First Year Experiences

Orientation can go only so far in making freshmen feel connected. Many schools, such as those below, now build into the curriculum first year seminars or other programs that bring small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis.

In spring 2011 we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students, and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 10 institutions with stellar examples of first year experiences. Colleges and universities that were mentioned most often are listed here, in alphabetical order.

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Abilene Christian University

Abilene, TX

Alverno College

Milwaukee, WI

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH

Elon University

Elon, NC

Evergreen State College

Olympia, WA

Indiana University-Purdue University--Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA

Ohio State University--Columbus

Columbus, OH

Purdue University--West Lafayette

West Lafayette, IN

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

University of Maryland--College Park

College Park, MD

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

Villanova University

Villanova, PA

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY

Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings by Bob Morse
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