why?

There is power in students having a real choice about their lives after high school.

  • Meet similarly motivated and resourceful rural students

  • Gain experience on a college campus

  • Build relationships with college representatives

  • Get a head start on college and scholarship applications

By participating in ROCA NM, students will:

  • Gain confidence and clarity about how to pay for college

  • Explore how sharing their identity & rural experience can be an advantage in applying to college

  • Become eligible to apply for the Davis NM Scholarship

student reviews

  • "I learned that college is actually affordable."
    - Student from Newcomb

  • "I learned that applying for school is not as scary as I thought it would be. I feel more prepared for the process now." - Student from Española

  • "In just 4 days, you create a huge sense of community with the people you meet and know everyone there is following a similar path to yours."
    - Student from Taos

  • “The people at ROCA and Davis care about you and your future. Not only is it a fun week, but I learned a lot about myself and my potential. I learned that I can go to a really good college as a first generation rural student.”
    - Student from Springer

  • "ROCA will make the application process easier, and stand by you and support you all the way through. You will discover the little things about you that will matter and help you to achieve your academic goals."
    - Student from Pecos

who?

We know that there is no one definition of a rural experience. However, we also know that there are experiences that students growing up outside of larger cities have in common, despite the diversity of languages, backgrounds, experiences, and cultures that exist throughout New Mexico.

To be eligible to apply for ROCA, students should:

  1. Have an experience they would characterize as rural, farming/ranching, or as living in a small town. Generally, students in Santa Fe and Albuquerque are not eligible to apply.

  2. Be in the first generation in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Please see the FAQ Page on the Davis New Mexico Scholarship website to see if you meet our definition of a first-generation college-going student.

  3. Be a current junior in high school with a GPA at or above 3.0, and be enrolled in honors classes, if any are offered at your high school.


    Citizenship status and SAT/ACT test results are     not required or considered

What?

ROCA NM is a free overnight 4-day college search and application workshop. Participants receive continued support throughout their senior year as they navigate the college application and scholarship processes.

Students work with college access professionals and college representatives from around the country as they start their college applications. In addition to full-group activities, students receive individualized college counseling. Program Workshops include:

  • Scholarships and Financial Aid

  • Essay Writing

  • College Myths and Research

  • College Student Panel

  • Navigating College Resources

  • Outdoor Games, Hiking, or Swimming

We believe in the power of experiencing life on campus as part of the college search and application process. All costs are covered for students to stay in college dorms and eat in college dining halls while at the program.

where & When?

ROCA NM always takes place overnight on a college campus in New Mexico.

2025 Summer Program Details:

  • Tentative Dates: July 23-26, 2025

  • Location TBA

Past program sites have been Northern New Mexico College, New Mexico Highlands University, and New Mexico Tech.