STARS@MIT: Transition to college as a small-town or rural student

Leaving a small town for college can feel exciting and overwhelming. How do you move to a completely new place, adjust to a bigger environment, and build community from scratch?

Join us for a conversation focused on the real-life transition from a rural or small-town community to a campus like Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We’ll talk about what it’s like to relocate, navigate homesickness, adapt to a faster pace, and find your people in a new environment.

Topics will include:

• Making friends and building support systems early

• Staying connected to home while growing into independence

• Adjusting to academic and social culture shifts

• Finding rural and first-generation community on campus

• Embracing your background as a strength

You’ll also hear directly from current STARS (Small-Town and Rural Student) Ambassadors about how they made the transition and created a sense of belonging at MIT.

There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your questions about moving, community-building, or what surprised them most about life in a new place.

If you’re preparing to leave a close-knit community and wondering what comes next, this session is designed with you in mind.