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As millions of freshmen prepare to start university – whether that’s on campus or online – this episode looks at what institutions can do to make the transition to higher education a bit less overwhelming and a little more tailored to a cohort informed by AI and social media and focused on career-based skills. Orientation is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. The homogeneous “bubble” of the university experience has become far more porous, and diverse, with students weaving study into other commitments in their lives. For universities, this means listening to their need for flexibility, taking into account different backgrounds, and addressing barriers to the settling-in process.
We speak to Rachel Gable, director of academic programme authorisation at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the author of The Hidden Curriculum: First Generation Students at Legacy Universities (Princeton University Press, 2021) and the upcoming The College Handbook: How to Arrive, Survive, and Thrive on Campus (PUP, 2026). With a background in anthropology and a doctorate in education from Harvard, she has spent years researching student success, interviewing scores of students about how they navigate the unspoken norms and social rules of higher education.
You can find more practical advice and insight on how best to set students up for success at your institution, from academics all over the world, in our latest spotlight guide: A warm welcome for new students.
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