Pathways to Success: College Planning for Rural and Small-Town Students

Students ? Register here
 

Parents/caring adults ? Register here

Are you ready to take the next step towards your college dreams? Join BigFuture and the STARS College Network for an event tailored specifically for students from rural and small-town communities. We'll cover everything you need to know about college planning, including: 

• How to choose the right college for you
• Navigating the application process
• Understanding financial aid and scholarships
• Tips for thriving in a new environment 

Don't miss this opportunity to get your questions answered and start planning your future today! 

Meet Our Speakers

Julia Eischeid, M.A.
Associate Director, Undergraduate Recruitment, Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Julia serves as an Associate Director, Recruitment in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Arizona. She has worked in the admissions and enrollment world for over 6 years, both with incoming first-year and transfer students. Julia is a proud first-generation college student from a small town in southern Arizona, and a U of A Wildcat through and through.

John Palmer Rea
Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
STARS College Network Program Director, Vanderbilt University

John Palmer Rea is Associate Director of Admissions at Vanderbilt University. He oversees Vanderbilt’s founding membership within the STARS College Network, the Visitor Experience team, and sits on the office leadership team. He is a graduate of Belmont University and the University of Mississippi, and has been working in college admissions for 12 years.

Sergio Ramirez
Senior Student Program Coordinator, Office of Admissions 

Sergio Ramirez is the STARS Program Lead at The University of Texas at Austin, where he supports college access for small-town and rural students through programming offered by the STARS College Network and UT Austin. Prior to this role, Sergio served students across North and West Texas, focusing on outreach and support in underrepresented communities. With a background in education and student programming, he is passionate about helping students and families navigate the college journey and sharing practical strategies for college planning. In his free time, he, his wife, and their dog love exploring the outdoors and hitting the open road.

About STARS 

The STARS College Network, which partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice, is doubling its membership to include 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions.