of baggage from the conveyor belt to check if it's yours, you'll be able to quickly and easily identify your baggage and will save a load of time and hassle. Do the same with your backpacks or smaller luggage.

Stay hydrated

High altitude and low cabin humidity might cause headaches and dizziness if you're not used to it. The best way to combat this is by drinking lots of water and staying hydrated. Colorado Springs sits at 6,000 feet of elevation, so it's smart to begin hydrating before you arrive. 

Health Tips for Traveling to Colorado and for High Elevation

    • Drink lots of water
      • Not only while you're here, but also the days leading up to your arrival
    • Pack for varying weather
      • Although we have 300+ days of sunshine each year, the weather can turn at any moment. Be prepared! Bring layers.
    • Take it easy
      • Try not to engage in exercise initially while you are here, giving your body adequate time to adjust to the higher elevation.
    • Watch what you eat
      • Foods containing high amounts of potassium and limiting your salt intake are great precautions against altitude sickness. Electrolytes are imperative to refuel your body!
    • What to pack
      • Refillable water bottle (must be empty if a carry-on bag)
      • Lip balm
      • Comfortable footwear
      • Plenty of layers (in case of snow, or cool weather)
      • Sunglasses and hat
      • Phone/camera

Higher Education Glossary

The Bursar's Office (student accounts at CC) is responsible for collecting and analyzing all student charges and fees, which include tuition and student unions, and health and dental insurance

The CSS Profile, short for the College Scholarship Service, is an online application to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid. Not every college requires it, but nearly 400 colleges do, so be sure to first check the list of schools to determine whether you need to complete the application. It's important to see if the school requires students of divorced parents to complete the additional Non-custodial PROFILE.

An enrollment deposit is a financial deposit to the institution that you plan to attend and it will guarantee your place in the class for the upcoming year. It is often deducted from tuition or room & board at said college.

Experiential learning is a process of education through experience, followed by reflection on that experience. There are four elements involved in experiential learning. First, the learner must be willing to be actively involved in the experience. Second, the learner must be able to reflect on the experience. Third, the learner must possess and use analytical skills to conceptualize the experience. Finally, the learner must possess decision-making and problem-solving skills in order to use the new ideas gained from the experience.

FAFSA is a form filled out by current and future undergraduate college students in the United States to determine whether they are eligible for student financial aid. Students are required to submit demographic and family financial information, such as a family's federal income tax returns, bank statements, W-2 forms, and information on a family's investment.

First-Generation student is a student who will be the first in their family, not including siblings, to obtain a bachelor's degree at a post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, in the United States.

Financial aid includes funds from the government, private organizations, and/or an educational institution to help students pay for their education. There are various types of financial aid including grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships. Utilize the glossary on Financial Aid at CC to learn about what forms you'll need to apply.

Interdisciplinary teaching is a method of educational instruction whereby a student learns about a single topic or issue from a variety of different viewpoints. For example, if a student is learning about tourism in the United States in an interdisciplinary way, they may learn about the revenue generated from tourism in an economics class, the most popular tourist sites in a geography class, historical tourism trends in a history course and effective advertising strategies for tourism agencies in a marketing class.

Room and board is defined as on-campus college housing that is accompanied by a meal plan. It is a convenient arrangement that allows students to live on campus with easy, accountable access to food. Some colleges require incoming first year students to sign up for room and board (also known as housing and meals) for their first year or two of college, but it is often an option available for any student throughout their four years.

Subsidized loans are loans for undergraduate students with financial needs, as determined by your cost of attendance minus expected family contribution and other financial aid (such as grants or scholarships). Subsidized Loans do not accrue interest while you are in school at least half-time or during deferment periods.

A syllabus is a written set of expectations for a course. It usually includes course policies, rules and regulations, required and optional texts, and an assessment breakdown.

Tuition is the associated charge or fees for learning at a college or university. Tuition usually applies to one academic year of class, generally from August or September through April or May.

Unsubsidized loans are loans for both undergraduate and graduate students that are not based on financial need. Eligibility is determined by your cost of attendance minus other financial aid (such as grants or scholarships). Interest is charged during in-school, deferment, and grace periods.

Work-study is a federal program that provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Eligibility for work-study comes from filling out the FAFSA.

QuestBridge is a national nonprofit organization that connects the nation's most exceptional, low-resources high school students with some of the top colleges in the United States. 

How to Apply for ECC

During ECC, you'll see campus through the eyes of a Tiger — learning through the Block Plan, discovering community and campus life, and engaging in honest conversation about building a conscientious student body. You'll meet other prospective students from around the country and author your own story in the college search process.

In order to complete your application, please submit:

  1. Experience Colorado College (ECC) Application
  2. An unofficial transcript - submitted by you or your high school counselor.
  3. (Optional) Short evaluation form from your high school counselor. 

Travel Grant

If accepted to ECC, you'll receive information regarding registration, flight information, accommodations, and ground transportation reimbursements (if you're driving). The travel grant covers flights and accommodations for you, the student. Parents and guests are welcome to attend, however, this program is geared towards students and there will be no specialized parent programming.

2024 Application Timeline 

Application deadline: August 16, 2024
Decision release date: September 1, 2024
Reply deadline (accept or decline offer): September 18, 2024
Program dates: October 12-14, 2024

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact admission@coloradocollege.edu.

Report an issue - Last updated: 09/11/2024