I recently had the opportunity to attend a fly-in program by Washington and Lee University called DIVE. A fly-in program is essentially in the name. The college flies you out to their campus, and you stay there for a couple days and see what it’s like to live and attend classes like an actual student there. 

Going into it, I was a little skeptical because I had never done this before, but boy did it change my entire perspective on this university. I was unsure of whether or not I wanted to even consider applying to W&L, but after the program I’ve never been more sure to do anything. 

Staying with the students in their dorms, eating at the dining halls, attending the classes, meeting the professors, and just prancing around campus was truly one of the most liberating and enjoyable experiences. 

Washington and Lee made the entire process so easy and I could definitely see myself attending their school next fall. I originally thought that school was too rural, and that I needed to be in a large city or something of that sorts, but the hills and nature preserves in the area was just so amazing for studying and working. 

I highly recommend that any junior think about what schools they want to attend and see if they have any fly-in programs. Although some are more competitive than others, it is definitely worth the try to do so.